CHILDREN IN ART

It’s virtually a year since I went to the Marmottan to see

« We Have come a long way, have we not? »

THE INVENTION OF PRIVACY

I was certainly not taking chances of going back to the same museum on a Sunday. The exhibition that I wanted to see has raving critics. It was a springtime day - a holiday weekend - who knows I might be lucky. Off I went to see

« Art and the Child »

The Museum
 A rare selection of paintings which retraces the evolution of the importance of the child in the 15th century to the 20th century and considers the influence of childhood drawings on the avant garde of the last century.

The show follows a chronological and thematic order, starting with pictures of the child Christ. It continues with images of children as kings, in royal portraits in which youth became a guarantee of the survival of great family names. Very historical and problem for most, a good way of giving a history lesson. It touched me to see so many grandmothers with their grandchildren. Every now and again, I stopped to listen. My Mother did the same for Nicky.

Portrait of the future Louis XlV 17thC

Louis Xlll in mourning clothes - 16th:17th C

In the 18th century, social progress engendered a new way of thinking about childhood, with value given to family feelings. The Age of Enlightenment opened a new era where the child held a more central place, focusing on the importance of education and welfare

Jean Louis David's pupils "Family Portraitb18th-19thC




Gonzales "Trumpeter" 18th-19thC

In this context, artists were prompted to capture the affection of parents and children, and the innocence of youth. The French Revolution also provided profound changes, especially by promoting the idea of social equality and boosting potential of children of Bourgeois and humbler origins.


Girodet-Trioson "The Geography Lesson" 18th-19thC

Millet : "Child with Hoop" 19thC

Jeanron "The Lttle Patriots" 19thC

Daumier " The first dip" 19thC.

Pelez "A Matyr - Violets for saleé 19th C
Later, 19th century painters pursued social realism, depicting children at work, contrasting with former idyllic visions

Renoir " Martial Caillzbotte' Children"  18th-19thC

Finally, the show explores the influence of children’s spontaneous creativity on the rise of avant-garde artistic movements of the 20th century. I really don’t think that l need to tell you which section pleased me the most.

Cezanne "Sketch of the artist's son" 19thC

Picasso "Paul drawing" 20thC

Picasso " The Painter and Child" 20thC

Chaissac "Sad Face" 20thC

Dubuffet "Holidays" 20thC

No photos, so that’s another « Connaissance des Arts » magazine that enters into my bookcase. If I could « steal » photos as easily as Jerome does, I would do so. Somehow I always get caught….

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He does too, sometimes! ;-)
25/5/16 10:37
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