IT'S GOOD TO BE ALIVE
The list was made and it’s very long. All the exhibitions that I want to see in the coming year. As is always the case in France we are kept waiting until mid end of September of each year before there are openings and then naturally, everything comes at once. I had been booked to go to Lille for quite a while but at the last moment due to a rather tiresome unforeseen event I needed to postpone the trip until later. As it so happens it was a good idea as Lille 3000 started on the 26th of September and my trip was now planned for the end of the month.
The theme this year is « Renaissance » with more than 35 large exhibitions being held in Lille and surroundings. Cities - art of the « Renaissance » Seoul, Indhoven Phnom Penh, Detroit and I could go on. What I was mainly interested in was an exhibition at The Beaux Arts « Joie de Vivre » or perhaps "The Love of Life"?
Art has always played a significant role in the representation of happiness. Hedonism, gaiety, sensuality, pleasures of the body or of the soul – the history of art is teeming with artists who have been able to show what inspires the joy of living through painting, drawing or sculpture.
« Joie de vivre », embraces all eras and all modes of expression. From Arcadia, the utopian society celebrated in Antiquity, to the little joys of everyday life (family, childhood, games), not to forget music, dancing and celebration. This exhibition is a reminder of all the reasons we have to rejoice.
From what I had read it would be one of those blockbusters but the theme was one that appealed to me. Like all of us, I am more than sick of violence and images that are not always easy to take in our everyday life.
More than 120 works divided into 5 sections. Although I normally would not talk about the sections, they are interesting in themselves and regardless of culture we were to find the art of living, the art of loving and having fun which have inspired artists of all times and I do mean of all times.
Like a star I walked down the grand stairway and saw the "Rising Sun". A welcome sign from the sun rays which irradiate and heat the space around us. The sun has always been there. Mark Handforth, the artist leads us into this joyful world with an open arm greeting.
It is not surprising then that our first section is called « Under the Sun ». Sun was a major subject for artists at the end of the 19th century onwards.
The first painting was a somewhat surprising one. Edvard Munch « Men Bathing » (1907-1908) . I don’t imagine that the fjords near Oslo were actually warm enough for people to wander around naked, although I must say that my Scandinavian and Finish friends walk around in T-shirts when it’s no warmer than 10° These men are northern gods, virile and undoubtedly an elitist set out to prove their strength in such a climate.
Then we move onto Henri-Edmond Cross (1856-1910). « Evening Air » « (« L’Air du Soir »). The end of an afternoon in the South France. The atmosphere caresses the skins of the young women enjoying the warmth of the end of the day.
But how about Kupka (1871-1957 Frantisek Kupka: Czechoslovakian ) « L’Eau » Can’t you just feel the pleasure of being in the water?
Renoir of course (1841-1919). This was a study done (1875-76) for the effect of the sun on her torso. Once again the sun beams gently down onto her body. It’s like a transparent veil caressing her skin.
What a change for Kupka. « Sun » (between 1930 and 35). Kupka was a pioneer of abstract art in Russia. Between the two wars his paintings became more realistic like this sun which really does represent movement and the sun’s rays.
This was a surprising painting for me by Raoul Dufy (1877-1953)
« Nageuse Rouge » painted around 1925. In my book Dufy has always been a joyful painter. Like Matisse for that matter. In this painting there is a feeling of liberty as she swims or plays perhaps in the water?
Here is Cross again. Quite different although the pointillism is very obvious. « Les Iles d’Or or « Golden Islands". Don’t you have that feeling when you are looking out at the sea. Just being happy?
Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) « Sunrise » (1965) A sculpture made in enamel and porcelain which when you are next to it, you can see that the edges have been perforated.
I was already feeling the warmth of the sun and could hear the lapping of the water as I wandered into the next gallery. SIMPLE PLEASURES.
The French word for happiness is « bonheur » . But does happiness only mean having a good time? The Joie de Vivre can surely be found in many small pleasures as fleeting as they maybe. The games that children play, have played throughout the centuries. Perhaps it was as early as the Romans that we discovered children at play
This is from the Roman Empire
and how delightful .« Le Maitre peintre »by Jan Verhas (1834-1896). He was from Belgium and famous in his time for paintings of children.
« Jeux d’enfants à la toilette » by Charles-Antoine Coypel (1694-1752) and painted in 1728. I really can’t imagine that children played such erotic games at that age but however you look at this painting, they certainly appear to be having a lovely time.
I’m sure there are not too many little girls who play badminton in such clothes today. The artist is Jean-Siméon Chardin (1699-1799). Engraved in the frame are the words (translated):-
« happy as I am, a racket and a shuttlecock are what makes me happy »…..
This painting by Renoir is I think known to us all. All his children adored playing with tin soldiers. This is Claude.
Picasso wanted to paint a figure which did not have its feet firmly planted on the ground. Well it ended up as a sculpture « Petite Fille sautant à la corde »-1950 (Little Girl skipping). She seems to be suspended in the air. Are her shoes just a little bit too big? Charlie Chaplin for me!
Now the wedding by Albert Yport (1854-1937)
or Fernard Léger’s « Pleasure on a Red Background » done in 1949
and at that moment I read:-
« C’est un métier, la sieste » (Jacques Dutronc) The siesta is a craft….and she looks beautiful with it. (Denis Foyatier 1793-1863)
or would you believe a Russian Peasant escaping from his work and lying in the grass? « Fete Day » by Niocolaï Kouznetsov (1850-1929). This is a delicious moment of abandon for a young peasant on a holiday.
Another thought
« The Pleasure of what we know is sometimes easier than something which is new »
The last painting but it’s a photograph by Isabelle Arthuis. During a Art festival » in Saint-Briac-sur-Mer in 2011, she invited the locals to participate in a banquet. The table was dug in the sand and while the tide rolled in, the guests ate, laughed, sang and where merry until the tide « swallowed » up their feast!
Now not only was I relaxed, but I was humming to myself as well. On we go to TIES
I guess I have always felt in a family or friend context that being tied to someone involved mutual respect. Family is of course very important and the history of art has depicted such happiness beginning with the theme of maternity until the end of time. Strange as it may seem, only a few of the painting really touched me in this section.
Maurice Denis (1870-1943) « Soir in September ». Not perhaps a typical family scene but it’s a joyful one.
I liked this. « New Born, New Life » by the Chinese Yan Pei-Ming. He has done a series of these, some of which I have seen elsewhere. The baby here is laughing - ah yes, I mean it.
The sculpture « Le Baiser » by Gustave Crauk (1827-1905) is one of his masterpieces. You can see the wings on the child? Sadly, the child is dead and the Mother takes him in her arms one last time.
JUBILATION. This is a stranger word. Extreme happiness or Triumph? Or both. I don’t really think that it is a word we use in our everyday language. Here we were entering into the Gallery of Jubilation….so what would I find?
Jan Brueghel (1538-1625) « The Dance at the Wedding » around 1600. There is a lot of « extreme happiness »
This particular painting done by Georges-Antoine Rochegrosse (1859-1938) called « Le Bal des Quat’zarts descendant Les Champs Elysées" was organized by the students of the Beaux Art. The Four disciplines at this institution are or were painting, architecture, sculpture, engraving - hence the play on words…and this was a cortege …quite surprising, no?
From Anvers we have Alesander Van Bredael (1663-1720) « A Traditional Fete in Anvers (1697). This was every year. Each one was a symbol. For instance the boat represented the wealth of the city. The whale evoked a historical fact. Apparently a whale had swum up the river before it was killed by the inhabitants.
Now here we have the family picnic by Martin Parr (1952-). It looks a trifle excessive to me.
So those few examples could well mean JUBILATION. Triumph, excess….
What would we see now?
JOYFUL BODY (Wow) or Elation.
There had to be some Picasso in the air…..
But first there was a photo by André Kertész (1894-1985) of a Burlesque Dancer. Kertész was Hungarian although he did live in Paris. This crazy photo of the singer and dancer seems to resemble the leg sculpture next to her….
Ah finally a Picasso again and this is the poster for the exhibition. « Two Women running on the Beach » (1922)…these women are free, breasts swinging and joyful with it
Next to this was « Bathers Playing Ball » (1928). After his cubic period but again, what movement, what energy.
"The Nymph Lo and Jupiter" by Fragonard (1732-1806). Her body certainly does not leave anything t
the imagination, it’s even lewd or libertine which was much in vogue in the 18th century.
Just as this painting is by Anne-Louis Giradet done in 1791. When I first looked at it from an angle I was not too sure if it was man or woman…it’s neither man or woman…..
Another Picasso and we all know her.
« Femme Couchée » painted in 1932. It’s his young love Marie-Therese Walter. Abandon, maybe asleep ecstasy….
Paul Véronaise (1528-1588) « Léda and the Swan » (1585) is another erotic work from the Italian Renaissance
Let’s finish this gallery with Franz Hals,
before we enter the next section which is called LAUGHTER - we were coming to the end of our visit. Laughter would be a lovely way to do it….
Strange to think that laughter certainly changes with the times. We may not laugh in the same way, nor at the same things. My Mother use to say that Australians have a very dry sense of humor. Tongue in cheek. I think that’s true as even today I am accused of « teasing » someone as they don’t think I am being funny at all. It’s only in the modern era that artists dared to portray laughter openly….some paintings don’t make you laugh at all….these few do…..or at least they make me smile…
George Baselitz
Gerrit van Honthorst « Woman tuning her Lute »
Obama by Peter Young taken in 2008…so one can laugh in politics
and finally Murakami (1962-) with KUMO-KUN (Mr Cloud) and that means « mignon » in Japanese….it may only be a superficial laugh endeavoring to hide something else, but whatever is behind that open smiling mouth made me leave the exhibition, humming and smiling broadly to myself.
 |
| The Palais Beaux |
 |
| Not really joyful |
Art has always played a significant role in the representation of happiness. Hedonism, gaiety, sensuality, pleasures of the body or of the soul – the history of art is teeming with artists who have been able to show what inspires the joy of living through painting, drawing or sculpture.
« Joie de vivre », embraces all eras and all modes of expression. From Arcadia, the utopian society celebrated in Antiquity, to the little joys of everyday life (family, childhood, games), not to forget music, dancing and celebration. This exhibition is a reminder of all the reasons we have to rejoice.
From what I had read it would be one of those blockbusters but the theme was one that appealed to me. Like all of us, I am more than sick of violence and images that are not always easy to take in our everyday life.
More than 120 works divided into 5 sections. Although I normally would not talk about the sections, they are interesting in themselves and regardless of culture we were to find the art of living, the art of loving and having fun which have inspired artists of all times and I do mean of all times.
Like a star I walked down the grand stairway and saw the "Rising Sun". A welcome sign from the sun rays which irradiate and heat the space around us. The sun has always been there. Mark Handforth, the artist leads us into this joyful world with an open arm greeting.
It is not surprising then that our first section is called « Under the Sun ». Sun was a major subject for artists at the end of the 19th century onwards.
The first painting was a somewhat surprising one. Edvard Munch « Men Bathing » (1907-1908) . I don’t imagine that the fjords near Oslo were actually warm enough for people to wander around naked, although I must say that my Scandinavian and Finish friends walk around in T-shirts when it’s no warmer than 10° These men are northern gods, virile and undoubtedly an elitist set out to prove their strength in such a climate.
Then we move onto Henri-Edmond Cross (1856-1910). « Evening Air » « (« L’Air du Soir »). The end of an afternoon in the South France. The atmosphere caresses the skins of the young women enjoying the warmth of the end of the day. 
But how about Kupka (1871-1957 Frantisek Kupka: Czechoslovakian ) « L’Eau » Can’t you just feel the pleasure of being in the water?
 |
Renoir of course (1841-1919). This was a study done (1875-76) for the effect of the sun on her torso. Once again the sun beams gently down onto her body. It’s like a transparent veil caressing her skin.
What a change for Kupka. « Sun » (between 1930 and 35). Kupka was a pioneer of abstract art in Russia. Between the two wars his paintings became more realistic like this sun which really does represent movement and the sun’s rays.
This was a surprising painting for me by Raoul Dufy (1877-1953)
« Nageuse Rouge » painted around 1925. In my book Dufy has always been a joyful painter. Like Matisse for that matter. In this painting there is a feeling of liberty as she swims or plays perhaps in the water?Here is Cross again. Quite different although the pointillism is very obvious. « Les Iles d’Or or « Golden Islands". Don’t you have that feeling when you are looking out at the sea. Just being happy?
Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) « Sunrise » (1965) A sculpture made in enamel and porcelain which when you are next to it, you can see that the edges have been perforated.
I was already feeling the warmth of the sun and could hear the lapping of the water as I wandered into the next gallery. SIMPLE PLEASURES.
The French word for happiness is « bonheur » . But does happiness only mean having a good time? The Joie de Vivre can surely be found in many small pleasures as fleeting as they maybe. The games that children play, have played throughout the centuries. Perhaps it was as early as the Romans that we discovered children at play
This is from the Roman Empire
and how delightful .« Le Maitre peintre »by Jan Verhas (1834-1896). He was from Belgium and famous in his time for paintings of children.
« Jeux d’enfants à la toilette » by Charles-Antoine Coypel (1694-1752) and painted in 1728. I really can’t imagine that children played such erotic games at that age but however you look at this painting, they certainly appear to be having a lovely time.
I’m sure there are not too many little girls who play badminton in such clothes today. The artist is Jean-Siméon Chardin (1699-1799). Engraved in the frame are the words (translated):-
« happy as I am, a racket and a shuttlecock are what makes me happy »…..
This painting by Renoir is I think known to us all. All his children adored playing with tin soldiers. This is Claude.
Picasso wanted to paint a figure which did not have its feet firmly planted on the ground. Well it ended up as a sculpture « Petite Fille sautant à la corde »-1950 (Little Girl skipping). She seems to be suspended in the air. Are her shoes just a little bit too big? Charlie Chaplin for me!
Now the wedding by Albert Yport (1854-1937)
or Fernard Léger’s « Pleasure on a Red Background » done in 1949
and at that moment I read:-
« C’est un métier, la sieste » (Jacques Dutronc) The siesta is a craft….and she looks beautiful with it. (Denis Foyatier 1793-1863)
or would you believe a Russian Peasant escaping from his work and lying in the grass? « Fete Day » by Niocolaï Kouznetsov (1850-1929). This is a delicious moment of abandon for a young peasant on a holiday.Another thought
« The Pleasure of what we know is sometimes easier than something which is new »
The last painting but it’s a photograph by Isabelle Arthuis. During a Art festival » in Saint-Briac-sur-Mer in 2011, she invited the locals to participate in a banquet. The table was dug in the sand and while the tide rolled in, the guests ate, laughed, sang and where merry until the tide « swallowed » up their feast!
Now not only was I relaxed, but I was humming to myself as well. On we go to TIES
I guess I have always felt in a family or friend context that being tied to someone involved mutual respect. Family is of course very important and the history of art has depicted such happiness beginning with the theme of maternity until the end of time. Strange as it may seem, only a few of the painting really touched me in this section.
Maurice Denis (1870-1943) « Soir in September ». Not perhaps a typical family scene but it’s a joyful one.
I liked this. « New Born, New Life » by the Chinese Yan Pei-Ming. He has done a series of these, some of which I have seen elsewhere. The baby here is laughing - ah yes, I mean it.
The sculpture « Le Baiser » by Gustave Crauk (1827-1905) is one of his masterpieces. You can see the wings on the child? Sadly, the child is dead and the Mother takes him in her arms one last time.
JUBILATION. This is a stranger word. Extreme happiness or Triumph? Or both. I don’t really think that it is a word we use in our everyday language. Here we were entering into the Gallery of Jubilation….so what would I find?
Jan Brueghel (1538-1625) « The Dance at the Wedding » around 1600. There is a lot of « extreme happiness »
This particular painting done by Georges-Antoine Rochegrosse (1859-1938) called « Le Bal des Quat’zarts descendant Les Champs Elysées" was organized by the students of the Beaux Art. The Four disciplines at this institution are or were painting, architecture, sculpture, engraving - hence the play on words…and this was a cortege …quite surprising, no? 
From Anvers we have Alesander Van Bredael (1663-1720) « A Traditional Fete in Anvers (1697). This was every year. Each one was a symbol. For instance the boat represented the wealth of the city. The whale evoked a historical fact. Apparently a whale had swum up the river before it was killed by the inhabitants.
Now here we have the family picnic by Martin Parr (1952-). It looks a trifle excessive to me.
So those few examples could well mean JUBILATION. Triumph, excess….
What would we see now?
JOYFUL BODY (Wow) or Elation.
Of course the body can be a symbol of joy. After all the ancient philosophers recommend the practice of everything that allows the body not to suffer and the should not to be troubled!
There had to be some Picasso in the air…..
But first there was a photo by André Kertész (1894-1985) of a Burlesque Dancer. Kertész was Hungarian although he did live in Paris. This crazy photo of the singer and dancer seems to resemble the leg sculpture next to her….
Ah finally a Picasso again and this is the poster for the exhibition. « Two Women running on the Beach » (1922)…these women are free, breasts swinging and joyful with it
Next to this was « Bathers Playing Ball » (1928). After his cubic period but again, what movement, what energy.
"The Nymph Lo and Jupiter" by Fragonard (1732-1806). Her body certainly does not leave anything tthe imagination, it’s even lewd or libertine which was much in vogue in the 18th century.
Just as this painting is by Anne-Louis Giradet done in 1791. When I first looked at it from an angle I was not too sure if it was man or woman…it’s neither man or woman…..
Another Picasso and we all know her.
« Femme Couchée » painted in 1932. It’s his young love Marie-Therese Walter. Abandon, maybe asleep ecstasy….
Paul Véronaise (1528-1588) « Léda and the Swan » (1585) is another erotic work from the Italian Renaissance
Let’s finish this gallery with Franz Hals,
before we enter the next section which is called LAUGHTER - we were coming to the end of our visit. Laughter would be a lovely way to do it….
Strange to think that laughter certainly changes with the times. We may not laugh in the same way, nor at the same things. My Mother use to say that Australians have a very dry sense of humor. Tongue in cheek. I think that’s true as even today I am accused of « teasing » someone as they don’t think I am being funny at all. It’s only in the modern era that artists dared to portray laughter openly….some paintings don’t make you laugh at all….these few do…..or at least they make me smile…
George Baselitz
Gerrit van Honthorst « Woman tuning her Lute »
Obama by Peter Young taken in 2008…so one can laugh in politics
and finally Murakami (1962-) with KUMO-KUN (Mr Cloud) and that means « mignon » in Japanese….it may only be a superficial laugh endeavoring to hide something else, but whatever is behind that open smiling mouth made me leave the exhibition, humming and smiling broadly to myself.
Commentaires