Tuesday 17 June 2014

Klimt Paintings And Grandma Moses Paintings

By Darren Hartley


Three Klimt paintings, namely, Philosophy, Medicine and Jurisprudence, were criticized for their radical themes and material. They were considered pornographic. These paintings transformed traditional allegory and symbolism into a new language which was more overtly sexual, hence, more disturbing. Unfortunately, all three paintings were destroyed by retreating SS forces in May, 1945.

Nuda Verita, painted in 1899, is another example of disturbing Klimt paintings, meant to shake up the establishment. It featured a starkly naked red-headed woman holding the mirror of truth. Above the image was the quotation, "If you cannot please everyone with your deeds and your art, please a few. To please many is bad."

The Beethoven Frieze was the most renowned of 1902 Klimt paintings. Painted directly on the walls using light materials, it featured a monumental, polychromed sculpture by Max Klinger. A resemblance to Gustav Mahler was evident in the face on the Beethoven portrait. Mahler was a composer with whom Klimt shared a respectful relationship.

The first Grandma Moses paintings were made using house paint. They are classified as folk art, which is self-taught art. It is also often times referred to as primitive art. Grandma Moses was in her 70s when she began painting seriously. Her addition of glitter on her snow scenes where not considered artistic by many.

Simple pictures of family, church and community scenes, extolling the virtues of honesty and hard work were the focus of Grandma Moses paintings. These virtues are exemplified by Grandma Moses herself. It was an old kitchen table placed in a utility room that formed her art studio.

Familiar farm life scenes are also often times depicted in Grandma Moses paintings. Stories about apple butter making, soap and maple syrup making, corn husking and candle making can be extracted from them. Her art was something Grandma Moses enjoyed doing which surprising to her, also provided her with some extra money. She insisted on being the same person she was before despite her fame, regardless of the fuss people were making over her.




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