The Mona Lisa thread over in GQ got me thinking . . . I’m not all that wild about that painting, either.
My favorite artists are Holbein, Titian, Boldini, Sargent. But my all-time favorite painting (I have TWO prints of it at home!) is Titian’s “Portrait of a Young Englishman” (also known as “Man with Blue Eyes”), painted in the mid-1500s. It’s a very simple portrait, of a man in black against a dark background. The only color other than his face is his white lace collar and cuffs, and his hands. His face is amazingly done, you can practically see him move . . Beats Mona all hollow, as far as I’m concerned.
Matthaeus Grunewald’s CRUCIFIXION. The one with the leprous Christ.
Gustave Moreau’s SALOME DANCING BEFORE HEROD.
Arnold Boecklin’s THE ISLE OF THE DEAD.
Max Beckmann’s IN THE NIGHT.
The Otto Dix triptychs WAR and METROPOLIS.
Any one of Francis Bacon’s Screaming Popes.
On a less bloodthirsty note, I’ve lately begun admiring the paintings of Harald Sohlberg, a turn-of-the-century Scandanavian nature artist. FLOWER MEADOW IN THE NORTH COUNTRY is particularly nice, although it has an eerie ghostliness which perhaps links it with my tastes as exhibited in the above choices.
I just saw this 'un. It’s in a special display at the Chicago Art institute now. You’re right, the eyes are very striking.
I don’t think I could pick a favorite painting, or even a multitude of favorites. I can’t even pick a favorite painter! Redon, Gauguin, Picasso, Van Gogh, Degas might be tops for pieces I consistantly like.
I am so uneducated when it comes to art. I have a nicely framed reprint of “Mother and Child” by Renoir in the living room, but I bought it because I’m all sappy and maternal, not because I have any sort of special fondness for Renoir.
I like Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”…it’s on my mousepad…does that count?
Otherwise, my favorite works were done by my extraordinarily obscure best friends.
I’m a big impressionist fan. My mother has always attributed her love of Monet for her poor vision. “They always look just like the world should when I don’t have my glasses on.” I have a print of Renoir’s “In the Meadow” hanging on my bedroom wall, it’s the first thing I see in the morning. It reminds me of my best friend and I when we were but wee lasses. I think the best thing about a good painting is that you see a little bit of yourself in it.
Bunny, I love Maxfield Parrish, too—recently saw an exhibit of his work in Phila., it was very impressive.
Gaudere, I am soooo jealous—I hope that Chicago exhibit comes to NY! I’d almost shell out the cash to come to Chicago for a day just to see that painting!
And Ike, next time you make fun of ME for being dark and weird and creepy, I will reprint your list of favorite paintings . . .
NY to Chicago flights are cheap, and leave hourly. Bring me back an Italian Beef Sandwich and a Leinenkugel, wouldja?
The Brooklyn Museum of Art is mounting a big Maxfield Parrish exhibition from May 26 through August 6. BunnyGirl, book your flight early; Eve and I’ll go with you.
Oh man! What a dream!! Unfortunately, the vacation money is designated for a drive out west this summer. First vacation we’ve had since we’ve been married and it’s gonna be a budget-er type one. Better than nothing!!
I’ve gotten a couple of Parrish prints off a website called www.iloveadeal.com . I think this is the outlet site for Signals and Wireless catalogs (among others). Being a novice, I cannot attest for the quality of the print, but hey! I got a couple of the prints for $12.00 on sale, which makes me happy. Now, if I can figure out how to pay for the framing…
It is the Milk Maid by Jan Vermeer (The Netherlands, 1632-1675). This picture must be seen in reality, though. If you look at it for more than 10 seconds or so, the scene seems to come alive and you’re under the impression that the milk actually is flowing from the jar. It is much more beatiful than the Nightwatch, in my humble opinion (and when was the last time you saw THOSE words in their entirety??).
The Milk Maid can be seen in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
