M.C. Escher

Born in 1892, the Dutch artist M.C. Escher is often associated with dorm-room posters or coffee book tables of his graphic art. Although he has become very "mainstream", I am still often struck by the oddness of hisi work. I remember as a child sitting for hours looking at my Escher book, amazed, and a little disturbed by the twists and turns and optic tricks he was able to create (without the aid of a computer). I realize that I've fast-forwarded a few centuries from my typical posts, but I recently was reminded of his work by a friend and thought I'd take a look at it again:

Gericault's Man Woman

A reader recommended that I check out this Theodore Gericault painting, entitled The Mad Woman with a Mania of Envy. Completed in 1823, the work is one of ten portraits (only five remain today) in which Gericault portrays a subject with a mental disorder. These haunting images make me really wonder what it must have been like to suffer from a mental illness in a time when they just "sent you off to a nut house". So sad, but such beautiful paintings.

Engulfed in flames

Skull with Cigarette by Van Gogh has become a classic image - many a college dorm wall has been adorned with posters of this strange figure. It is believed that Vincent painted this while in school in an anatomy class. Measuring 32 x 24.5 cm and oil on canvas, I can think of almost no other image that gives me a better chuckle. You may also recognize it from the cover of David Sedaris' most recent book, When You Are Engulfed in Flames.

Michelangelo's Pietà

La Pietà by Michelangelo is one of history's most famous sculptures. The statue was completed in 1499 and depicts Jesus and the Virgin Mary, the latter represented in a very youthful and peaceful state, as a commission for the French cardinal Jean de Billheres.

The piece was originally placed in the Chapel of Santa Petronilla at Saint Peter's in Rome; however, it was moved several times throughout the years to accomodate renovations, causing substantial damage to Mary's fingers. In a highly infamous move in 1972, a geologist attacked the sculpture with a hammer, after which La Pietà had to undergo major restoration.

The piece now resides inside a bullet-proof box, once again at Saint Peter's.

Holbein's Dance of Death Alphabet

Last week I posted about Hans Holbein the Younger's Dance of Death. I feel like I left out a significant, and much acclaimed, section of the work - the Alphabet. Each letter measures only 2.5 x 2.5 cm, but is so full of detail that is even difficult to see in an enlargement. Below is a random sampling of some of the letters...

Dance of Death

Perhaps Hans Holbein the Younger's most well-known work of art is the Dance of Death. The group of 41 woodcuts was created in 1526, and published over a decade later. The chilling macabre images were revolutionary at the time - depicting death as an ever-present figure, intertwined with daily life.

I. The Creation

XXVI. The Physician

XXXV. The New-Married Lady

Giacometti

I have always been a major admirer of the work of Alberto Giacometti. His elongated, brittle forms are beautifully haunting and always conjure up images of post-war thoughts of loss and desperation, for me. The Swiss artist currently is the subject of a major show at the Beyeler Foundation in Basel.

Click here to see information about the 2001 Giacometti show at the MoMA

Henri Cartier-Bresson - photograph of Giacometti, 1961

Three Men Walking II, 1949, bronze

Dog, 1951, cast 1957, bronze