Culture: A Walk Through British Art History @ Tate Britain London

 (Drivebycuriosity) - My wife and I are staying in Vauxhall, the first part of our long London visit. The place is close to the Tate Britain where admission is free. That inspires us to visit the museum more times. I already reported about their Van Gogh show ( driveby). On Thursday we started to explore their regular collection which is displayed in chronological order, each room contains a certain historical period, beginning in the mid-sixteens century   (tate.org  ). I present here my favorites, a very subjective selection as usual.

Above the painting which fascinated me most: John Singleton Cople`s "The Death of Major Peirson, 6 January 1781", executed 1783. This picture celebrates the British defense of Jersey against French invasion in 1781 and also pays tribute to a young Major, Francis Peirson, who lost his life in the process.

I am also impressed by Joseph Mallord William Turner`s "The Field of Waterloo",  exhibited 1818. England `s victory over Napoleon had a high price and Turner went to the battlefield in order to document the horror.

Above Peter Monamy`s "Ships in Distress in a Storm" from 1720–30 

Above Samuel Scott`s "An Arch of Westminster Bridge" from 1750.

Henry Fuseli`s "Titania and Bottom" from 1790.

And more lovely ladies: Sir Peter Lely`s "Susanna and the Elders"  1650–5 &  "Elizabeth, Countess of Kildare"  1679,  Paul Van Somer`s "Lady Elizabeth Grey, Countess of Kent"  1619, Sir Nathaniel Bacon`s "Cookmaid with Still Life of Vegetables and Fruit"  c.1620–5 & an unknown artist`s "A Young Lady Aged 21" , Possibly Helena Snakenborg, Later Marchioness of Northampton,1569 .

"The Cholmondeley Ladies" by another unknown artist, 1600–10.

To be continued

Modern Art: Magic Realism - Art In Weimar Germany 1919 - 1933 @ Tate Modern London

 (Drivebycuriosity) - My wife and I are visiting London where we stay in Vauxhall. We use the opportunity and visit museums and art galleries nearby. Yesterday we went again to the Tate Modern where already saw the Dorothea Tanning show ( driveby).

Yesterday we saw the exhibition "Magic Realism - Art In Weimar Germany 1919 - 1933" which displays German art from between the wars (tate). Many German artists were turning away from the idealistic tendencies that prevailed before the First World War in favor of a news form of realism. The curators claim that "in the context of growing political extremism, the new realism reflected a fluid social experience as well as inner worlds of emotion and magic".

Above you can see Franz Radziwill`s  "Gespräch über einen Paragraphen" from 1929. The painting refers to the discussion about abortion which was illegal in Germany then. Then follows Max Beckmann`s "Anni (Mädchen mit Fächer)" from 1942.

Above  "Langweilige Puppen" by Jeanne Mammen (1929) & Josef Ebert`s "Tänzerin (Beatrice Mariagraete)" from 1923.

Above Otto Rudolf Schatz`s  "Mondfrauen" 1(930) followed by Otto Griebel`s "Zwei Frauen" (1924) & Lovis Conrith`s "Magdalene mit Perlenkette im Haar" (1919).

Rudolf Schlichter`s "Der Künstler mit zwei erhängten Frauen"  (1924).

To be continued

Art: Meeting Van Gogh @ Tate Britain London

(Drivebycuriosity) - There is a thin line between genius and madness, so they say. Van Gogh certainly walked on this line. I was happy to see a large Van Gogh exhibition at Tate Britain in London (tate.org).

Above you can see my favorite, the psychedelic "Starry Night".

I also love how his self-portraits had evolved in few years: "Self-Portrait with Felt Hat" from 1886/87 followed by "Self-Portrait" (1887) & "Self-Portrait" (1889).

His famous "Sun Flowers"also show his unique technique.

Above "Loom with weaver" (1884) & "The Prison Court Yard" (1890).

Above some of his landscapes: "Autumn Landscape at Dusk" (1885); "The Bois de Boulogne with People Walking" (1886) &"Pollard Willows at Sunset" (1888)

The exhibition included paintings by friends & admirers, including Francis Bacon`s hommage  "Study for Portrait of Van Gogh IV" from  1957.

Stay tuned