Really in all the abundance of wonderful art in an average museum, we are lost. We are wandering and going by initial gut reactions for the most part. As in most things in life, it takes a competent explanation and reflection to realistically approach a basic understanding of any work. That's why this channel is so important.
I know Grosz well but did not remember this painting. It's haunting. Thanks for your brilliant analysis, and, yes, intellectuals and artists fleeing the Nazis raised the cultural level of America immeasurably.
I like this image as he looks like an everyman; maybe a businessman or a normally serious neighbor, but here he's mentally lost in a visual blur. For me it's hard to place this work in the 20th century timeline. I would have guess decades later than the 1930s. That's fantastic, I didn't realize the series of broken buildings and rubble at first. Fascinating.
"Pillars of Society ... Church, Military, and the Middle Class" ... how much I feel that still today, in the ongoing ignorance of all the social troubles going on. The best ways to mold people are make them into a collected mass, addendums and appendages to one another, with no viable way out.
Based on the historical context and Grosz's relationship to it, I can only imagine what I'm seeing in that angst-ridden expression. When I first saw the painting, I was impressed by the intensity of his expression, but after learning more, I don't know if it's intense enough! What could he have done to this canvas to adequately convey the feelings of loss, guilt, shame, repulsion, regret, depression, and who knows what else? I know what it's like to leave everything and everyone behind, but not in the midst of something like this. On a lighter note, "Business Initiative" is hilarious.
Really in all the abundance of wonderful art in an average museum, we are lost. We are wandering and going by initial gut reactions for the most part. As in most things in life, it takes a competent explanation and reflection to realistically approach a basic understanding of any work. That's why this channel is so important.
I know Grosz well but did not remember this painting. It's haunting. Thanks for your brilliant analysis, and, yes, intellectuals and artists fleeing the Nazis raised the cultural level of America immeasurably.
What a heavy subject after seeing all your videos about classical and renaissance art, religious architecture, etc. Thank you.
I like this image as he looks like an everyman; maybe a businessman or a normally serious neighbor, but here he's mentally lost in a visual blur. For me it's hard to place this work in the 20th century timeline. I would have guess decades later than the 1930s. That's fantastic, I didn't realize the series of broken buildings and rubble at first. Fascinating.
"Pillars of Society ... Church, Military, and the Middle Class" ... how much I feel that still today, in the ongoing ignorance of all the social troubles going on. The best ways to mold people are make them into a collected mass, addendums and appendages to one another, with no viable way out.
Based on the historical context and Grosz's relationship to it, I can only imagine what I'm seeing in that angst-ridden expression. When I first saw the painting, I was impressed by the intensity of his expression, but after learning more, I don't know if it's intense enough! What could he have done to this canvas to adequately convey the feelings of loss, guilt, shame, repulsion, regret, depression, and who knows what else? I know what it's like to leave everything and everyone behind, but not in the midst of something like this.
On a lighter note, "Business Initiative" is hilarious.
wow, i always it was pronounced *grosh*... thank you for the video!
Natürlich Grosh.
I'm still waiting for the Getty Center and Norton Simon exhibitions. This is still nice overall.