Posted on 10/08/2009 12:05:05 PM PDT by Atlas Sneezed
Yesterday, the NYT ran a story about the White House acquiring art. It included a slide show of a dozen artworks.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/07/arts/design/07borrow.html?_r=1
This Freeper took a look and found one abstract work he admired:
"Watusi (Hard Edge)," by Alma Thomas, a longtime Washington resident who is an African-American painter. Photo: Gift of Vincent Melzac/Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
As I admired it, I thought it reminiscent, even derivative of a favorite artwork of mine by Matisse. I recall seeing that one decades ago at the Tate Gallery in London. A giant collage (about ten feet tall) from late in Matisse's life, when his eyesight was failing:
The Snail (L'escargot), by Henri Matisse, Nice-Cimiez, Hotel Regina, [summer 1952-early] 1953, Gouache on paper, cut and pasted, on white paper, 9'4 3/4" x 9' 5" (287 x 288 cm) collection Tate Gallery, London.
I had planned to post them for comparison, and to share my admiration for both. But when I saw them side-by-side, the similarity clarified. I realized that the new one was EXACTLY the same composition as the Matisse, rotated 90 degrees.
Is this fraud? If the new piece has been titled "Homage to Collage" or "Matisse in Blue", I would think the artist wasn't trying to hide the copying. But I wonder whether anyone realized that the artist copied almost every aspect of a famous work to sell her artwork. Perhaps everyone involved knew that this is a re-colored reprint. If not, it seems to be an embarrassment for the "sophisticates" who failed to spot a copy hiding in plain sight.
As too many people say about abstract expressionist art: "Even I could have done THAT!"
Good catch! But where is the snail in either one of them? I see a cricket.
Could someone post a side by side of these two? It does appear that it is an exact copy recolored.
I’ve seen better in kindergarten classes using poster, construction paper and glue.
With the way they have dumbed down the education system nowdays, it doesn't make that much difference ; )
I would say that Ms Thomas has a lot of ‘splainin to do.
Never mind! Thanks!
“something my kids made in grad school.”
I pray, for the sake of your wallet, that “grad” is a typo and you really meant “grade”.
Colonel, USAFR
Just a little “Artistic Justice”, what’s ah problem here?
Sorry - shoulda scrolled down a little more first!
Colonel, USAFR
bump!!!!!
Cute. Real cute.
But notice that the “elite” ABCNNBCBS and their “elite” intelligensia in the “arts community never noticed. And wo’t bring it up that it HAS been brought to their attention.
I dunno, looks a little like the animation from “South Park” to me...
Colonel, USAFR
You should call it: “Communion for The One”
You agree with Tom Wolfe (Painted Word).
ROTFL. Funny typo. Yeah, let’s hope “grad” school required a bit more.
They could just rename it ‘Boxes trying to squeeze through a door to get stimulus money.’
I think i’ve seen those pictures way too often today.
Dan Rather doesn’t think it’s a blatant copy.
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