Musea E-mail Club #254 Art's Turning Point
TomHendricks474
points in the history of painting
and so is this e- mail.
In 1907 Picasso painted 'Les Demoiselles d"Avignon"
a ground breaking painting that you can see at
the Museum of Modern Art in NYC or on the net at
http://www.moma.org/collection/depts/paint_sculpt/blowups/paint_sculpt_006.html
Take a minute to look at it. First of all I agree with Braque
when he saw it. He thought it was hideous! And it is. There
is a disquiteing feel about it as being half here and half there,
some nice and some disturbing. But we also know that it
was a major force in shifting art from realism to cubism
and ultimately to total abstraction.
Look at the painting again. This time divide it into 3
vertical parts. In my interpretation I see a painting
showing this art transition moment in history.
Though obviously Picasso did not intend this idea.
Cover all of the painting except the first third,
You see a loosely sketched woman in profile opening
the curtain. But on what.
I suggest she is opening the curtain on the dividing
line between old style realistic painting and new
style cubism.
Now cover all but the middle third.
You see two women and a still life
of fruit at their feet. This represents painting from
the past with its recognizable quality and it's some
what attractive look.
Now cover all but the right third.
You see two nudes with monster heads! Hideous
and misformed - something from H.G. Wells
Island of Dr. Moreau! To me this represents
the new painting - cubism, african masks,
and ultimately abstraction, and all the other
isms of modern art.
From that point of view, our unsettling master
piece, becomes a story painting! A painting telling
the story of modern art!
Now take a look at the new Musea. I suggest a
new chapter in art here too. I suggest it in two
articles
1. How modern art may have ended in a conceptual
art event on 1/08/02 or 'has modern art painted
itself into a corner?'
2. What the new style of art that replaces modern
art, might look like.
Then in a 3rd section I look at my world of art
from a strickly personal viewpoint.
Get it free in Dallas, or for a trade, or on the
website soon.
Tom Hendricks, Musea zine ed.
http://musea.digitalchainsaw.com"
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