Three Approaches to Painting

Three modern artists—Bonnard, Chagall, Picasso-are discussed, and defined, by a distinguished art critic, author of The Painter’s Eye

Fantasy, naturalism and abstraction are the three possible esthetics of painting in our time; and recent New York exhibitions of Chagall, Bonnard and Picasso presented clear examples of each. Fantasy was represented by Chagall. The subject of his pictures is the sentiment of love—the painter and his muse on a honeymoon, sometimes in a remembered Russian village, sometimes hovering in the air above a nocturnal Paris. The muse offers the painter flowers as he stands before his easel. Half youth, half rooster, floating above the Seine and the Sainte Chapelle, he paints her picture. As a village accordionist in a farmyard, he plays to her: he is the cock, she the cow. They stand embracing in a mountain cottage. Angels in spring serenade her and bring her flowers.

MG

About the Author

Maurice Grosser

Featured Tags

Manage following

Art

Three modern artists—Bonnard, Chagall, Picasso-are discussed, and defined, by a distinguished art critic, author of The Painter’s Eye

Fantasy, naturalism and abstraction are the three possible esthetics of painting in our time; and recent New York exhibitions of Chagall, Bonnard and Picasso presented clear examples of each. Fantasy was represented by Chagall. The subject of his pictures is the sentiment of love—the painter and his muse on a honeymoon, sometimes in a remembered Russian village, sometimes hovering in the air above a nocturnal Paris. The muse offers the painter flowers as he stands before his easel. Half youth, half rooster, floating above the Seine and the Sainte Chapelle, he paints her picture. As a village accordionist in a farmyard, he plays to her: he is the cock, she the cow. They stand embracing in a mountain cottage. Angels in spring serenade her and bring her flowers.