Searching the ordinary for the extraordinary
Birthdays
Happy Birthday, Pierre-Auguste Renior
“To my mind, a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful, and pretty, yes pretty! There are too many unpleasant things in life as it is without creating still more of them.” Pierre-Auguste Renoir “The work of art must seize upon you, wrap you up in itself, carry you away. It is the means by which […]
MoreHappy Birthday, Grant Wood
“All the good ideas I ever had came to me while I was milking a cow.” Grant Wood Grant Wood’s American Gothic is arguably the most recognized painting in 20th-century American art. It comes from the environment in which Grant Wood was raised: the rural American Midwest. The story behind the painting goes back […]
MoreHappy Birthday, Max Beckmann
“I believe that the reason why I love painting so much is that it forces one to be objective. There is nothing I hate more than sentimentality.” Max Beckmann (February 12, 1884 – December 27, 1950) Max Beckmann lived in a time of conflict and fundamental change. His artwork is a brilliant reflection of this […]
MoreHappy Birthday, Paula Modersohn-Becker
“I think the time is coming for struggle and uncertainty. It comes into every serious and beautiful life. I knew all along that it had to come.” Paula Modersohn-Becker (February 8, 1876 – November 21, 1907) Paula Modersohn-Becker was a rare combination of artist and writer. A diarist and prodigious letter-writing, she offered us […]
MoreHappy Birthday, John Singer Sargent
If you are one of those who enjoy statistical probabilities, then you would agree with me that John Singer Sargent has a high likelihood of appearing in an art gallery. This was my thought when I entered the Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum, Aberdeen, Scotland. I was not disappointed. Mrs. J. W. Crombie, an oil […]
MoreHappy Birthday, Paul Cézanne
Today marks the birthday of Paul Cézanne. Paul Cézanne’s life is a poignant reminder that it is not easy to be the bridge between ideas. It takes courage to go forward into unknown territory, alone without support or encouragement. Cézanne was the connection between two art forms – late 19th century Impressionism and early 20th […]
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