FAVORITE PAINTINGS
'GUERNICA'- PABLO PICASSO, 1937 / In college I took an Art Appreciation class that spent an entire semester examining this amazing work of art and through that class I gained such a greater understanding of Picasso and what art can truly accomplish when used as social and political commentary. In fact, I learned more about Art from that one class then I did in all the rest of my Art classes combined. For all of his ego and bluster and crudeness, Picasso at heart was a man who cared deeply about his country and his people and that is evidenced completely in this passionate and powerful painting.
'PARIS THROUGH THE WINDOW' - MARC CHAGALL, 1913 / It's so easy to dismiss Chagall as simply a whimsical stylist whose paintings were more about color than content, but this painting alone would prove that argument wrong. The strength of 'Paris..' has everything to do with the power of Chagall's imagination and his ability to use elements of the real world to create fantastic images totally removed from the every day. Chagall's mastery of colors is evident, of course, but so is the romance, the vision, the clarity of style that sets Chagall apart from all other artists. Here we have a Paris that is recongnizable in symbols only, a skewed Paris that floats by like the dream of some enchanted tourist. And there is also the cat, Chagall's famous cat, one of the most memorable characters in all of art, who sits stoic and superior, perhaps in judgement, more likely in amusement, at the parade of absurdity outside his window.
'THE DANCE OF LIFE' - EDVARD MUNCH, 1899 / One of the first Artists to explore the psychology behind human nature, Munch was a true expressionist. This painting is a powerful exploration of the phases of a woman's life, - from the beauty and freedom of youth to the acceptance of age and mortality. The contrast between light and dark offset by the use of deep, rich colors is mesmerizing.
'TWO CHILDREN ARE THREATENED BY A NIGHTINGALE' - MAX ERNST, 1924 / Strange, hypnotic, thought-provoking; like most of Ernst's work, this piece is hard to define yet accessible at the same time. David Lynch was no doubt influenced by Ernst and this mixed-media piece could easily be a scene from one of his movies. Danger and menace reverberate from this work, yet there is also great beauty in the composition. My favorite surrealist.
'THE STARRY NIGHT' - VINCENT VAN GOGH / I believe God spoke through Van Gogh and the words exploded onto canvas. This paintings is poetry made real, a glorius depiction of our world brought forth with passion and without pretense. The beauty of life dances across the canvas.Van Gogh was a true visionary.
'BIRTHDAY' - MARC CHAGALL, 1915 / One of the most Romantic paintings ever, 'Birthday' captures a man impulsively expressing feelings for a woman who is completely taken off-guard. The excitement, thrill, and wonder of love is conveyed beautifully here by the fluidity of Chagall's delicate brush and the subtletly of his colors. Chagall's best work, of which this painting is definitely included, are charged with his own love for life and passion for painting.
'SKELETONS FIGHTING FOR THE BODY OF A HANGED MAN' - JAMES ENSOR, 1891 / Gruesome, imaginative, freakish- this painting totally exemplifies the work of Ensor. Here was another artist who used his work to comment on society and politics and proved a harsh critic indeed. His reliance on Masks and skeletons and harsh colors to depict the dirty under-belly of 'civilized' life is all here in this bold and aggressively expressionistic painting. Ensor was a fearless original.
'MY BIRTH' - FRIDA KAHLO, 1932 / This painting grabs you and doesn't let go. Frida's work was about conveying her life and inner-most thoughts, about exorcising demons. Not for the casual viewer, 'My Birth' is haunting and vivid and screams with Frida's pain and misery and resignation.
'RESURRECTION' - EL GRECO, 1595 / El Greco was the most expressive of early painters and his fluid, painterly style brought out the passion and emotion of each scene he depicted. 'The Resurrection' is overwhelming in its glory, its beauty and infused with El Greco's complete understanding of the power of his subject. This painting is so alive you almost feel like you are actually watching Christ ascend.
'THE OLD BLIND GUITAR PLAYER' - PICASSO, 1903 / Picasso's 'Blue Period' was such a strong commentary on the social ill's of the time and a reflection of his own state-of-mind. 'Guitar Player' is my favorite among these works because it is indicative of everything Picasso was trying to accomplish with the 'Blue' paintings; a deceptively simple composition drawn from real life and a limited but effective color pallet used to express compassion and garner empathy for it's subjects. This piece gains it's particular strength from the juxtoposition of the weak, expressive figure against the strong, unyielding guitar. The result is a humanistic statement about the fragility of man.
OTHERS:
'Departure'
- Max Beckman, 1932
'Carnival Evening' - Henry Rousseau, 1886
'Vision After the Sermon' - Paul Gauguin, 1888
'The Player Schneklud' - Paul Gauguin, 1894
'The Entry of Christ into Brussels 1889'- James Ensor, 1888
'Lavender Mist' - Jackson Pollack, 1950
'The Teetering Woman' - Max Ernst
'The Bed' - Frida Khalo
'Self-Portrait with a Wine Bottle' - Edvard Munch
'The Kiss' - Gustav Klimt
'Death and Life' - Gustav Klimt, 1908
'Dejeuner sur l'herbe' - Edourd Manet, 1863
'Moulin de la Galette' - Auguste Renoir, 1876
'Large Reclining Nude' - Matisse, 1935
'One of the Eight Spheres of Yoga: "The Sphere of Posture" - Will
Mentor, 1985
'The Dreamer' - Picasso, 1932
'Dedication to Oskar Panizza' - George Grosz, 1917
'Crows Over The Wheatfield' - Van Gogh
'Early Sunday Morning' - Edward Hopper, 1930
'The Nighthawks' - Edward Hopper. 1942
'Lunar Flight' - C. Frank Haas, 1996
'Wailing Woman' - Alex Clark, 2000
'The Sun King' - Louis St. Lewis, 1995(?)
FAVORITE
ARTISTS
(After Picasso the rest fall in no particular order)
PABLO PICASSO
EDVARD MUNCH
MAURICE SENDAK
SUE COE
RODIN
MAX ERNST
JAMES ENSOR
GUSTAV KLIMT
MAX BECKMAN
VINCENT VAN GOGH
PAUL GAUGUIN
EL GRECO
FRIDA KAHLO
JACKSON POLLACK
JACK 'KING' KIRBY
CHARLES SCHULTZ
GEORGE GROSZ
KIRK'S BLOGS:
'SANCTUARY ART' - previewing and commenting on KIrk Art 'fresh off the easel'
'GHOSTS OF AUTUMN' - online exhibit celebrating the mountains of NC
