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Thursday, September 21, 2023

Hans Hartung

Art Appreciation 

Born in Leipzig, Germany, on September 21, 1904, Hans Hartung was a German-French painter acclaimed worldwide for pioneering the gestural abstract style known as art informel. 

From a young age, Hartung admired the works of Rembrandt, Lovis Corinth, Oskar Kokoschka, and Emil Nolde. He began experimenting with abstract painting at the age of 17. Later, in 1924, he pursued studies in philosophy and art history at Leipzig University before enrolling in the Fine Arts Academy of Dresden, where he meticulously studied and replicated paintings of renowned masters. 

In his early twenties, Hartung relocated to Paris, where he delved deeply into the principles of harmony and proportion, including the golden ratio. At 25, he married the Norwegian abstract expressionist artist Anna-Eva Bergman. 

In the 1930s, the Nazi regime in Germany condemned Hartung's work as degenerate due to its association with Cubism. During a visit to Berlin to sell his paintings, he narrowly escaped arrest and fled the country. 

Upon returning to Paris, Hartung experienced a turbulent period, culminating in a divorce from Anna-Eva, which plunged him into depression. His art evolved into a more abstract form that struggled to find buyers. A turning point came when the sculptor Julio González generously offered Hartung his studio, reigniting his artistic journey. Eventually, Hartung married González's daughter, Roberta, in 1939. 

During World War II, Hartung joined the French Foreign Legion and suffered severe injuries, resulting in the amputation of a leg. After the war, he was granted French citizenship and honored with a military medal. 

 In 1947, Hartung held his inaugural solo exhibition, showcasing his distinctive gestural paintings characterized by suspended areas of color and sweeping calligraphic brushstrokes, solidifying his reputation in the art world.


P20-1984-H9 (1984)

T1964-H47 (1964)

T1985-E9 (1985)

Untitled (1939)

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.hans-hartung.com

https://www.artnet.com/artists/hans-hartung/

https://www.perrotin.com/artists/Hans_Hartung/308#biography

https://www.simonleegallery.com/artists/hans-hartung/

https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095923283

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Joke: Lonely Minnesotans


Sick of the city, Sam quits his job and moves to Minnesota, as far from humanity as possible. He sees the postman once a week and gets groceries one a month. After six months of isolation, someone knocks on his door. A huge bearded man is standing on his porch. 

"Name's Lars,''the man says, "from down the road. Having a party Saturday. Wanna come?"

"Definitely," says Sam. "After six months out here, I'm ready to meet some people."

"Gotta warn you," says Lars, "there's gonna be some drinkin'."

"No problem: I can drink with the best of them," says Sam.

"More 'n likely gonna be some fightin', too."

"Well, I like people," Sam says. "I'll be there."

Lars starts to walk away, then turns back. "I see some wild sex at these parties, too."

"Not a problem," says Sam. "I've been alone for six months! Just one question, though: What should I wear?"

"Whatever you want -- just gonna be the two of us."

- David Priest, USAF 


https://hotpot.ai/art-generator


Source: 

Maxim Magazine, OCTOBER 1998 #12 issue

Friday, September 15, 2023

Barenaked Ladies - One Week

Music Appreciation

Barenaked Ladies, the Canadian alternative rock band, released their hit single One Week on September 19, 1998. The song, notable for its catchy tune and pop culture references, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there, coincidentally, for one week.  

The music video was directed by Jesse Dylan, the song of legendary musician Bob Dylan, and features the band performing the song in a bright-lit room, with the band members partaking in humorous scenes.

The video's fast-paced editing style perfectly matches the frenzied tempo of the song, with quick cuts and transitions that keep the viewer engaged. The camera work is also impressive, with several long takes that showcase the band's energetic performance.

via Barenaked Ladies (Official)