ArtExpertOnLine

      It was 1936 and America was still struggling to work its way out of the American Depression when Russian born, American painter, Raphael Soyer (1899-1987) created Office Girls .  Considered a Social Realist, Soyer was one of several painters and photographers documenting the everyday worker, the working class.     Viewing this painting today, the first thing that "pops" to me is the term in the title:  Girl  - a title hopefully now restricted to females under the age of 18.  But in 1936 it was in common use for all females, even those we see here, the women employed by choice or necessity.  Here, are women of New York moving about on the street, coming or going to their offices.  The title hints that most are not in prestigious positions, but possibly secretarial clerks, typists, receptionist.   All are women, with the exception of one man to the far left.  We see little of him, and only notice he is unshaven and...

   I thought it was time to look at something really fun this week. So, I give you Rene Magritte (1898 - 1967) and Voice of Space.  Magritte was Belgium surrealist whose work became universally popular late in his life influencing pop art and music, and minimalism.  He was part of a group of European surrealist during the 1920's thru 1940's.   This is a very difficult period in world history which is  completely reflected in this movement.    Surrealism, by definition, presents a dream like quality, and Magritte in particular, loves to challenge our perception of reality.  His precision painting adds to the mystery of seeing three metal bells floating above the earth.     My personal love of Magritte's work comes from his skies.   Often he selects a particular time of day that looks "right" but is it?   Here we have light at the horizon with a deepening of color moving to the top and no strong shado...

  Color!  Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) loved it.  It not only defined his paintings, but his mature life style.  He was definitely an interesting, controversial and "colorful" man.  Here we have Le Sourcier d'Hiva Oa, ( Marquesan Man in Red Cape ); which can be translated to The Wizard of Hiva Oa.   It was painted in 1902, a year before Gauguin's death.  In 1901 Gauguin made his final move to the village of Atuona on the island of Hiva Oa, part of the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean.  Here, he befriended this man, a figure much feared by natives because his powers as a wizard.  Some have speculated Gauguin saw him as a third sexual being, being a mix of male and female.    For us the painting is typical of Gauguin's Polynesian work as it blends bright, vivid color with native figures in their natural setting, and suggesting some symbolism.     Gauguin was a life long friend of French painte...

     Are you curious?   What is this painting ?  Georg Schrimpt (1889-1938 is the artist, and he titled it, On the Terrace (Self-Portrait).  Titles are often a clue as to the artist's intent, and this one, certainly mystifies.  On the surface we see two men sitting close on an outdoor terrace, by a calm sea.  We can see one man in profile, but only the back of the other.  From this angle, and the hint from the title, Schrimpt is probably representing himself, twice.   The profile figure seems to be in deep thought, and we see no indication the other is speaking, but the bottle suggests they have shared a drink.   And, where are we in this scene?  I think we are sitting, too, maybe at a nearby table, eavesdropping!   The turn of the chairs, the dark wall and overhanging canopy indicate a private conversation - that Schrimpt is having with himself?    I think so.  What's your opinion? ...

   Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986) was already a famous woman artist in 1939 when the Dole Company sent her to Hawaii.  Pineapple Bud  is the result of that trip, an interesting story and painting by a complex and interesting woman.  Much has been written by feminist wanting to identify O'Keeffe and her work with their movement, but she consistently declared there was no underlining meaning, and she wanted to be remember simply as an artist.  By 1939 she had struggled enough to find herself, define her life and establish her work.    O'Keeffe explored abstraction, and was strongly influenced by precisionism, an American movement centered primarily in photography (Ansel Adams, for example). However O'Keeffe's style was always her own, unique and powerful.     This painting is a perfect example.  It is typical of her famous flower paintings because of the unusual focus.  It is almost symmetrical, as the bud is almost center...

  I am always amazed at the beautiful and original woodcut prints by Japanese artist, Utagawa Hiroshige.  The one today is from the 1858 series, Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji and is titled, Twilight Hill at Meguro.  I see this view as if we are looking out a tall window.   We can look down and see what is below us, straight out and see what is at our own level, and up to see what is above us. This is quite remarkable. Generally, western painters showed us what they could see from their own level.  For example when looking at many Vermeer paintings, it is easy to understand that the artist was seated when painting. But here, Hiroshige gives us down, up and out.   Plus the amount of detail is amazing. Notice when looking out we see five people, four of which seem to be walking toward the community nestled by the hills.  The leaves on the trees are all individual objects.  Most likely the time of day is at that very second just after ...

  This week we look at an artist who has always been a mystery to me, I think mainly because he didn't fit nicely into any of the interesting art movements of the early 20th century.   Paul Klee (1879-1940) experimented with all of them until eventually developing a unique and very expressive symbolism which often bordered on the whimsical.     The Red Balloon was painted in 1922 when Klee taught at the Bauhaus, the famous Germany design school.  The beautiful structure illustrates the Bauhaus influence. Right down the middle, the thin line cements the balloon and divides the entire format.  On the left the large green shape reminds the viewer of ground, while stacked geometric shapes indicate human structures, buildings.  Notice how the sky varies in color and value, probably indicating sunshine, daylight. From here it is up to us to take from this painting what we desire.  If we look into Klee's history we discover a very complex man....