Shame and Innocence

On August 1st, 2013 I attended the 100 Masters exhibit at the Winnipeg Art Galley. The following pieces caught my attention.

In no particular order:

Confession 

(by Walter Gramatte)

 

The piece is haunting, almost demonic. I don't trust the woman standing up. Confession could almost replace the movie cover for The Conjuring and it, the movie, would still make sense with the Confession cover.

View of Dresden

(by Ernest Ludwig Kirchner)

I don't know why, but I like this piece because of Desden's history and the pink, blue and green scheme work oddly well.

Dresden after the bombing raid

  
The Modest Model

(by Paul Peel)

This is my favourite piece from the 100 Masters exhibit. The painting suggests both shame and innocence.  And, I know there's nothing pornographic about The Modest Model, BUT......there is a hint of something un-innocent occurring.  I don't know what it is, but my internal voice says, 'perverted old man.'   And, what's in the bottle by the old man's foot?

Le Concert

(by Pierre-Aguste Renoir)

 

In reality, these women were thin I'm told, but Renior painted them larger because, if I recall correctly, he liked plump women.

  

Icebergs

(by Lawren Harris)

These icebergs, very crystal-like, look like they've been sculpted.  The black water gives this picture an ominous feeling.

This is a mystery:

My handwritten notes say, "Kent - Gof7 - Frozen H20 Fall" and I can't find the image online.   This image is therefore lost to me.

Steamer at the Old Wharf, Nanaimo  

(by Edward John Hughs)

The red dock railing is the picture, for me.

 

Mums

(by Jack Chambes)

Simple. Elegant.
It reminds me of my cousin Michelle's home in Riverheights.

Island in the Ice

(by Tom Forrestall)

Lonely.  Cold.  Franklin's lost expedition; this is their lost home.  Or, this is the place you find before freezing to death if you're lost, wondering the arctic, looking for home (like the sailors from the Franklin expedition did for, reportedly, over two years).

Last Stand

(by Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun)

 

Alien--the blue guy looks like an alien.  I would call this painting a post-modern Salvador Dali/Norval Morrisseau fusion.