Beasts in the Garden
The crazy corner of the art garden is inhabited by wild beasts. It is not a place where you sit quietly and read poetry. Or take a nap.
Why? Once upon a time, a merry group of French painters discovered each other’s disdain for natural color. Skies could be red…or green…or red and green. Water could be yellow and trees blue. And, If it looks yellow, make it the purest yellow.
They put on a show in 1905, and traditionalists were outraged. Critics had smoke coming out of their ears. One angry fellow, Louis Vauxcelles, steamed that they were “les Fauves.” “Wild Beasts!” The jolly Frenchmen were devastated. No, actually they loved it and became ever more merry. They proudly wore the name, which has followed them through history. Others joined the group.
But, I have to say, the more they departed from reality, the stronger “real” became. And the more they drifted into imagination, the truer the truth became. But that’s just me.
The funny thing is, it wasn’t that their subjects and scenes were outrageous—they’re fairly ordinary. They just set color loose…let it rip. As a result, a painting became its own destination—it didn’t have to be true to life—it didn’t have to represent nature’s reality.
Okay. They weren’t the only, or even the first to do this. They had seen the paintings of Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. But they applied their intense passion for color with all subjects.
For most of these artists, “Fauvism” was only one stop on the their life’s journey via the Art Express. But because the “wild beasts” still merrily dance the can-can in the crazy corner of the garden, artists are free to use color in any way possible to reflect all their moods…and capture feelings beyond the pale.
For those of us who have experienced the dark, PTSD has no one color or form—it can reach deep into the color wheel of life to sink or soar. Les Fauves preferred to soar.
Yes, and art and symphonic music.
I guess that why art and jazz go together well!