tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522800471258383718.post1326308827514141437..comments2024-02-20T08:12:27.951-05:00Comments on Left Bank Art Blog: Matisse's Cut-Outs as EnvironmentsCharles Kesslerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07068758792988742599noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522800471258383718.post-82049296148539478962014-04-30T11:13:45.959-04:002014-04-30T11:13:45.959-04:00But what's wrong with streaky? As I wrote in t...But what's wrong with streaky? As I wrote in the post, it makes the work feel handmade and human. Besides, the close up details of cut-outs show they have "streaky colors" and "uncertain lines."<br /><br />I remember the first time I saw a Mondrian in person and was surprised and disappointed by what I thought of as imperfections. I've grown to treasure them now -- it makes his paintings so touchingly human. Charles Kesslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07068758792988742599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522800471258383718.post-27901873848126205322014-04-30T09:51:40.495-04:002014-04-30T09:51:40.495-04:00I prefer his cut outs to his paintings, by far. Hi...I prefer his cut outs to his paintings, by far. His paintings had uncomfortable atmospherics from streaky colors and uncertain lines.<br /><br />Pure form and color was realized in his cut outs. Yes, they could be called flat and decorative - but what decoration!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522800471258383718.post-72158841456339368062014-04-29T06:27:46.294-04:002014-04-29T06:27:46.294-04:00Erik - I'm using Google Blogger which gives y...Erik - I'm using Google Blogger which gives you a choice of different sized reproductions. I just click on the uploaded photo and a menu comes up. Captions can be added that way too. I don't know about Wordpress but it's supposed to be pretty good and almost certainly provides that option. Charles Kesslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07068758792988742599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522800471258383718.post-52795615394396729142014-04-29T05:59:01.476-04:002014-04-29T05:59:01.476-04:00You are so right Carl. Matisse talked a lot about ...You are so right Carl. Matisse talked a lot about sincerity as he got older. That's might be the difference between his masterpiece and theirs. Charles Kesslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07068758792988742599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522800471258383718.post-64889893558915624212014-04-28T17:19:34.135-04:002014-04-28T17:19:34.135-04:00I'm with you on the historical significance of...I'm with you on the historical significance of the cutouts and the masterpiece status of the Chapel. Regarding the latter, we've got two other candidates for that status, Picasso's "Guernica" and Duchamp's "Large Glass," both self-consciously conceived as "masterpieces" and both generally regarded as such in the literature. But both are flawed, the Picasso in that his reach exceeded his grasp--the "Weeping Women" he did at the same time and after completing the mural are far superior--and the Duchamp insofar as it's reactionary, its glass support longing for the illusionist paradigm that no longer guided the art of painting. Together, those two efforts reinforce the thesis that masterpieces are foreign to modern artistic practice, and Matisse's chapel is the exception that proves the rule: It wasn't conceived as an art masterpiece, it was conceived as a gesture of gratitude to the caregiver who enabled him to recover and continue working. Carl Belznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522800471258383718.post-68796293734438741162014-04-28T15:50:45.537-04:002014-04-28T15:50:45.537-04:00Great visuals. How do you get the large format on ...Great visuals. How do you get the large format on your blog, if you dont mind me asking? I've some art-related blogs on:<br />http://www.erikleo.wordpress.com<br />Cheers<br />Ericericleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16149713572853455212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522800471258383718.post-62867089044260690212014-04-28T12:57:08.353-04:002014-04-28T12:57:08.353-04:00With a name like Rhapsody, she has got to love it!...With a name like Rhapsody, she has got to love it! Charles Kesslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07068758792988742599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522800471258383718.post-37079344949377965452014-04-28T12:54:30.225-04:002014-04-28T12:54:30.225-04:00I will be takin gmy daughter Rhapsody to this one ...I will be takin gmy daughter Rhapsody to this one in the fall! I've always been drawn to his cutouts. They bring me joy!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16192660711518339045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522800471258383718.post-23869810808876303932014-04-28T06:11:27.091-04:002014-04-28T06:11:27.091-04:00I never realized how many talented people there we...I never realized how many talented people there were, and talented 4 year olds! But seriously, this is a good and comprehensive article. Charles Kesslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07068758792988742599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522800471258383718.post-74009644074286175552014-04-28T05:34:51.593-04:002014-04-28T05:34:51.593-04:00In fact there is still a fair amount of scepticism...In fact there is still a fair amount of scepticism surrounding these cut-outs if you look at the comments to some of the exhibition reviews, with quite a few convinced they (or their kids) could do it just as well. I suspect they haven't been to this exhibition, nor actually put themselves to the test... http://wp.me/p3lxGr-2gArtseerhttp://artseer.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522800471258383718.post-73505131887152276862014-04-27T17:14:38.818-04:002014-04-27T17:14:38.818-04:00This is interesting. How do you think Bonnard chan...This is interesting. How do you think Bonnard changed painting?Charles Kesslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07068758792988742599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522800471258383718.post-33951837945643700762014-04-27T13:51:11.787-04:002014-04-27T13:51:11.787-04:00There was a huge show of Matisse's cut outs at...There was a huge show of Matisse's cut outs at the National Gallery in DC in 1977. Though they are amazing and a testament to how art can be an opening with age I would not say their achievement is comparable to the abstract expressionists. They broke through to a deeper terrain than Matisse had ever ventured into. And this is not to posit joy against terror. I think late Bonnard might be comparable to the NY School in how much he changed the gyre of painting, matching late Monet. Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05095664349737521438noreply@blogger.com