My favorite period for art is without a doubt the expressionist/post-expressionist period from around the turn of the century until after WWII. These artists lived through two world wars and this suffering was expressed in their work. This period gave us the lovely shapes of Picasso, the beautiful color of Matisse, and the tumbling still-lifes of Cezanne. However, my favorite artist of the time is the little known Georges Rouault.
The painting that brought Rouault into the forground of the young talented Parisians is called The Prostitute before her Mirror (1906). Painting women from brothels was a growing trend at the time. Degas showed his women as subjects to be snuck up upon, as he is known as the peeping tom of art. And Picasso put African masks over the faces of his Ladies of Avignon (1907) making them to appear frightening. Picasso's painting was undoubtedly influenced by Rouault's. However, where Picasso leads us away from the women, Rouault draws us in. He paints the women with beauty and suffering. He makes us believe that his subjects are worthy of our pity.
The painting that brought Rouault into the forground of the young talented Parisians is called The Prostitute before her Mirror (1906). Painting women from brothels was a growing trend at the time. Degas showed his women as subjects to be snuck up upon, as he is known as the peeping tom of art. And Picasso put African masks over the faces of his Ladies of Avignon (1907) making them to appear frightening. Picasso's painting was undoubtedly influenced by Rouault's. However, where Picasso leads us away from the women, Rouault draws us in. He paints the women with beauty and suffering. He makes us believe that his subjects are worthy of our pity.
Rouault's Prostitute at her Mirror (1906)
Picasso's Ladies of Avignon (1907)
Before starting his career in painting he worked for a glass-maker. You can see the influence in his work as they almost look like they are stained glass. Rouault once even said, "I do not feel as if I belong to this modern life...my real life is back in the age of cathedrals."
Suffering it seems was Rouault's favorite subject, probably because he had suffered so much in his life. His work is most noted for depictions of prostitutes, clowns, acrobats, corrupt judges, and most importantly Christ. His body of art as a whole communicates the idea that while people suffer, Christ suffers with us. Today Rouault is regarded as the most important christian artist of the 20th century. However, his work is very anti-establishment, or against the religious bureaucracy of the day. He keeps his work, his subjects, and Christ himself, in the margins of society. I believe this is where true religion belongs. Something Picasso said sums up Rouault's work best: "Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth."
Clown (possibly a self-portrait)
Head of Christ
The Old King (Rouault's most famous work)
salaam alikum
I'm curious: What brought about this post?
ReplyDeleteKatie and I were discussing art over coffee. Then I thought how I put Rouault as my favorite artist on my facebook quiz and how most people have never seen his stuff. Also talking to Mike about Picasso about a month ago had me reading a bit about him and his pacifism.
ReplyDeleteIt's been brewing for a while. I discovered Rouault in Cincinnati when we were living in a van down by the river. It was on Katie's 22nd birthday. He changed my life.
:)
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