Minori Chugenji
HUA195.1386
April 19th Thur
Barcelona and Modernity: Gaudi to Dali
at Metropolitan Museum
"Barcelona and Modernity: Gaudi to Dali" has been exhibited through
June 3rd 2007. The theme of this exhibition is exploring the diverse and
innovative work of Barcelona's artists, architects, and designers in the
years between the Barcelona Universal Exposition of 1888 and the
imposition of the Fascist regime of Francisco Franco in 1939. All works
are divided in nine thematic sections. At the beginning with Catalan
renaissance,and Modernism, Noucentisme, and Surrealism. Then final
section on works of art influenced by the Spanish Civil War. One of the
work by Ramon Casas called " Ramon casas and Pere Romeu on a Tandem" is
from Modernism: Els Quatre Gats section greatly striking work in the
entrance of this exhibition. Also "La Vie" by Picasso is outstanding among
the other works in this exhibition. The reason why I chose these works are
that that grabbed my intention in spite ignorance of this era of art for me. I
want to talk about background those two works behind.
"Ramon casas and Pere Romeu on a Tandem" by Ramon Casas actually
is his portraits with Romeu.
Actually there is an under the title of this work, called," The End of the Nine
teens Century," and the replacement painting as "The beginning of the
Twentieth Century," which himself and Ramon in a car and wearing extra
fur coats demonstrating the decadent costumes favored by the Modernism.
Why Casa replaced this work to the new one was considered that he
obsessed with modernity and progress as well as his pride in being one of
the first people in Barcelona to have a car. In 1901, the magazine "Pel &
Ploma ( Hair & Feather) reproduced Casa's tandem bicycle painting under
the title " The end of the Nineteenth Century" and the replacement painting
as " The Beginnings of the Twentieth Century."
At the same year, Casas and Rusinol joined with others to establish Els
Quatre Gats( The Four Cats) a legendary cafe that became the focus of
bohemian artistic activity in Barcelona and was the site of meetings.
exhibitions , poetry readings and puppet theater performances.
"Ramon Casas and Pere Romeu on a Tandem"
by Ramon Casas
(End of the 19th Century), 1897
Oil on canvas; 75 1/8 x 84 1/2 in. (191 x 215 cm)
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona
Photo © MNAC-Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona, 2006
Photo: Jordi Calveras, Marta Mèrida, Joan Sagristà
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona
The other work by Picasso called, "La Vie" is also his portraits as well.
He actually preparatory sketched himself between a naked woman ( his
model or lover.) The other sketches also include another artist entering
the studio. But later he replaced the man with the robed woman cradling a
baby. X-rays of the painting reveal the man on the left remained a self
portrait. Also Picasso replaced his futures with Carles Casayemas, a close
friend who had committed suicide in 1901. The crouching woman in the
lower center: a creature with a human body and the head and wings of bird
flying over a nude woman reclining on the ground. The meaning of this
scene is still remained as a subject that we need to think about.
"La Vie"
by Pablo Picasso
Oil on canvas; 77 3/8 x 50 7/8 in. (196.5 x 129.2 cm)
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of the Hanna Fund 1945.24
© Estate of Pablo Picasso/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
I am not sure that I like those works a lot. Those are just catching my
eyes and mostly really dynamic images for me. The former work "Ramon
casas~ is really remarkable work from that era. The back ground of the
work really speaks about the image and time.
On the other hand, "La
Vie" by Picasso is totally personal work which is no related to the time of
period, so that his work always full of sadness in spite of Barcelona was
the core of prosperity at that time.
All over, works from this exhibition, Barcelona and Modernity: Gaudi to
Dali are so dynamic and vivid which reflect of the situation of the time
period in many way. I really enjoyed the show anyway.