Karl Pärsimägi: 'Estonian Matisse'

Wild at Heart

I remember the word 'Eurocentric' from art classes at school, and can now see what that means: I know nothing of artists from the Baltic States; African; Asian, or Australasia. I'm intrigued by the life and work of Karl Pärsimägi, who I have just discovered, known as the 'Estonian Matisse' (1902-1942). The influence of Fauvism is very evident. I wish he'd had the opportunity to continue his art practice; it would have been interesting to see how it would have developed.

It seems he had a strong sense of Justice even at an early age, awarded a medal for his participation in the Estonian War of Independence in 1919. He went on an art study trip in Germany in 1923 - strange, as this was the year it suffered hyperinflation.

Interior Views

           

In 1937, he moved to Paris. I was struggling to piece together his life from the tiny bits I uncovered until I discovered, just now, that he became a courier for the French Resistance, which led to his being arrested in Sept. 1941. He was then taken to Auschwitz, via Dracy Internment camp.

Painting of a church, and interior of an orthodox church:

He was not Jewish, nevertheless, he was executed on this day in 1942. Soviets painted out his offending medal of honour in his portraits; denying him official recognition because of that involvement; though allowed for his life-work to be celebrated with an exhibition at his centenary. So sad to have found his life was cut short so brutally, when he'd striven to protect justice and Freedom from the devastation tyranny has on ordinary people.

I found a moving music-soundscape, photo-montage tribute that seemed appropriate to add (with heavy heart) to this post: The Sound of Auschwitz Birkenau:

Grosz: Artist-Commentary of the Gross

 SURREAL REVEAL

I'm only just discovering the amazing breadth of style there is in the work of Georges Grosz (1893-1959), whose birth-date it is 26th July.

Being a satirical, social commentator in his art & caricatures got him into a lot of trouble: fined a large amount, with his litho plates confiscated, accused of insulting the German Army; sought after / hounded by Nazis; arrested on arrival in Moscow, suspected of being a spy; even prosecuted for blasphemy for some potent anti-clerical drawings.

Exquisite drawings, able to capture intensity, and monstrosity.

below, Civil War,1936-7, reed-pen over charcoal on paper.

Terror in the Streets, 1916

Throw in a stint of military service (short-lived), and his art speaks volumes in how to process the madness of the times he was living in. It might explain, too, his being one of the founders of Berlin Dada - the absurd, and surreal - fit those times well.

Explosion, 1917

Adept at painting, drawing, caricature, collage, or photo-montage; excelling in which style; able to capture the zeitgeist of the age, or area, as in the image on the left of Kurfurstendam, 1925

Emigrating to America brought about a complete change of style - putting all the horrors of subject matter behind him, and returning to painting. He would have seen the poem by Emma Lazarus welcoming exiles and refugees to their new home; new life.

below: Street in Berlin, 1931

Here's a fantastic art-ride through his work that really brings together the scope and range he was able to produce; some very beautiful and touching work:

Maxfield Parrish: Dessert Trolley of the Art World

 Sweet Menu

Dream Castle in the Sky, 1908

I recognized the art straight away (I have the box-set of notelets!), but had no idea who the artist was: Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966), today being the anniversary of his birth-date, 25th July.

    

Dinky Bird, 1904 // Dreamlight // The Canyon, 1923

By the Light of the Golden Age

Already a brilliant and successful Artist of the 'Golden Age of American Illustration' (1800-1920), his work took on a whole new dimension whilst recovering from TB in the Adirondacks (1900), where his usual supply of lithographic inks froze in the climate! He switched to oils, and in the process of experimentation, discovered innovative techniques to maximize the saturation and luminosity he became so famous for. His work appeared everywhere: on seed packets; Edison-Mazda Light bulbs; tyres; toothpaste...

...as well as illustrations for the Arabian Nights; he got a little bit saturated with his own success, making a firm decision to give up on the 'girls on rocks' he was so used to putting out constantly.

But, his work continues to be used, as in my notelets; the covers of albums by Elton John; Moody Blues, and Dali's Car.

Daybreak (1922), the most popular art print of the 20th Century makes it to Dali's Car Album

Binge-Fest:

Here's a couple of minutes worth of his sumptuous offerings with Mike Oldfield's 'Jungle Gardenia' as backing:

Arkhip Kuindzhi - Innovative Landscape Artist

 Art of Russian Landscape

A Birch Grove, 1879,

Gorgeously rich discovery of the work of Russian/Ukranian (depending on historical/political boundary-line changes/'ownership') Artist, Arkhip Kuindzhi (1841-1910), whose death is commemorated on this day, 24th July.

Night on the Dnieper, 1892

Not only incredibly accomplished, but innovative. Amazing studies of the effects of light - both throughout the day, and in moonlight.

His painting, Snow, was exhibited at the London International Exhibition in 1874, winning the bronze medal.

Spots of Moonlight in the Forest, Winter

Effect of Sunset on Snow, 1900s

I had never heard of him before, or seen any of his work. So much depends on what makes it to the school curriculum, I realize. And, I believe there is less and less take up of it being studied at university level. This is such a great shame. Art nourishes the soul & is invaluable. I'm loving raiding these old store cupboards of Artworks, with the natural response of wanting to share the booty. Enjoy!

Sunset, oil on cardboard, 1890

The Colourful Sphere of Philipp Otto Runge

 Childhood Romance: Art!

Growing a lovely collection of new-to-me artists.

Today, 23rd July, is the birth-date of German Romantic artist Philipp Otto Runge (1777-1810). As a sickly child who had to be kept at home, his mother introduced him to scissor-cut silhouettes as a form of entertainment, sowing the seed of creativity he kept up in later years; as when he took art classes whilst an apprentice for a 'proper job'.

Self-Portrait in pastels, 1804/5

Casper David Frederick (who I had heard of & studied) was a fellow art student.

Moving in Colourful Circles

He also met and became friends with Johann Wolfgang Goethe at that time - sharing a passion for colour studies and theory.

His book Farben-Kugel (Colour Sphere) was published in 1810, had he lived longer he would have refined those early studies, which were taken up by others.

He was influenced by Jakob Bohme, a Christian mystic, believing that red, blue and yellow were closely aligned to the Trinity. Fascinating.

A Passion for Painting Children

He loved painting children, and fathered 4 himself, but having contracted TB, which caused his untimely death, he never saw his 4th child, born the day after Philipp died.

(right): Hulsenbeck Children, 1805

(Below) The Nightingale Bushes, 1810

I love how he is able to fluently paint both Romantic and Biblical scenes; the sublime and the epic:

Arion's Sea Journey, 1809

Peter Walking on the Sea, 1806

And his evident delight in the subject of Light - throughout the day, as in Morning:

Lovis Corinth: Ecco Homo

 Drawing Strength

Another Artist discovery on the anniversary of his birth-date: Lovis Corinth (21st July 1858-1925). His draftsmanship was evident at a very early age, and went through an evolution of skill and style that was shaped further by his suffering a stroke in 1911, leaving him with severe shaking in both hands, but within a year, he was able to paint again, simpler subjects, and landscapes, and keep up the tradition of painting a self-portrait every year on his birthday.

Lovis & wife, Charlotte Berend, Berlin Studio, 1908, left;

The Artist's Wife, Asleep, 1902/3, below:

Degenerate Art

Not everyone favoured his style; Hitler had nearly 300 of his works removed from the public sphere, 7 of which were sent to the Degenerate Art Exhibition in Munich in 1937.

                              

Ecco Homo, 2nd from left            

                         

Behold the Artist as Biblical Illustrator:

The Deposition, 1895

Christ Lamented by the Magdalene, ,1883, left

I was pleased to learn that Jewish Art Collector, Curt Glaser, was able to fund his escape from Nazi Germany, when they came into power in 1933, by selling one of Corinth's paintings (the painting: Roman Landscape was later returned to his heirs in 2007).

There's a wealth of info that came out of exploring who this curiously named artist was, (a pseudonym he adopted in 1888): art history; changes in style; politics; the sanctuary of a happy family life - really happy to have made his acquaintance. Enjoy!

The Morning Sun, 1910

Walchensee landscape, 1919

Artist of the Apocalypse

 The Boom of Doom & Gloom 

I made a new discovery today: artist, John Martin was born on 19th July 1789. I'd not heard of him before, but learned his work is the kind that goes in & out of fashion; almost disappearing at times, then being exhibited in major UK galleries in 2011. He specialized in epic, wildly dramatic canvases - huge - which added to their effect. Not surprising that he was an influence on the epic-scale cinematography of DW Griffith & Cecil B DeMille. 

He made history and Biblical scenes come alive. Disasters and misfortune become the working material of artistes, and he was surely provided with such when, in one year, he experienced the death of his mother, father, grandmother, and young son.

Great Day of Wrath

More tribulation came when he almost bankrupted himself in his efforts to bring fresh water, and an efficient sewage system to London, where people were dying from contaminated water. Being a skilled engineer, he was able to draw up plans, which, although never came to fruition, were recognized many years later as having merit; preceding the work of Joseph Bazalgette, by 25 years.

For all the vagaries of public reception, he was favoured by Prince Albert, who bought The Eve of the Deluge'; was made a Knight by the King of Belgium, and gifted Sevres porcelain by the King of France.

He was also a big influence on Dante Gabriel Rossetti & the Pre-Raphaelites. Fashion is fickle; in discovering these artistes from the past, there's a common pattern of their not being fully recognized in one's own life-time (or country); falling out of public awareness, sometimes for decades, even centuries, before being re-discovered - often by a biographer - who brings a spotlight to their work once more. On this occasion, he did receive recognition in his lifetime; and I'm happy to make his acquaintance further down the line.

Joshua Commanding the Sun

Belshazzar's Feast, 159 x 250 cm, 1820