Holly, I'll be serious (really) for a moment because this is Painting. Dali and Magritte are uh...not my favs. Nothing personal. I studied the old guys and I have seen the real thing. real Rembrandt, real Leonardo, and real Van Eyk (although I think I'm spelling it wrong, I can describe in detail Jan's little crucifixion painting at the Met. Museum of Art in NYC and Leonardo's portrait at the National Gallery in Wash DC so it's OK) and I can tell you for sure that Dali was in a bad dream. Rene was OK for magazine covers. Not to say it's not art. Just to say if you want to see some real mental hi-jinx, the old guys can't be beat.
Interestingly, you might describe my paintings as "surreal" (I have a bad thing for that word because I studied the movement) but in truth, I believe that Dali is closer to Tafkap than he is to, say, whomever.
It's the intention. Dali came close with the "time" thing, but he drifted off into his own movie. Plus, I've been to his spot in Florida, and I was shocked to see his original work. Go see any 16th century painting anywhere (or Rembrandt, who is astounding) and then look at him and you'll see what I mean.
There is skill and there is content. The only reason the old guys are not appreciated more (IMHO) is they were constricted by the Church.
I recall a particularly significant moment for me. I was at the Boston Museum of Fine Art one afternoon, right when they were closing up. I happened to be in one of the rooms with a little Rembrandt landscape. The light was coming only from the window in the room. I suddenly realized that that light was what he intended for me to see the painting in, not some spotlight. The painting was...well I can't describe it. That was one. There have been many. If you have any old guy's paintings nearby, try it once for me.
P.S. love Picasso, (used to hate him) Oldenburg, Dine, hate that swimming pool guy, and almost all Surrealism. strangely, like Geiger, but only because he seems to be on the right track maybe. He's a little...scary. hate rap and "super significance", like drag racing cars all painted up. |
