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.
Cecil Court, London W.C.2. (The Refugees) 1983-4 R.B. Kitaj 1932-2007 Purchased 1985 http://www.tate.org.uk/art/work/T04115
“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
Below: 3 minute video of Kitaj interviewed in his studio, cuts off a bit at the end, but still lovely. https://youtu.be/0VpkLS1Baxo 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!
[image_with_animation image_url=”10682″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] If there is a collection of feet in art, I don’t know about it. I’ve been looking. In ten toed optimism, I ordered an art book called “Feet.” I was quite excited to see different ways these difficult subjects are represented across time and cultures. I was disappointed. Once …
I am interested in showcasing pictures that illustrate the very strange 6′ social distancing rule. Open to any media (photography, drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, etc). Must be a League member to submit. Please email your works to ruthiev(at)seattleartistleague.com. Include your name, the artwork’s title, size and materials, and your website/social media page. Send your images …
Monotypes are like a painter’s sketch, run through the press. They’re both more immediate, and more re-workable than any other form of printmaking. Once through the press, you can draw or paint on it, or you can do something else and run it through again. It’s instant, and it’s surprising. Every time I do it …
Today’s V. Note is a collection of nativity scenes, ordered starting in the present day and walking back in time. The last images, the earliest depictions, are from 4th Century in Rome and Southern Gaul. I’ve added a few works, but most of this collection can be found on Wikipedia and The Guardian. It is one of the …
R. B. Kitaj
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.
Below: 3 minute video of Kitaj interviewed in his studio, cuts off a bit at the end, but still lovely. https://youtu.be/0VpkLS1Baxo 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!
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