Bad Impression (A critic confesses: I hate Monet.)

New York Magazine ^ | Mark Stevens

[Liz]

The review seems almost anachronistic----as if the writer was in a time-warp---as if he were reviewing the still-wet paintings of an unknown dabbler, rather than the world-class work of a renowned artist as Monet is known today----the painter with an ephemeral ability to dapple his canvases with the stardust of our dreams.

[Sam Cree]

That's an interesting thought about a time warp. I'm inclined to agree, since Monet's credentials are pretty well established by now!

The guy starts off his review with this line, "But the very idea of Monet sometimes makes me want to kick a golden retriever." I can see where something like that might be used as humor, but here it just seems like a demonstration of outright sourness and meanness on the part of the reviewer.

[Republicanprofessor]

One of the most fun I had with my kids was showing them a very large Monet Water Lilly canvas at the Carnegie in Pittsburgh.

That Carnegie Waterlilies is one of my favorites. The use of purple and dark green is amazing. I couldn't find a repro on the internet either. I guess everyone just has to go to Pittsburgh...not a bad city at all.

[Republicanprofessor]

The writer doesn't make his point. It would have helped if he'd mentioned what it is that he really liked. I guess I am not taking him seriesly after having read this (silly) sentence:

"I prefer the exquisite Dionysian ferocity of Matisse’s Dance I, which emphasizes communal release"

I guess we just need a picture of The Dance to make his point. He just likes more abstract and works with firmer shapes.

RE the Turner in your previous post. I love it too. It reminds me of a story of heard of him: that when in a train, if it was raining, he would stick his head out of the window to feel the wind and rain on his face. In a storm at sea, he had himself tied to the mast so that he could feel the storm. I'd get really sick if someone did that to me! And in a train, I prefer to read and sleep. Alas, I guess I'm not Turner.

[Republicanprofessor]

I do like Inness's work. It is more individual that some "realists" and I think he pushes the extremes a bit. There is a mystical, magical quality to his light and to his twilight scenes.

I liked that first image you posted very much. I also just like landscapes better than figurative works in general.

[Republicanprofessor]

the painter with an ephemeral ability to dapple his canvases with the stardust of our dreams

Liz, nicely phrased!

I think the reviewer is just sick of Monet. We see prints and exhibitions of his work everywhere, and people do value his work. I understand where the writer's coming from, but I don't agree and I don't think he writes very well. But if he can get us talking about art on FR, then I like it!

[Ditto]

I guess everyone just has to go to Pittsburgh...not a bad city at all.

Quite a pretty city with lots of "hidden treasures."

[Liz]

.....if he can get us talking about art on FR, then I like it!....

Surely must be the raison d'etre for art----endless discussion.

I've continued to maintain that Picasso segued to Cubism as a way to silence his critics---considering them to be dolts---calculating they could never make heads or tails of his canvases.

[Sam Cree]

I guess everyone likes the Dance by Matisse, me included. Because of the strength of the design, and the bright colors, it reminds me a little of poster or sign art, to be honest. Which I count as a compliment these days.

On a side note, I was at a life drawing session (nude model) last night, drawing the model. I go a couple evenings a week, since my reasoning is that being able to do accurate figurative work is a prerequisite to good draftsmanship. During a break, I heard an interesting story from a female artist, concerning another life class which she attends.

Some ladies had signed up for that life session, but raised objections with the school over the model's nudity. Why they signed up, I couldn't say. I have a sinking feeling, though, that those ladies might be freepers.

[Republicanprofessor]

I've continued to maintain that Picasso segued to Cubism as a way to silence his critics---

There's a great catalogue put out by William Rubin, former director of the Museum of Modern Art, about Cezanne and Cezannism. If you ever see this on sale (probably at used book stores) grab one. He delineates the development of Cubism very well, maintaining that Braque actually did the first cubist paintings. I'll show this in a couple of weeks. It was a great essay.

I've always maintained that "cubism" should be called "planism" because it is more about planes, and the interaction between them, than cubes. But Braque's first works in L'Estaque, developed from Cezanne, did have cubes.

Braque Houses at L'Estaque 1908.