Two Seated Figures

Lynn Chadwick (British, 1914-2003)
Two Seated Figures on a Blue Wave, 1971
Lithograph
30 x 22 ins
image: SW1 Gallery

From the exhibition: Edition - A Century of British Prints 1906-2006, May 12-June 3, 2006. Check out the additional prints in the show.

Lynn Chadwick was a sculptor, but I simply adore this simple print. Similar to the imagery you'll find in his sculptures, I prefer the softness of the print. Granted, the comparison is a bit weak but I've always found it fascinating how sculptures are translated (or originate in drawings), drawings so interesting they are turned into prints. Check out Henry Moore.


Sitting Couple, 1990
artnet.com

Summer

Summer, 1896 from the Seasons series
Alphonse Mucha (Czech, 1860-1939)
color lithograph
28x14.5 cm.
Image: Olga's Gallery http://www.abcgallery.com/M/mucha/mucha20.html

Note the significant differences in tone and color between Summer in Olga's Gallery and on Prague.net (click on Seasons series). This is one of the significant drawbacks to this blog and its images. I try as much as possible to borrow images from the most reputable websites (which is usually the owning museum, as I do hope they have created the best digital copy they can, as true to the original as possible).

Mucha was known for a variety of media from paintings, posters, book illustrations, and advertisements to designs for wallpaper, theatre sets and more.

Mucha's work part of the world of Art Nouveau. Mucha's recognition began in 1894 when he was commissioned to design a poster for the actress, Sarah Bernhardt. Art Nouveau was a decorative style which you can see in the simple yet decorative beauty in the flowers and curves in Summer. Mucha chose softer color palettes which bring an additional element of romanticism to his images as well.

Lonely Ones

To mennesker. De ensomme (Two Human Beings. The Lonely Ones), 1899
Edvard Munch (1864-1944)
Woodcut
Image and owner: Museum of Modern Art

I think this is my first repetition of an artist (See Munch) I discovered this wonderful woodcut today. A bit moody, a bit sad, I still find the image beautiful. The mood of the image is perfectly equal to Munch's preoccupation with dark themes in direct opposition to Impressionism. Munch, through simple forms (most specifically in his prints), creates strong emotions and attachment to basic themes such as love, death and anxiety.

The woodcut lends itself to a "cutting out" of the figures, similar to a jigsaw puzzle. Each is solidly their own as if they could be plucked out of the landscape. This, along with the moody desolation of the landscape, and the very specific space between them enhances the stark contrast between the land and the water. The image remains seamless where we still see two human beings in one moment despite their separation. Munch reused elements of his works, like the woman in this print. We also see her in the lithograph, Young Girl on the Shore, 1896.

I had a recommendation for a theme week of art recently. If there is anything that you would like to learn more about and discover more of (a movement, period of time, type of media, subject matter...) please leave me a comment, or email at alisonlilith@gmail.com. Don't forget to take advantage of the tags at the bottom of each post to see previously posted art that is connected to what you are looking at.