R.B. Kitaj was an American artist who championed figuration in the aftermath of expressionism. Kitaj was an influential figure in the London art scene and was intimate with Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon, coining the term “London School” for this group. His art was unabashedly erudite and often accompanied with explanatory obscure texts that many critics saw as a testament to the artist’s egoism.
The art of Kitaj is characterized by his insatiable intellect and excellent draughtsmanship. The art critic Robert Hughes wrote that “[he] draws better than almost anyone else alive.” His works are preoccupied with history and attempt to make the viewer aware of the historical reality of their situation. Kitaj linked past to present with a sometimes overwhelming array of references to paintings by artists such as Motherwell, Van Gogh, Degas, Cezanna and Michelangelo and the writings of figures ranging from Frakz Kafka to mystics such as Ramon Lull and philosophers like Erasmus and Nietzsche. His travels in Europe shortly after WWII had a profound influence on his “Jewishness” and his art.
Read more about Kitaj on the original post here. Check it out.
There’s a lot of illuminating information on this page.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”2747,2748,2749,2751,2752,2753,2754,2755,2756″ layout=”3″ gallery_style=”1″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]
“I have no idea how to finish a picture… I don’t see any reason why you should finish a picture, for instance, because I’m not finished with my life I see no reason why I should be finished with a picture.” – Ronald Kitaj
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]Below: 3 minute video of Kitaj interviewed in his studio, cuts off a bit at the end, but still lovely.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/0VpkLS1Baxo”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]Below: 10 minute video showing still images of Kitaj’s paintings. Some great paintings, some just meh, and some are absolutely awful. It’s as if the video maker went into Kitaj’s studio and gathered up whatever was on the walls, the tables, and in the garbage bin, then displayed them all equally. Fantastic!
Exquisite Corpse is a collaborative, chance-based drawing game invented by the Surrealists in the mid 1920s. Traditionally, each participant draws an image on part of a sheet of paper, folds the paper to conceal their work, and passes it on to the next player for their contribution. This is a modern version, with the entries …
[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”10207″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][vc_column_text] feet fēt/ plural form of foot. foot fo͝ot/ noun the lower extremity of the leg below the ankle, on which a person stands or walks. Dogs, hoof, pad, paw, smellies, patas, meat plates, noggas, …
You are invited to participate in an exquisite corpse style animal block printing project. Brian Lane of Print Zero Studios is collaborating with artists Peter Foucault and Chris Treggiari for a series of printing events at the Getty Museum in LA this July and August. The project is responding to their current exhibition “Book of Beasts: …
R. B. Kitaj
[vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]
R. B. Kitaj
1932 – 2007
Edited from https://artbios.net/5-en.html
R.B. Kitaj was an American artist who championed figuration in the aftermath of expressionism. Kitaj was an influential figure in the London art scene and was intimate with Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon, coining the term “London School” for this group. His art was unabashedly erudite and often accompanied with explanatory obscure texts that many critics saw as a testament to the artist’s egoism.
The art of Kitaj is characterized by his insatiable intellect and excellent draughtsmanship. The art critic Robert Hughes wrote that “[he] draws better than almost anyone else alive.” His works are preoccupied with history and attempt to make the viewer aware of the historical reality of their situation. Kitaj linked past to present with a sometimes overwhelming array of references to paintings by artists such as Motherwell, Van Gogh, Degas, Cezanna and Michelangelo and the writings of figures ranging from Frakz Kafka to mystics such as Ramon Lull and philosophers like Erasmus and Nietzsche. His travels in Europe shortly after WWII had a profound influence on his “Jewishness” and his art.
Read more about Kitaj on the original post here. Check it out.
There’s a lot of illuminating information on this page.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”2747,2748,2749,2751,2752,2753,2754,2755,2756″ layout=”3″ gallery_style=”1″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]Below: 3 minute video of Kitaj interviewed in his studio, cuts off a bit at the end, but still lovely.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/0VpkLS1Baxo”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]Below: 10 minute video showing still images of Kitaj’s paintings. Some great paintings, some just meh, and some are absolutely awful. It’s as if the video maker went into Kitaj’s studio and gathered up whatever was on the walls, the tables, and in the garbage bin, then displayed them all equally. Fantastic!
[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/d3KXkvjUTzs”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Related Posts
Van Gogh’s Sorrow
Exquisite Corpse Drawing Challenge #2: Chicken Coop
Exquisite Corpse is a collaborative, chance-based drawing game invented by the Surrealists in the mid 1920s. Traditionally, each participant draws an image on part of a sheet of paper, folds the paper to conceal their work, and passes it on to the next player for their contribution. This is a modern version, with the entries …
SAL Challenge: Feet
[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”10207″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][vc_column_text] feet fēt/ plural form of foot. foot fo͝ot/ noun the lower extremity of the leg below the ankle, on which a person stands or walks. Dogs, hoof, pad, paw, smellies, patas, meat plates, noggas, …
Make an Animal: Participate in an Exquisite Corpse printmaking project
You are invited to participate in an exquisite corpse style animal block printing project. Brian Lane of Print Zero Studios is collaborating with artists Peter Foucault and Chris Treggiari for a series of printing events at the Getty Museum in LA this July and August. The project is responding to their current exhibition “Book of Beasts: …