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« Another Self-Promotional Break | Main | Olympics Time, Rant Time »

August 03, 2008

 Hermen Anglada-Camarasa

Donald Pittenger writes:

Dear Blowhards --

[Applies lipstick to pig ...]

I suppose a good result of having had a standard Paris-centric art history course in college is that I can experience the surprise and enjoyment of discovering interesting painters who weren't mentioned in class.

One such artist I recently stumbled across is Hermen Anglada-Camarasa (1871-1959). The most comprehensive biographical information I could find during a brief Web search is here -- a Spanish-language Wikipedia page. Spanish isn't one of my languages, so I hope the following career snippet isn't too far off the mark.

Anglada was born in Barcelona, the part of Spain with closest ties to France. He studied painting in Spain and then spent some time in Paris. In 1913 he moved to the Balearic Islands and seems to have spent the rest of his career there.

The important thing is his art, and here are some examples.

Gallery

Le%20Paon%20Blanc%20-%201904.jpg
Le Paon Blanc - 1904

Sonia%20-%20nd.jpg
Sonia - n.d.

Granadina%20-%20nd.jpg
Granadina - n.d.

Desnudo%20bajo%20la%20parra%20-%201909.jpg
Des nudo bajo a parra - 1909

Sibila%20-%20c.1913.jpg
Sibila - 1913

Pino%20de%20Formentor%20-%20nd.jpg
Pino de Formentor - n.d.

Acantilado%20en%20Formentor%20-%201936.jpg
Acantilado en Formentor - 1936

My first reaction is to call him a less-stylized version of Gustav Klimt. The paintings of the women don't suggest much in the way of psychological depth, something critics tend to consider important. Even so, I find Anglada's paintings fun to look at and wouldn't object if one magically appeared on a wall in our house.

Later,

Donald

posted by Donald at August 3, 2008




Comments

I wouldn't mind one on my wall, either!
Seems to be an example of perfectly agreeable transformation of Nouveau into Deco, without becoming purely ornamental.

Sibila is absolutely gorgeous.

Posted by: Tatyana on August 3, 2008 3:43 PM

Oh, no no no. Not at all, no. I see the influence of several avant-garde movements here, and you do not understand his passion for folklore or his love of the Oriental. Sibila is considered the least of his portraits of strongly-built woman, so it is no wonder you are drawn to her, Tatyana. Perhaps it is the nude breast that so attracts you?

No no no no no. Nyet.

Posted by: Sister Wolf on August 3, 2008 8:36 PM

Good to see you're feeling chipper (chippy?), Sister.

This should be fun.

Have you sent the oxycontin yet? I've still got it bad up here. And, uh, does oxycontin really help what I'm suffering from?

Posted by: PatrickH on August 4, 2008 12:11 AM

I did some sleuthing, Donald, and was able to dig up more crumbs.

Posted by: Tatyana on August 4, 2008 10:20 PM

Wow, some of these really remind me of the paintings of Ferdinand Hodler; especially the full frontal standing figures - something similar about how these two painters use space and simlify the contours of forms. G

Posted by: Gabriella on August 4, 2008 10:34 PM

Link fixed, my apologies.

Posted by: Tatyana on August 5, 2008 12:43 AM

I did some sleuthing as well. Wait, what does "sleuthing" mean, again? It's such an erudite word! I think it means "research" in this context.

My sleuthing uncoverred a long history of internet spats, conducted by a lonely and clearly disturbed "Russian" woman who flies off the handle over anything and nothing.

More important, I have much more than crumbs. I believe I have the whole enchalada, in fact.

I am the world's foremost authority on Aglada-Camarasa, and of course everything else!

Posted by: Sister Wolf on August 5, 2008 1:02 AM

Oh yes, here's more about the painter, Donald

-there are two floors filled exclusively with Anglada in Grand Hotel Museum in Palma de Mallorca.

-in 2007 Lukoil (largest oil company in Russia) presented Fine Arts Pushkin Museum with painting by H.Anglada-i- Camarasa “Night cafe” (labeled as one of important European artists of Moderne period in Paris) - first Anglada painting in a Russian Museum

Ah, I could go on forevver.....

Posted by: Sister Wolf on August 5, 2008 1:21 AM

No need to go on forever, Commie W: I provided the link to my post. But thank you for doing some promoting on my behalf.
You forgot to add "Hahaha!" to your previous installment of incoherent infantile rambling. Or "you're crazy, my dear!" Or "stupid whore". Or a "nutcase".

Don't disappoint me - I haven't had such high quality entertainment (incidentally, all my friends are having a roaring good time, too, with every incoming outburst of temper tantrum), watching a textbook case of almost complete projection since ...don't remember when, exactly...ah, I know - since some mad British leftie called me a communist, 3 years ago.

Don't forget to pet your dog. It was doing the right thing and should be rewarded.

Posted by: Tatyana on August 5, 2008 12:25 PM

Hahahaha! You mean, your imaginary "LJ" friends? All two of them?!

It's a pleasure to distract you from your miserable dogless, husbandless and childless existence!

BTW, you will never, ever, win this one. Ever.

Posted by: Sister Wolf on August 5, 2008 2:33 PM

Oh my, I forgot to say, let us not overlook the Fauvism in these paintings, Donald!

Posted by: Sister Wolf on August 5, 2008 2:37 PM

Tat -- Thanks for the additional info. I had forgotten about Bakst, perhaps because he's best known as a costume designer and illustrator. I can see a possible influence, but it would be really helpful if we knew more about Anglada's stay in Paris.

Sister Wolf -- Yes the colors are often bright, but Fauvist painting tends to be more crude and color selection seemingly more arbitrary.

Everyone -- Please try to deal with facts and opinions about those facts and keep personal jabs out of Comments. We want 2Blowards to be flame-free zone, so if invective gets out of hand (i.e., too personal) I'll have to use the option of not publishing an offending comment.

Posted by: Donald Pittenger on August 5, 2008 3:04 PM

Oh yeah. The ladies are getting it on. Yum! This is so much more fun than ST and CW doing their upstate dick-swingin' thang. Muuuuuch more.

Posted by: PatrickH on August 5, 2008 3:10 PM

Absolutely, Donald, I agree - this is not a schoolyard on a 5th grade recess. But if you are not willing to moderate the thread and to stop certain chihuahuas with donkey brain from barking filthy insults - one has no recourse but do some kicking by oneself.

Poor deluded: I already won. Run, headless chicken, run.

Posted by: Tatyana on August 5, 2008 3:18 PM

During his years in Paris, Anglada-Camarasa was very friendly with Toulouse-Lautrec, and even shared the model Lili Grenier. Aglada-Camarasa was also heavily inspired by Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du Mal (which I happen to be re-reading at the moment!) His magnicent painting The Morphine Addict represents a dreamy sense of seeing life out of focus.

Bakst was not among his group of friends in Paris, although they both frequented the Academie Julian.

I did not have to sleuth for this knowledge, as I was born knowing it. I myself attended the Chouinard Art Institute in Downtown Los Angeles, but this was well after I was born. A true fact, Donald!

Posted by: Sister Wolf on August 5, 2008 4:15 PM

What band does "Run, Headless Chicken, Run?" It's on the tip of my tongue....

Wait! Was that an off-topic insult that Donald didn't want any more of?

PatrickH, what's going on here?!

Posted by: Sister Wolf on August 5, 2008 5:55 PM

In Peter Lorre's voice: I know nothing!

Actually, I'm just sitting back enjoying the show. I'm coming off a cycle of test right now, and I'm feeling mellow, compassionate, and disposed to even-handed love for all. Plus, I'm terrified of offending anyone. A week or two ago, I would have been jumping in with both feet (in my mouth, of course, but I would have jumped for sure!), even though I have no idea what I'm talking about concerning this post. Hermosa Galada? It sounds like a good shiraz, or maybe a hero of Paraguayan independence. Or the guy who makes Richard Wheeler those delicious chile rellenos. And that portrait? Sibilious? Wasn't he a Dark Lord of the Sith? Or is that a digestive condition? I'm in the dark here, Sister, and bow before your apparently genetically endowed knowledge of these matters.

I send you all my love, my dearest Wolf. And let me say how happy I am to see you back in top fighting form.

P.S. A good friend, a very sophisticated, intimidating Montrealaise (know what they are?) is in the final weeks of her pregnancy. Apparently, the baby is gaining weight at the rate of a pound per week. Holy Moly! Anyway, all this to say that she is so sweet, gentle, vulnerable and utterly adorable right now that I have fallen in mad protective chivalrous love with her. I feel like Signor Badini in Top Hat: "I am too much protection enough!" Damn right! Sigh. You women! You're getting me from every angle. I'll bet you were equally lovable during the final weeks of your pregnancies.

P.P.S. Still waiting for that oxy...

Posted by: PatrickH on August 5, 2008 8:06 PM

PatrickH, I was never lovlier than with child. I was the blessed Madonna personified. And still really hot, of course.

Let me know when the baby arrives.

Posted by: Sister Wolf on August 5, 2008 8:52 PM


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