![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaSsqAKdRh8UclPWEB-VomXCdDTpPYmD5UmWOfAy_JQ1_I6leh_RojcCy_tTpcdxVZAj66fk9G6ViMxZhu0WqepOak5JLtsYCPvIXkIOt6Ya8kV62s-AgVPHQWt8JLSqplsoOlvYMiA3V/s640/the+terrace+1948-49.jpg) |
The Terrace 1948 -49 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_l1Cj6W9SSte_g5fbpd1d4nRo7VZQuNhyphenhyphenpQK9_W3N0cJ1rXJ9TFJVw-0ftrKJU626G8niR63eGMPqjbYxWe0lX_KK82gXgemVvWPJcw2ypksJOKans5FM-mrKSMBmknbUxjw5OhJQbJi/s640/braque+le+pigeon+noir+1956+(2).jpg) |
Le Pigeon Noir, 1956 |
These absolutely stunning paintings were done by Georges Braque in the late 1930s through to the 60s. If you are as excited about them as I am we have
Ken Kewley to thank. He is a master in his own right, (as I have
blogged previously) and has been uploading a ton of Braque's work onto his facebook to the great fortune and benefit of all of us.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwg1DzRetEinnGgsZH4PUPL8ENw0ebDRtKpSDsOcDOWmUgu0XsweWMGkIyDPEr6-T-JxZjwgvGFL0OEFo6u_L7rRoxEb2ML8iQs4GYqfd69oRpnsZfzaaolAfbpSzSYml0BLyqX6WZRV8/s640/braque+nature+morte+a+la+theire+au+citron+au+poisson+1960.jpg) |
Nature Morte a la Theire au Citron au Poisson, 1960 |
If you have had any of the same art school and museum experience as me, then Braque was neatly categorized with Cubist Picasso -- a swimming image of browns and collage materials comes to mind. Nice work, important at the time, but not so much to take from it and learn from as a painter today -- UNTIL THESE. These paintings are some of the best, most relevant paintings I have seen in the last year and pretty much ever. I feel invigorated by them, ready to go paint, which is when I know a painting is really moving.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0e69S7Grt98CcDYBahZkBPCcSWyfMCcqmdflz5-dL0_VJSbw_jFm5-lJBUiMSGJOPG1ISa5bta1lcvJnrQIeMgh1tVVOo2XWxu1amw5pDtJwDepEwELLcKtfS1CChgPmqzrfc6tbL6K0x/s640/braque+still+life+with+palette+1943.jpg) |
Still Life with Palette, 1943 |
And there are hundreds of them. Ken says in a brilliant
essay on color, "paint instinctively with joy" and since I read that I commit it to memory and use it in the studio to bolster my courage. I think Braque is someone who truly accomplished this feat.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMg3O5sPmEvwwTrQtSUqBtlHv6lNaf8oGk5TavikEzIvlLl_T3PNkozYdeQpt2ZMUtPPbHbazpcgjyjf5UUXZemRc55raJ5ufTNloqxwEfhh8EcrvwHr6N9Q3MYmOl7RSf-6jArmbPiJz-/s640/l'atelier+au+tabouret+1939.jpg) |
L'atelier au Tabouret, 1939 |
Update: Two days after posting this I learned that the Phillips will be having " the first in-depth study of still life in Georges Braque’s (1882–1963) career framed within the historical and political context of 1928 to 1945." Eek. Can't wait it opens June 8th.
2 comments:
Braque was always a good colorist. His frequent use of a white outline is a throwback to the anti-cerne of his fauvism. Even with his use of neutrals browns and blacks tend to glow.
True! And looking back carefully in my mind a few Braque's are present (especially one with a bike and rain at the Phillips)
But in general I would have to say art history and its institutions do not pay full homage to his entire career and influence/interaction with other great colorists of the time -- I guess I should only speak for my experience but I don't find his pieces from the early 1910's particularly moving or worthy of all the attention considering the rest of his career.
Post a Comment