Art criticism – article about an Edgar Degas exhibition
in 2011, by Sebastian Smee.
Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917)
The Tub, 1886, pastel on card, 60
x 83 cm
Woman in the bathtub, c. 1886, pastel on paper,
70 x 70cm
Woman at her toilette, 1900-1905,
pastel on tracing paper, 75 x 72.5cm
Remembering the Conceptual Framework, we’ll use the following categories, more or
less:
Artist / artwork; Artist / world; Artist / audience; Audience / artwork; Audience / artist;
Artwork / world.
FOUNDATIONS OF MODERNISM IV –
EDUARD MANET (French 1832-1883)
Manet is an important figure in 19th
Century art. He and Courbet (last session) were
hugely influential on the Impressionist painters.
Manet is often called an Impressionist, although
he never exhibited with that group. He has been
called ‘ The Father of Modernism’, because some
of his work caused a sensation, and marked a
turning point in the way artists described their
world. This image was Manet’s first submission to
the Salon – EPIC FAIL!
The Absinthe Drinker,
1859, oil on canvas,
178 x 103 cm
Manet was influenced by Spanish art which was becoming popular in France during the 19th
century. The Absinthe Drinker shows the influence of the great 17th century Spanish master,
Velasquez. The Spanish painters used a lot of black, and you can see here some similar
compositional strategies. Both these Velasquez works are of ancient philosophers so we could
say they are history paintings, but the treatment is Realist.
Diego Velasquez (Spanish,
1599-1660) Menippus, 163941, oil on canvas, 179 x 94 cm
>>>>>>>>>>
<<<<<<Aesop, 1640, oil on
canvas,
179 x 94 cm
Manet studied with the Academy artist Thomas Couture, and diligently copied
works at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, as was the Academy tradition. He also
travelled, and was especially inspired by the Italian artist Titian who painted in the
late Renaissance. His nudes were an inspiration to generations of artists. The idea
of the nude as an Academic subject really started with Titian.
Titian, (Italy,1485 – 1576) Venus of Urbino, 1538, oil on
canvas, 119 cm X 166 cm.
.
This famous Manet image is an appropriation of the Titian. It is a painting of a
prostitute: highly inappropriate subject matter! The Manet nude is not posing as
a passive object for a viewer. She is not making herself sexually available, like
Titian’s Venus. She is sitting upright, addressing us. She is a human, rather than
an object of desire or a Mythical/biblical figure. This painting was accepted by
the Salon, but caused a scandal.
Manet (French 1832-1883)
Olympia, 1863, oil on canvas,
131 cm × 190 cm)
.
Raimondi engraving after a design by
Raphael, Judgement of Paris, c. 1515
Manet, Déjeuner sur l'herbe, (Luncheon on the Grass)
(previously called La Bain – The Bath) 1862-3, oil on canvas,
208 cm × 266 cm
Titian (Italian 1485 – 1576) or Giorgione (Italian 1477 –
1510) Pastoral Concert, ?1508, oil on canvas, 110 x 138
cm
Manet was avant-garde. Basically this means a front-runner; the first ones
to take up a new idea or approach. It’s a term originally associated with the
Military. This term has been used especially with regard to Modernist Art,
which is characterised by a series of movements, (or ‘isms’.)
Manet was seen as ground breaking in his style, and influenced many who came
after him. However it’s important to remember that he looked back to the old
Masters, and actually respected tradition.
In 1867 there was an International
Exhibition in Paris, and Manet’s work
was rejected to be hung there. He got a
building erected across the road and
showed many of his paintings there.
<<<The Balcony, 1868-1869
oil on canvas, 170 x125 cm