I love...

[ernie]

...Rousseau.

Great article (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/14/arts/design/14rous.html?_r=1&oref=slogin) in today's Times.

http://graphics10.nytimes.com/images/2006/07/14/arts/rousseau.5.jpg

[gordongekkojr]

Interesting

...especially when compared to the article in today's WSJ Weekend Journal section about "Shopping-Mall Masters"

This link will show you what I'm talking about, although you can't read the whole article unless you pay for the online subscription

http://online.wsj.com/public/page/leisure_weekend.html?mod=1_0051

Basically, artists who started selling posters for $10-20 are now selling originals for $200-300,000

Really gaudy stuff too


Never heard of Rousseau but I like what I see there!

[ernie]

Interesting

...especially when compared to the article in today's WSJ Weekend Journal section about "Shopping-Mall Masters"

This link will show you what I'm talking about, although you can't read the whole article unless you pay for the online subscription

http://online.wsj.com/public/page/leisure_weekend.html?mod=1_0051

Basically, artists who started selling posters for $10-20 are now selling originals for $200-300,000

Really gaudy stuff too


Never heard of Rousseau but I like what I see there!

I don't want to pay for a subscription to the WSJ, so I wasn't able to read the article, but I'll bet you a beer that Thomas Kinkade (http://www.thomaskinkade.com/magi/servlet/com.asucon.ebiz.home.web.tk.HomeServlet) was mentioned. Yuck! I cannot stand that guy.

[gordongekkojr]

I owe you a beer!

[ernie]

http://www.downtownbrewery.com/images/SmallSignLogo.jpg

Wednesday's. Around 6. :)

[Georgia]

I love little baby ducks,
old pick-up trucks,
slow movin trains, and rain.

I love little country streams,
sleep without dreams,
Sunday school in May, and hay.

And I love you too.

I love leaves in the wind,
pictures of my friends,
birds of the world, and squirrels.

I love coffee in a cup,
little fuzzy pups,
bourbon in a glass, and grass.

And I love you too.

I love honest open smiles,
kisses from a child,
tomatoes on a vine, and onions.

I love winners when they cry,
losers when they try,
music when its good, and life.

And I love you too.

[gypsy]

yeah, rousseau is pretty cool. i wonder if that show's coming to nyc.

in re: kinkade, i was thinking about him the other week when i took my sister and her family to the met. we wandered through the 19th-century european wing, which is chock full of impressionists, and it struck me how those guys -- monet in particular -- paved the way both for what became abstract art AND for the overbearing kitsch of kinkade. i'm sure kinkade ("the painter of light") considers himself a descendant of monet.

monet:
http://www.svreeland.com/ls-monet-1.jpg

kinkade:
http://i3.ebayimg.com/03/i/00/ae/5a/12_1.JPG

[Georgia]

i'm sure kinkade ("the painter of light") considers himself a descendant of monet.

monet:
http://www.svreeland.com/ls-monet-1.jpg

kinkade:
http://i3.ebayimg.com/03/i/00/ae/5a/12_1.JPG


I sure he does as well- but, I just don't enjoy his work. I have a difficult time understanding the success of it.

[gypsy]

i think it's popular for the same reason ice cream is, basically. it's like hanging a 6-scoop banana split above the couch.

[ernie]

Kinkade's stuff is bright and pleasant and it requires no thought. Like tv programs on the four major broadcast networks. It also comes in a variety of patterns, shapes and sizes, which makes it an interior decorator's dream. Finally, you can own an original by a "real" artist for less than a million bucks. (Apparently, the WSJ article suggests that this last factor is no longer as true as it used to be.)

And remember: ""No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public." - HL Mencken

[~Rumormonger~]

i think it's popular for the same reason ice cream is, basically. it's like hanging a 6-scoop banana split above the couch.

For your living room, suh!
http://www.anniebees.com/Egypt/Assets/images/Lux_32.jpg

[Georgia]

Kinkade's stuff is bright and pleasant and it requires no thought. Like tv programs on the four major broadcast networks. It also comes in a variety of patterns, shapes and sizes, which makes it an interior decorator's dream. Finally, you can own an original by a "real" artist for less than a million bucks. (Apparently, the WSJ article suggests that this last factor is no longer as true as it used to be.)

And remember: ""No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public." - HL Mencken

Yeah, true. I guess I'm also concerned about the religious portion of Kinkade's work.
Art and religion have always been and are so closely intertwined but this seems like a statement about the way the public is making an acceptance to Kinkade's work based on the religious undetones. It's as if the fact that he creates Christian art that makes it desireable-

That said, do you believe Rousseau and Frida Kahlo have a similar feel? Subject matter is easily parallelled but there is a deepness in color and a similar brushstroke that I just can't shake. I also see Edward Hick's in their work-I love his style being a little more refind than Rufus Porter but both were not afraid of shape and color.

[Hildegard]

For your living room, suh!
http://www.anniebees.com/Egypt/Assets/images/Lux_32.jpg

Ah, that is truly obscene. Someone needs to tip that bowl over and empty its vulgar contents on the orange shag carpet. Or float it around in a hot tub.

[ernie]

Yeah, true. I guess I'm also concerned about the religious portion of Kinkade's work.
Art and religion have always been and are so closely intertwined but this seems like a statement about the way the public is making an acceptance to Kinkade's work based on the religious undetones. It's as if the fact that he creates Christian art that makes it desireable-

That said, do you believe Rousseau and Frida Kahlo have a similar feel? Subject matter is easily parallelled but there is a deepness in color and a similar brushstroke that I just can't shake. I also see Edward Hick's in their work-I love his style being a little more refind than Rufus Porter but both were not afraid of shape and color.

Kinkade's "Christian art," as you call it, is typically sentimental Amercian prostestant stuff. I don't like to call it "Christian art" because it views religion as a a release from suffering. A lot of christian, especially Catholic, thought views suffering as an integral part of life.

As to the rest of your post, I wish I was as knowledgable as you seem to assume me to be. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding my ignorance, I am going to disagree and say that I do not see what you mean about Rousseau and Kahlo. Kahlo's colors just aren't "tasty" to me. Rousseau's are.

As to Hicks, he seems so sentimental to me that I have a hard time relating him to Rousseau. Kahlo, maybe.

I was not familiar with Rufus Porter until I read your post, so I can't respond to your comment.

[ernie]

Ah, that is truly obscene. Someone needs to tip that bowl over and empty its vulgar contents on the orange shag carpet. Or float it around in a hot tub.

Orange shag carpet! Retro!!!

[Georgia]

Kinkade's "Christian art," as you call it, is typically sentimental Amercian prostestant stuff. I don't like to call it "Christian art" because it views religion as a a release from suffering. A lot of christian, especially Catholic, thought views suffering as an integral part of life.

*My issues are more from the bundling of it in advertising with bible verses or the light hitting the house being referred to as the light of God. While it may be a lovely thought and possibly the artist was seeing that light as God or Christ I just don't like religion being used as a sales pitch.*


As to the rest of your post, I wish I was as knowledgable as you seem to assume me to be. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding my ignorance, I am going to disagree and say that I do not see what you mean about Rousseau and Kahlo. Kahlo's colors just aren't "tasty" to me. Rousseau's are.

*It's just a personal observation and opinion and I think it's all in the choices of greens. The greens are so verdant...so, right for the pieces that I seem similarities.*


As to Hicks, he seems so sentimental to me that I have a hard time relating him to Rousseau. Kahlo, maybe.

*Interesting, I relate him more to Rousseau than Kahlo.*

I was not familiar with Rufus Porter until I read your post, so I can't respond to your comment.

*I'm fond of Porter's work- this is just general info but check out his murals...there's something about the leaf shape, reoccurance of pattern and coloration that seems Rousseau to me.
http://home.att.net/~philcannon/rufuspor.htm *



Sorry- I had a bit of an issue extracting sentences...hope this will suffice.

[ernie]

As to Hicks, he seems so sentimental to me that I have a hard time relating him to Rousseau. Kahlo, maybe.

*Interesting, I relate him more to Rousseau than Kahlo.*



It has more to do with subject than form. Rousseau is surreal. Kahlo is magical thinking. I don't see any surrealism in Hicks, but I do see something akin to magical thinking.

On the other hand, after taking another look, I can see how, in form (shapes in paricular) Rousseau is more like Hicks than Kahlo.

But I still have difficulty comparing Rousseau with Kahlo. Just look at two of their self-portraits:

http://www.artofeurope.com/rousseau/rou3.jpg

http://www.fbuch.com/images/FridaKahlo1929b.JPG

Again, the difference may have more to do with subject than form. I would be interested to see any examples you could give of what you called their similar "feel."

[Georgia]

http://www.artofeurope.com/rousseau/rou3.jpg

http://www.fbuch.com/images/FridaKahlo1929b.JPG

Again, the difference may have more to do with subject than form. I would be interested to see any examples you could give of what you called their similar "feel."

Actually, I believe the similarities are more form than subject. In the examples you posted, look at the saturation of color and the tone of -say- the blue. It's a flat paint-pot blue.
Now, look at the figures. Both are simplistic in the way the clothing is expressed...no folds, not many shadows..basically blocks of color. The faces are handled in a similar fashion...you feel the person but they are not overdone-overworked faces.
Also, both artists seem to be very conscientious about symbolism and details- for example, the lace on the sleeves, the flags on the moorings, the chimneys on the houses, the settings on the jewelry.
As for symbolism, you can take it as literal as you want or put as much of a spin on it as you want. Clocks, oceans, boats, planes, bridges....literal or fleeting time, sea of souls, a haven in the abyss of life, freedom, hope after dispair...that kind of thing.

Rousseau is much more refined but I still feel a kindred feel to Kahlo based on shape, color saturation and tone.

But, that's just a personal opinion.
I'm just glad you started the thread- I had forgotten just how much I liked Rousseau's work.

[ernie]

Actually, I believe the similarities are more form than subject. In the examples you posted, look at the saturation of color and the tone of -say- the blue. It's a flat paint-pot blue.
Now, look at the figures. Both are simplistic in the way the clothing is expressed...no folds, not many shadows..basically blocks of color. The faces are handled in a similar fashion...you feel the person but they are not overdone-overworked faces.
Also, both artists seem to be very conscientious about symbolism and details- for example, the lace on the sleeves, the flags on the moorings, the chimneys on the houses, the settings on the jewelry.
As for symbolism, you can take it as literal as you want or put as much of a spin on it as you want. Clocks, oceans, boats, planes, bridges....literal or fleeting time, sea of souls, a haven in the abyss of life, freedom, hope after dispair...that kind of thing.

Rousseau is much more refined but I still feel a kindred feel to Kahlo based on shape, color saturation and tone.

But, that's just a personal opinion.
I'm just glad you started the thread- I had forgotten just how much I liked Rousseau's work.

Thanks! I haven't gotten enough work done today, but I have a better understanding of why I like what I like.

Somewhat off topic, I just noticed an incredble war photograph on the Times web site. It's credited to Pavel Wolberg/EuropeanPressphoto Agency.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/07/14/world/14cnd_MIDEAST_large.jpg

[Tess]

I love the impressionists. Especially Mary Cassatt. You have to consider that fading eyesight may have played a part in the artist's interpretation of the material.

Don't know about Kincaid. Don't like what I have seen. Looks like the starving artist offerings you see for sale at the Holiday Inn.

I would consider both Rousseau and Kahlo as primitive artists.

And, Rumor, Tolstoy's definition of art was, "does it evoke emotion?" And, YES, your sundae picture evokes emotion. YES YES YES. I would hang that anywhere in my house. Probably wouldn't be a good idea, though, considering that it doesn't take much to sway me to the dark side.

[Gnaw Parker]

Kinkade is Bob Ross after touring Wonkaland and eating a daffodil teacup.