Paul Gauguin’s painting The Yellow Christ, 1889 is in my
opinion an avant-garde piece of art. The post impressionist artist Paul Gauguin
painted The Yellow Christ in 1889. It has been thought of by some as a self
portrait. If this is true I do not agree with the artist opinion of himself as
a superior being or a “courageous ‘independent’ struggling against a philistine
public”. Based on what we learned about Gauguin in the lecture he wanted to
think of himself as a primitive man, yet missed the boat from time to time on
what it means to actually be primitive. When he was living in among actual
primitive people he would eat canned food as opposed to the local cuisine.
However I do see how referencing Christ and historical painting in general does
show an awareness of what is going on in the art world in terms of artistic
traditions and conventions. This is according to Griselda Pollock’s concept of
reference, deference and difference. As far as Deference is concerned I think
that Gauguin is definitely giving reference here to the works and techniques of
Vincent Van Gogh with the play between the contrasting and complementary
oranges and blues as well as in the bottom part of the composition green and
violet on the female figures hat. This seems very much to be giving reverence
and respect to the latest and most radical developments of another artist who
he did in fact know. Concerning difference he is flying in the face of
historical painting as a genera by putting the crucifixion into a modern
setting as well as taking the scene out of its correct place and setting. It is
also a definite advancement on current issues regarding aesthetics and style
because it is a clear departure from impressionist painting. He seems to be
capturing a brief moment in an outdoor setting. However Gauguin takes it a step
beyond capturing a moment, and obscures and simplifies things to the point of
abstraction. I would say that Paul Gauguin is aware of the references that he
is making both stylistically and in terms of subject matter both in
relationship to art of the past and radical new art that is happening in the
same time-frame. Gauguin composed the body of Christ or himself with dark
outlines as if the composition was constructed of stained glass. This would
have challenged the modern painting techniques of the day. In simple terms of
line and color Gauguin is challenging authority and displaying unconventional
techniques with modern subject matter juxtaposed with historic subject matter.
Another way in which Paul Gauguin’s Yellow Christ embodies avant-gardism is the
way in which it evokes thought as opposed to simply a beautiful scene as in
impressionist painting. At first glance one might see just another depiction of
the crucifixion. However Gauguin placed this into modern times as seen in the
female figures and the dramatically simplified man climbing over the fence. Why
is this man included? What is Gauguin saying with this composition? To me he is
saying is that there is more to be communicated through art in a composition
than beauty and references to the past. Through this new way of painting Paul
Gauguin embodied avant-gardism in 1889 with the painting of The Yellow Christ.
Your discussion of the man and the fence is interesting to me, and I can see what you are saying. On the other hand, though, I do think it's interesting to consider how other historical depictions of the crucifixion also include little "vignettes" (i.e. small areas of interest) in the background. I'm particularly thinking of Perugino's "Crucifixion with Saints" from the Renaissance period, that includes people in the distance (i.e. standing on a bridge). I wonder if Gauguin might have been trying to "reference" this tradition of vignettes in landscape/crucifixion paintings, while still maintaining his difference by painting a modern figure as the vignette.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, it's an interesting thing to think about. That man in Gauguin's painting captures my attention quite a bit, largely because his dark clothes stand out against the yellow landscape.
-Prof. Bowen
I agree with your statement about this being a self portrait. I think it could be, but I think the artist would be portraying himself as a very different person than he actually was. I don't think he himself was courageous or super independent. But I feel through his art he was, making art that went against typical art techniques and subject matter of the time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot that you mentioned. But for one thing i do not agree with what you said about him missing the point as far as primitiveness is concerned. In most cases this term does not mean literal primitives just the idea that they are going back to more of a primitive way of living within the compositions. For example he is not painting trains and buildings and modern inventions. He is rather striving for a more simplistic way of life through symbolism and what he chooses to include within his paintings. I also like how you included the fact that he uses dark lines around his figures like stained glass, maybe even like the gigantic metal structures that are being made at that time (the machines exhibit).
ReplyDelete@Paul: I'm guessing that the phrase "among actual primitive people" refers to when Gauguin lived and worked in Tahiti. (Correct me if I am wrong, #^@!) This doesn't refer to "primitive people" (from prehistoric times), but more so the Western conception at the time that non-Western people were considered "primitive" (or less advanced) than Westerners. At least, this is the take that I got from this post.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, it is also interesting to note that some primitive artists looked to ancient cultures (like the Egyptians) for inspiration. Think about the hard outlines and abstraction of Egyptian art, for example. There is are some similarities between that aesthetic and much of the primitivist art that is produced.
-Prof. Bowen