Poetry, stories and strange odds and ends from the desk of a writer
Dr. Pepper by Eduardo Paolozzi Dr Pepper1948Pop ArtCollageCollection of the Tate, UK Created as part of Paolozzi’s ‘Bunk’ series, ‘Dr. Pepper’ was inspired by Surrealist and Dadaist collage works by artists such as Max Ernst and Hannah Hoch. Paolozzi assembled the montage of blossoming American consumerism using colourful images cut out from American magazines. He … Continue reading Dr Pepper by Eduardo Paolozzi
White Doors by Vilhelm Hammershøi White Doors1905SymbolismOil on canvasThe David Collection, Copenhagen, Denmark At a glance ‘White Doors’ appears to have no subject matter, however, this non-existent theme contradicts its daring and complex narrative. Hammershøi’s sense of composition positions the viewer in the back-left corner of an empty room permitting glimpses into the rooms that … Continue reading White Doors by Vilhelm Hammershøi
Untitled (Citgo gas pump) by William Eggleston Untitled (Citgo gas pump)1976Modern PhotographyDye Imbibition PrintThe Eggleston Trust A man crosses the street towards a gas station, A parked car with its bonnet up is waiting to be worked on. No mechanic is present. The old house peeks out from behind the gas station observing new cars … Continue reading Untitled (Citgo gas pump) by William Eggleston
Villa Elisi by Antonio Sant'Elia Villa Elisi1912ArchitectureSan Maurizio, Italy Designed and built as a Holiday home for the industrialist Romeo Longatti, Villa Elisi was the only building designed by Sant’Elia to be completed in his lifetime. Whist small in size the villa features the asymmetrical, geometric designs seen in much of Sant’Elia’s work, including the … Continue reading Villa Elisi by Antonio Sant’Elia
Cakes by Wayne Thiebaud Cakes1963PhotorealismOil on canvasThe National Gallery of Art, Washington DC Sitting on cake stands as if on display in a baker’s shop ‘Cakes’ depicts an orderly arranged selection of patisserie. The gridded composition with overlapping cakes and shadows feels tight and static., yet the thinness of the cake stands seems less than … Continue reading Cakes by Wayne Thiebaud
Bakery Case by Wayne Thiebaud Bakery Case1996PhotorealismOil on canvasThiebaud Family Collection A simply designed display case sparsely populated with cakes and pastries contrasts dramatically with the ornately decorated wedding cake sitting on top of the case. Similar to ‘Cakes’ (1963) Thiebaud’s addition of a display case gives compositional depth and put the sweet delicacies out … Continue reading Bakery Case by Wayne Thiebaud
By the river working men play Factory life, fading background...
The Biglin Brothers Turning the Stake-Boat by Thomas Eakins The Biglin Brothers Turning the Stake-Boat1873RealismOil on canvasCollection of The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, USA Featuring a boat race on the Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania Eakins focuses on the two-man crew in the foreground as they pull their oars through the water. Rowing was one … Continue reading The Biglin Brothers Turning the Stake-Boat by Thomas Eakins
View of Rooftops (Snow Effect)1878-79ImpressionismOil on canvasMusée d'Orsay, Paris, France Caillebotte’s career had vastly increased in momentum by the fourth Impressionist exhibition in 1879. He submitted over 25 paintings, including ‘View of Rooftops’. There was no speculation as to his status as an Impressionist, Caillebotte was a full member of the Impressionism movement. The major … Continue reading View of Rooftops (Snow Effect) by Gustave Caillebotte
Untiltled by David Park Untitled1948Abstract ExpressionismOil on canvasPrivate Collection In 1948 Park was a teacher at the Californian School of Fine Art when he painted ‘Untitled’ and was still working in the Abstract Expressionism style. Despite being before his great conversion to more figurative art. ‘Untitled’ is populated by quasi-figurative shapes. It has a musical … Continue reading Untitled by David Park
Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair by Frida Kahlo Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair1940PortraitureOil on canvasMuseum of Modern Art, New York, USA ‘Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair’ depicts an androgynous Kahlo considered to be a confrontational gesture to Rivera’s demands for a divorce. Many strands of hair lie scattered on the floor and she holds on cut braid in … Continue reading Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair by Frida Kahlo
Une Rencontre Terrible by Honoré Daumier Une Rencontre Terrible (A Terrible Meeting)1845IllustrationLithographThe National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, USA When Daumier began creating lithographs for Philpon’s ‘Le Charivari’ his cynical gaze turned towards the Parisian bourgeoisie. ‘Une Rencontre Terrible’ depicts a well-dressed bourgeois family on an outing – the family looks out of place in … Continue reading Une Rencontre Terrible by Honoré Daumier
A Sudden Gust of Wind (after Hokusai) by Jeff Wall A Sudden Gust of Wind (after Hokusai)1993PhotographyCibachrome transparency mounted on a lightboxCollection of the Tate, United Kingdom ‘A Sudden Gust of Wind’ reinterprets a woodcut print scene by the Japanese printmaker and painter Katsushika Hokusai. In Wall’s photograph, the figures caught in the wind mimic … Continue reading A Sudden Gust of Wind (after Hokusai) by Jeff Wall
The Bellelli Family by Edgar Degas The Bellelli Family1858-67PortraitureOil on canvasMusée d'Orsay, Paris, France A subdued palette and unconventional grouping of the figures demonstrated the influence of Realism on the young Degas. He created ‘The Bellelli Family’ over several trips to Italy over 3-4 years. Each member of the family was individually sketched before being … Continue reading The Bellelli Family by Edgar Degas
The Back I by Henri Matisse The Back I1908-09SculptureBronzeThe Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA Sculpture was important to Matisse, although he is best known as a painter, and he was often inspired by Auguste Rodin. ‘The Back I’ is the first relief sculpture in a series of four that Matisse worked on between … Continue reading The Back I by Henri Matisse
Reclining Woman by Henri Laurens Reclining Woman1953CubismWoodcutThe Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA A prolific artist, Laurens illustrated many textbooks and books of poetry over his lifetime. In ‘Reclining Woman’ the artist transposed his curvilinear reclining female nude sculptures to woodcut. As with his sculptural work he reduced the female form to an organic, … Continue reading Reclining Woman by Henri Laurens
Your Rainbow Panorama by Olafur Eliasson Your Rainbow Panorama2011InstallationGlazed rainbow-coloured glass, steelARoS Kunstmuseum, Aarhus, Denmark A natural progression into architectural works evolved from Eliasson’s large scale installations and fascination with structure and form. ‘Your Rainbow Panorama blurs the lines between art and architecture. A permanent work set atop the ARoS Kunstmuseum in Denmark consists of … Continue reading Your Rainbow Panorama by Olafur Eliasson
Artistic expression reveals More than an image it is said...
Saint Serapion by Francisco de Zurbarán Saint Serapion1628BaroqueOil on canvasWadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, Connecticut, USA Zubarán’s canvas is filled with the figure of a youthful friar dressed in a white robe in this dramatic painting. Above his head, his wrists are tethered by ropes and his head hangs lifelessly on his right shoulder. … Continue reading Saint Serapion by Francisco de Zurbarán
Photograph from the series I am in training don't kiss me by Claude Cahun Photograph from the series "I am in training don't kiss me"1927PhotographyPhotographic Print Using props, stylized costumes, and make-up Cahun presents a feminized image of a strong man. Using this persona they conflate masculine and feminine stereotypes. The theatrical nature of the … Continue reading Photograph from the series “I am in training don’t kiss me” by Claude Cahun
Photogram by László Moholy-Nagy Photogram1926PhotographyGelatin silver printThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA Moholy-Nagy was engrossed with the life and form-giving effects of light throughout his career. Photogram reveals that obsession with light as the means of the visual composition. Photograms were camera-less photographs created by exposing photosensitive paper to light in controlled conditions, … Continue reading Photogram by László Moholy-Nagy
From the war he must flee From France to England So his art can be free...
Rearrangeable Panels by Allan Kaprow Rearrangeable Panels1957-59Performance ArtWood, mirror, paint, oak leaves, aluminium, textile, bitumen, electric lampsMusée National d'art Moderne Centre Pompidou, Paris, France Rearrangeable Panels represents the shift from art object to the surrounding environment as Kaprow began experimenting with the effect on space through three-dimensional and found objects. Each time the piece has … Continue reading Rearrangeable Panels by Allan Kaprow
Waiting for the Barbarians by Neo Rauch Waiting for the Barbarians2007Magic RealismOil on canvasMetropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA A scene populated by figures in chaotic motion, and in vibrant carnivalesque colours ‘Waiting for the Barbarians’ takes its name from a poem by Constantine P. Cavafy. There is an essence of the military influence … Continue reading Waiting for the Barbarians by Neo Rauch
The Offering by Neo Rauch The OfferingMagic RealismOil on canvasSotheby’s, New York, USA In a gesture of sacrifice, a parochial couple appears to be offering a struggling satyr. ‘The Offering’ is set in a forest with a strange factory building nearby, in the background, another couple is wrestling with the jaws of a cauldron creature. … Continue reading The Offering by Neo Rauch
Nude on a Couch by Gustave Caillebotte Nude on a Couch1880Realism,Oil on canvasMinneapolis Institute of Arts, USA A working-class Parisian makes an appearance in ’Nude on a Couch’, she is resting having removed her clothing and tossed it haphazardly on the end of the couch and left her shoes sitting beside it. The quality of … Continue reading Nude on a Couch by Gustave Caillebotte
Patutsky in Paradise by Jules Olitski Patutsky in Paradise1966Colour field PaintingAcrylic on canvasCollection of the Art Gallery of Ontario, Canada One of Olitski’s breakthroughs works during the mid-1960s. ‘Patutsky in Paradise’ demonstrates the use of high-powered spray guns to apply paint to canvas, producing seamless layers of colour that flow into one another without any … Continue reading Patutsky in Paradise by Jules Olitski
In reflection she poses Like so many before Yet he speaks of roses As he begins to draw...
https://youtu.be/6zhj7MARM6c Ventilator1997InstallationAltered fan, wire, and cableThe Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA ‘Ventilator’, Eliasson’s most celebrated early work, was a subtle kinetic sculpture first exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Simple and hypnotic the piece consisted of a fan hung from an electric cord while being propelled haphazardly around the … Continue reading Ventilator by Olafur Eliasson
https://youtu.be/q7vAt3FMwRE Organic Honey's Video Telepathy1972Performance ArtVideo PerformanceMACAB Collection While visiting Japan in 1970 Jonas bought her first hand-help video camera. On her return home, she began experimenting with the limits and capabilities of this new technology. ‘Organic Honey’s Video Telepathy’ is Jonas’ first creation using a TV screen and a live video feed. The artist … Continue reading Organic Honey’s Video Telepathy by Joan Jonas
Manila Shawl by Kees van Dongen Manila Shawl1907-09PortraitureOil on canvasMontreal Museum, Canada Approximately half the canvas is dedicated to the exuberant, multi-coloured display of the flowers on the dress and shawl draped across the female figure whilst exposing her neck and shoulder. ‘Manila Shawl’ is an almost full-length figure painting reflecting van Dongen’s mastery of … Continue reading Manila Shawl by Kees van Dongen
New York City Waterfalls by Olafur Eliasson New York City Waterfalls2008InstallationWater, scaffolding, steel grillage and troughs, pumps, piping, intake filter pool frames and filter fabric, LED lights, ultra-violet filters, concrete, switch gears, electrical equipment and wiring, control modules, and anemometersNew York, USA ‘New York City Waterfalls, Eliasson’s most popular work was commissioned by New York … Continue reading New York City Waterfalls by Olafur Eliasson
Maria by Kees van Dongen Maria1907-10FauvismOil on canvasMetropolitan Museum, New York, USA As the Fauve group was unravelling, ‘Maria’ brought together some of the features of Fauvism such as expressive use of unmixed colours and pictorial flatness, however, Van Dongen also introduces the element of realism thus marking a turning point in his art. Kees … Continue reading Maria by Kees van Dongen
Brush on board beyond sight...
Unbearable Naturalism1998Magic RealismOil on medium-density fibreboardDavid Zwirner Collection An early work by Rauch, ‘Unbearable Naturalism’ contains ambiguity in action in multiple spaces illustrating the absurd and the unconscious. Split in two, the composition depicts men with easels in both spaces as well as their painting equipment and canvases. Bizarre orange bubbles float alongside the subject … Continue reading Unbearable Naturalism by Neo Rauch
The Artistic Priests Movement: Les Nabis Started: 1880 Ended: 1910
La Femme au Canapé by Kees van Dongen La Femme au Canapé1930PortraitureOil on canvasMusée de Beaux-Arts de Montréal, Québec, Canada ‘La Femme au Canapé’ reveals van Dongen at the height of his career as a society portraitist. In alliance with Paul Poiret, van Dongen was working the circles where money was paid in making others … Continue reading La Femme au Canapé by Kees van Dongen
No. 7, Adulthood by Hilma Af Klint No. 7, Adulthood1907Abstract ExpressionismOil and tempera on paper and canvasHilma af Klint Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden No.7, from The Ten Largest series of the Paintings of the Temple like a meditative mandala 9a geometric pattern of Buddhist and Hindu origin). No. 7 is composed of free-flowing organic forms in … Continue reading No. 7, Adulthood by Hilma Af Klint
The Avenue of Chestnuts by Théodore Rousseau The Avenue of Chestnuts1837-41RealismOil on canvasMusée du Louvre, Paris, France A symmetrical arrangement of ancient trees leads the viewer into a depth of illusion, of sharp contrasts created by dark greens and lighter tones of gold and yellow. ‘The Avenue of Chestnuts’ instills a sense of immersion into … Continue reading The Avenue of Chestnuts by Théodore Rousseau
La Chimère Pie by Kees van Dongen La Chimère Pie1895ExpressionismOil on canvasNational Museum of Monaco, Monaco Painted when van Dongen was 18 years old ‘La Chimère Pie’ is a free representation of a mythical hybrid creature – between a horse and a bird – launching into the sky. Rendered with energetic outlines, reminiscent of cave … Continue reading La Chimère Pie by Kees van Dongen
Kiss by Bridget Riley Kiss1961Op ArtOil on canvasPrivate Collection After a relationship with Maurice de Sausmarez ended, Riley began to investigate the optical experience. In ‘Kiss’ she found her own forms to explore the vibrating and oscillating space she was drawn into by modern painters such as Georges Seurat and Piet Mondrian. The work is … Continue reading Kiss by Bridget Riley
Adivisory: Contains artistic nudity
Kinetic Stone Carving by Naum Gabo Kinetic Stone Carving1936-44Kinetic ArtPortland stoneCollection of the Tate, United Kingdom Carved from a single block of Portland Stone, ‘Kinetic Stone Carving’ is on of Gabo’s more anomalous and beautiful works. It probably would not have come into being without the artist’s friendship and stimulus with British abstract sculptors, including … Continue reading Kinetic Stone Carving by Naum Gabo
Saint Francis Contemplating a Skull by Francisco de Zurbarán Saint Francis Contemplating a Skull1633-35Religious ArtOil on canvasSaint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis, Missouri Saint Francis Contemplating a Skull demonstrates Zubarán’s ability to capture spirituality in his subjects. Dressed in the brown habit of the Franciscan Order the saint looks down at the human skull in … Continue reading Saint Francis Contemplating a Skull by Francisco de Zurbarán
Juniper Tree by Joan Jonas Juniper Tree1976InstallationInstallation and PerformanceCollection of the Tate, UK The Juniper Tree was first created in 1976 and has been recreated in both 1994 and 2018. The installation explored the artist’s love of folklore and of fairy tales and is Jonas’ interpretation of the Brothers Grim fairy tale of the same … Continue reading Juniper Tree by Joan Jonas
In the arbour jostling dappled shades and sunlight kiss against waiting glasses lingering mutations of light...
Hooves gallop With flaring manes Sinews flex...
Joy of Life (Le Bonheur de Vivre) by Henri Matisse Joy of Life (Le Bonheur de Vivre)1905-06FauvismOil on canvasThe Baltimore Museum of Art, Merion, Pennsylvania USA, Matisse often painted summer landscapes in the south of France during his Fauve period. Her would then work up the ideas he had there into larger compositions, such as … Continue reading Joy of Life (Le Bonheur de Vivre) by Henri Matisse
Ratapoil by Honoré Daumier Ratapoil1851SculpturePatinated bronzeMusée d'Orsay, Paris, France Ratapoil represents the shady, indefatigable image of the Napoleonic propaganda of the 1850s. Ratapoil translates as ‘skinned rat’ and Daumier, a committed Republican, was attacking the pro Bonaparte agents of the time. Produced in 1851, the exaggerated caricature seems fragile yet powerful. The frenetic lines of … Continue reading Ratapoil by Honoré Daumier
Jacob by Francisco de Zurbarán Jacob1640-45Religious ArtOil on canvasCollection of Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, England Zurbarán portrays the biblical figure of Jacob as an old man, A life size portrait ‘Jacob’ is one of a series of thirteen works of Jacob and his twelve sons. Standing as prime examples of Zubarán’s mature style these portraits … Continue reading Jacob by Francisco de Zurbarán
About the Jez of It 