OK, that didn’t work. This is the source picture, from which I attempted to create a surreal image;
That point in time at which artists realised that they weren’t tied to producing pictures of scenes from the bible unleashed their brains. We entered and adapted the age of the impressionists and moved to the abstract. It looks like the first real abstract picture produced by Wassily Kandinsky, his Cossacks picture (see the link below) was labeled the rather delightful name of “colour music” this era takes us through a number of very well known artists including; Matisse & Picasso.
The topic of form focuses the artists minds. Now this is an interesting exercise, because I am finding that my notes are inadequate. Starting to move into the area of art where normally, my appreciation starts to wane, because I just don’t get it. But, that is because I am seeing the picture but not getting the back story. Now, the realisation that I needed the back story came, I think it was last year, when we went on a tour of Goodwood house. The tour guide took us around the house, and rather than just letting us look at the pictures without comment, gave us a brief history of the picture and how it related to the house. Many of them were produced at the behest of the owners. That added a level of reality to the pictures.
The reality of the abstract and surreal lay in the minds of the artists. The mental agonies (literally) that some of the artists went through to identify their forms and styles, literally pushed some over the edge. You have to appreciate them just for that. I won’t pretend to understand pictures like Picasso’s Violin and Grapes, but that is the whole point to me. I don’t understand Picasso’s mind.
We are getting towards the end of the book now, and this phas, perhaps because I lack comprehension is definitely the most uncomfortable part for me so far. But that doesn’t detract from the pleasure of reading this amazing book.
Bills Posts 