tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post4238772335689492200..comments2023-06-13T08:29:39.914+00:00Comments on MAKING A MARK: Reflections on landscape painting after 1900Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-64295613953249909972010-01-13T18:32:06.084+00:002010-01-13T18:32:06.084+00:00Steven - my point is one of relativity - I'm N...Steven - my point is one of relativity - I'm NOT saying that there are no great contemporary landscape painters. Put bluntly, it seems to me from my perspective of interest in art but relative ignorance that, on the whole, contemporary landscape paintings don't tend to get much attention from museums or win the big prizes or sell for very high prices at auction any more. OK - so neither did works by Van Gogh - but one has to try and find some sort of parameter as a start point.<br /><br />Conversely Peter Doig is maybe celebrated because he is that unusual person these days in the upper echelons of the art world - a painter who paints landscapes. He is also the artist whose painting of a white canoe in a recognisable landscape sold for $11.3 million at auction.<br /><br />You maybe haven't seen the other posts on the new blog where I've noted that I've yet to start a serious listing of leading landscape artists - although David Hockney is already listed (partly because I'm a Hockney fan).<br /><br />My definition of a landscape artist is somebody who does more than produce a few landscapes. For example Rubens produced some stunning landscapes - but I don't think many people would describe him as a landscape artist. Consequently I'd disagree with you about Jim Dine - his subject matter seems to be too eclectic to justify him being described as a landscape artist. On the other hand, I'd include David Hockney (who similarly has ecelectic interests) because he has returned to the landscape again and again over the years and is currently involved with an extended period of developing artwork about the landscapes found in East Yorkshire<br /><br />I'm certainly greatful for suggestions of artists who are worthy of attention. However at the moment I'm mainly looking for the ones that rank with the names of other artists from the past - the sort of artist who will be still be identified in these sort of listings in 200-300 years time. <br /><br />Maybe you can help by identifying some serious reviews of contemporary art which focus on landscape painting and its importance as a genre within the contemporary art scene - because I'm struggling to find any at the moment.<br /><br />From a practical perspective, the problem with a lot of the contemporary painters is the dearth of images online for people like de Kooning. Plus there are other issues such as whether calling a painting which rooted in abstract expressionism a landscape make it a landscape - I really don't know. Here's an example, <a href="http://www.artst.org/abstract-expressionism/willem_de_kooning/Woman,+Sag+Harbor,+%281964%29.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">Woman, Sag Harbor</a> <br /><br />But finding out is the point of the project!Making A Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509483023337008890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-68471047025383950972010-01-13T16:54:25.391+00:002010-01-13T16:54:25.391+00:00With all due respect I don't think I agree wit...With all due respect I don't think I agree with your premise. There are many great contemporary landscape painters and their work is highly valued... DeKooning, Alex Katz, Jim Dine, and David Hockney to name a few. Current painters I especially enjoy are Eric Aho, Peter Hoffer, and Stuart Shils.Steven P. Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13147018927636981383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-5377692175948420532010-01-13T12:09:39.328+00:002010-01-13T12:09:39.328+00:00Beautiful reflections and perspective, Katherine. ...Beautiful reflections and perspective, Katherine. The warm autumn colours are heart-warming too in the midst of all the current grey. <br /><br />I've been thinking a lot about your reflections on the popularity or lack thereof, of landscape art. It's going to take a lot more pondering. Landscapes like the great Colour Field paintings, I find are best appreciated by seeing the picture in its original form, whereas still life, portraits, abstracts seem to translate more easily to reproduction. Could this have an impact? Like most things, the more I learn the more I love (landscapes).Robyn Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01663604160297996421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-14699966219232099882010-01-13T11:34:14.579+00:002010-01-13T11:34:14.579+00:00I very much agree with what you say GB
If my new ...I very much agree with what you say GB<br /><br />If my new blog with its focus on learning about landscape art is a small start I'm all for starting a new drive to raise the profile of landscape art!<br /><br />Thanks for the Peter Doig suggestion - so obvious bu of course I'd forgotten (and he's also very popular and in museums). 'How does he do it?' might be an interesting enquiry.Making A Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509483023337008890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-87879968077445824362010-01-13T11:04:20.840+00:002010-01-13T11:04:20.840+00:00I think the answer to why Landscape Art is no long...I think the answer to why Landscape Art is no longer highly regarded lies in the development of the art canons or movements of the Art World, chiefly Modernism and Postmodernism. The Art World is less concerned in the genre or subject matter of the work and more in the idea it represents and the process. High Art is all about the grand idea and Conceptualism is the foundation. Today it is not enough to produce a beautiful painting of a landscape, as the museums already have Turner, Gainsborough et al. The Art World is constantly seeking the next new thing or something known done in a new way. <br /><br />As you know there are artists producing landscapes it is just no longer acknowledged as such by the Art World. Other painters for your list who tackle the subject of landscape, and are respected in the Art World are Peter Doig and Anslem Keiffer. However Keiffer is known as a history painter.<br /><br />Maybe what is needed is someone to start a new landscape art movement with other artists and create a reinvention of this subject. The group could write a manifesto, set up a series of DIY exhibitions get art critics and theorists to write a series of essays about the new relationship between art with the environment. Seriously. The Art World doesn’t produce art movements Artists do.Grace Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04203945608015967201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-56252726588163983582010-01-13T10:41:43.118+00:002010-01-13T10:41:43.118+00:00"Considering the serious environmental proble..."Considering the serious environmental problems our planet is facing perhaps now more than ever before landscape painting is still relevant."<br /><br />Spot on - so far as I'm concerned.Making A Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509483023337008890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-76854720694730228612010-01-13T08:05:08.388+00:002010-01-13T08:05:08.388+00:00Katherine, I think your last comment here nails it...Katherine, I think your last comment here nails it....Alison Staitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13736717550338133550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-63993767328976367002010-01-13T06:52:11.214+00:002010-01-13T06:52:11.214+00:00Considering the serious environmental problems our...Considering the serious environmental problems our planet is facing perhaps now more than ever before landscape painting is still relevant. If an artist choses to be part of the "in crowd", then perhaps landscape painting has become passe. If an artist choses to put sharks in formaldehyde that is their choice. Looking through Art of the West , Southwest Art , American Art Collector, Western Art Collector, American Artist there are many excellent landscape painters working creating art that has meaning. It all depends on what "market' you want to communicate with. I personally do not care for much of this conceptual art that is wrought with angst and supposed "smart" commentary. Much of it is too stupid by a half. Taking a brush to canvas or paper and painting or drawing still has meaning even though its 2010. Looking at art created by many of todays landscape painting masters validates this .njart73https://www.blogger.com/profile/06796804914294097219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-22531050764869653152010-01-13T01:30:58.605+00:002010-01-13T01:30:58.605+00:00Vivien - I know people like Kurt Jackson are succe...Vivien - I know people like Kurt Jackson are successful but why aren't there more Kurt Jacksons? <br /><br />I recognise that there are many artists who are making a respectable living as landscape painters - but they never get featured in overviews of contemporary art - or books which provide an overview of the development of art in the twentieth century. It's the status of landscape art - and maybe even painting - which seems to have been downgraded in the art world at the 'upper levels'. <br /><br />Maybe the factor I left out of the equation is that marketing hype has overtaken art?Making A Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509483023337008890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-23384317328254682382010-01-13T00:18:27.106+00:002010-01-13T00:18:27.106+00:00Some very interesting thinking points. I suppose d...Some very interesting thinking points. I suppose decades & centuries of accomplished landscape paintings are enduring quite beautifully on walls in homes & offices everywhere; getting passed down through inheritance...and taking up space. Although I do sell a fair amount of landscape work, certainly not for high prices, I often hear the lament of 'no more wall space.'We do like many windows in our new homes...must be we love to look at landscape. <br />Katherine, you have captured that British autumn glowing light in your "Autumn at Sackler Crossing". It is just perfect.Rodrica Tilleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04129896844928447947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-82585863411589942662010-01-12T22:31:32.127+00:002010-01-12T22:31:32.127+00:00I don't think it is suffering a downturn
- L...I don't think it is suffering a downturn<br /><br /> - Len Tabner for instance is having an exhibition across 3 major London Contemporary Galleries - http://www.messums.com/ex156_home.htm<br /><br />Kurt Jackson, John Virtue, David Prentice, David Tress, David Hockney has returned to it and many others are highly respected artists who work with the landscape and are doing very well!<br /><br />I watched as a KJ sold for £28,000 in a sell out show at a good gallery - that's a fair old price!<br /><br />The huge money seems to be for the conceptual stuff, like pickled sharks, made popular by the likes of Saatchi - but it's about hype, spiel and advertising skills rather than talent or work with any sustaining qualities :>(vivienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16820836660470146799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-8305474356812476412010-01-12T19:27:56.343+00:002010-01-12T19:27:56.343+00:00I, for one, would *love* to be able to do landscap...I, for one, would *love* to be able to do landscape paintings. As it is, I can barely draw a simple twig.Linzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529958131517096859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-27423029900831246222010-01-12T19:26:57.776+00:002010-01-12T19:26:57.776+00:00I agree with the novelty factor as well as the fac...I agree with the novelty factor as well as the fact that there are now other mediums to explore landscape art - photographs, recording, etc. Perhaps landscape art just isn't considered "contemporary" enough to be focused on by contemporary artists. They'd rather explore the human psyche, the human condition, the human flaw...? Or something beyond the human realm? Perhaps they find landscape art to be too limiting? Or perhaps it's just simply not the "fad"? Once a famous or "inspired" artist revives the landscape painting, I guarantee a LOT of contemporary artists will begin exploring that genre again.Linzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529958131517096859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-4273176243952623102010-01-12T17:24:54.185+00:002010-01-12T17:24:54.185+00:00Food for thought, Katherine - Especially when so m...Food for thought, Katherine - Especially when so many artists are landscape artists!Michelle B. Hendryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12500918089801585939noreply@blogger.com