the very rebellion of the impressionists was no doubt partly inspired by Baudelaire (poet, critic) who challenged the then budding impressionists to capture life of modern people in their act.... by "observing the life of people" and putting such observations on canvases or as sculptures, Degas, Boldini, Nittis and Zandomeneghi each influenced one another in their art....and each expressing themselves quite differently on the same themes (e.g. women bathing, race-course scenes, people at the bar, or salon performances).
i had the privilege to view some of their works at the Royal Scottish Academy Building today.... and was swept by the growing crowd pass the progression of Degas? change in style... as he moved away from the more classical approach of portraits to bold strokes of sketching in different settings. most of you may be well-acquainted with his beautiful and occasionally awkwardly posed dancers.... yet it is Zandomeneghi?s softer approach in painting women and their personality which i fancied?.
there must be something about impressionist art that help portray the uncanny and/or humorous idiosyncracies of humans.....some of the paintings almost resemble caricatures of the subject(s) and some were rather comical. i am rather fond of the idea of painting scenes and people ?as is? just as photographers aim to capture those ?moments? and am led to think that these impressionists must spent a good part of their lives people-watching?. what a thought? but that's what i do alot too... because it is really fun!
in fact i am amused by the idea of people-watching on canvases and in sculptures.... because the effect seems transferrable...the very last piece at the gallery which i saw was a sculpture of a lady in the tub washing herself?. it looked so enjoyable?. and i can indeed imagine how nice it must be to be soaked in warm water, bubbles about? relaxing in the warm tub while it can stay cold outside for all i care... alas, i do not have a tub.
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