Writers Self-portrait
Louise Abbéma was a French painter, sculptor, and designer, celebrated for her work during the Belle Époque. Born in Étampes in 1853 into an affluent Parisian family, she became well known for her portraits, particularly of the famous actress Sarah Bernhardt, and for decorative panels commissioned for various public buildings in Paris and the Palace of the Governor in Dakar, Senegal.
Abbéma's art often depicted the upper echelons of French society and reflected the Impressionist style through her light and rapid brushstrokes. She was also notable for her involvement in the women's movement, where she contributed to the emerging image of the 'New Woman' by portraying androgynous figures and themes of intellectualism and freedom.
Among her many honors, Abbéma was awarded the Palme Academiques in 1887, nominated as the Official Painter of the Third Republic, and in 1906, she became a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Her works, such as "Lunch in the Greenhouse" and "Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt," have seen a resurgence in popularity as the contribution of women to historical art gains more recognition.
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Micha Brendel is a German artist living and working in Hohendorf/Lower Lusatia.
Brendel started his career as an assistant artist, then studied at the Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee and at the HfBK Dresden. He was one of the founders of the Auto-Perforations-Artisten association and editor of independent magazines for artists.
Brendel's early works centered on self-portraits and photographs of his own body, distorted with photographic techniques. He also made extensive use of organics, including animal bones and skin, in the creation of a wide variety of works. A common theme is self-destruction and alienation, shock and disgust. Brendel wrote detailed accounts of his creative process that became the basis for books.
Brendel's work, which often crosses boundaries, includes drawings, photographs, inscriptions, artist's books, taxidermy objects, installations and performances. He is currently intensifying his work with writing and nature and curating exhibition projects.
Maurice de Vlaminck was a French artist renowned for his vibrant use of color and contribution to the Fauvist movement. Born in Paris in 1876, Vlaminck's early work was marked by a passionate application of paint and a bold palette, drawing inspiration from Vincent van Gogh and Henri Matisse. His participation in the 1905 Salon d'Automne, alongside other Fauvist painters, was met with critical disdain, leading to the term "fauves" (wild beasts) being coined to describe their unorthodox use of intense color.
Vlaminck's career was characterized by a continuous exploration of color and form. Early on, he depicted scenes of daily life, landscapes, and portraits, imbuing them with a sense of motion through his dynamic brushwork. Notable works from this period include "Sur le zinc" (At the Bar) and "L'homme a la pipe" (Man Smoking a Pipe), which highlighted his departure from traditional portraiture and landscapes towards more expressive and mood-driven compositions. His landscapes, in particular, showcased a disregard for detail in favor of conveying atmosphere, a technique that was revolutionary at the time.
Throughout his life, Vlaminck's style evolved, showing influences from Post-Impressionism and later, a more monochromatic palette reminiscent of Paul Cézanne. Despite this evolution, he maintained a critical stance towards Cubism and its leading figure, Pablo Picasso, believing that Cubism had led French painting into a "wretched dead end". In his later years, Vlaminck's work adopted a darker palette and more naturalistic style, moving away from the Fauvist emphasis on color to explore the dramatic and expressive potential of landscapes and seascapes.
Vlaminck's impact on modern art is undeniable. His works are held in prestigious collections worldwide, including the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg and the Minneapolis Institute of Art, attesting to his enduring influence and the continued fascination with his bold, expressive approach to painting.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Vlaminck's oeuvre represents a pivotal moment in the history of modern art, where the emotional intensity and visual impact of color were explored as never before. To stay informed on new product sales and auction events related to Maurice de Vlaminck, signing up for updates is recommended, offering exclusive insights into the vibrant world of Fauvism and modernist painting.
Gerardo Murillo Cornado, also known by his signature "Dr. Atl", was a Mexican painter and writer. He was actively involved in the Mexican Revolution in the Constitutionalist faction led by Venustiano Carranza. He had ties to the anarchosyndicalist labor organization, the Casa del Obrero Mundial.
Günter Wilhelm Grass was a German novelist, poet, playwright, illustrator, graphic artist, sculptor, and recipient of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Grass is best known for his first novel, The Tin Drum (1959), a key text in European magic realism. It was the first book of his Danzig Trilogy, the other two being Cat and Mouse and Dog Years. His works are frequently considered to have a left-wing political dimension, and Grass was an active supporter of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). The Tin Drum was adapted as a film of the same name, which won both the 1979 Palme d'Or and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In 1999, the Swedish Academy awarded him the Nobel Prize in Literature, praising him as a writer "whose frolicsome black fables portray the forgotten face of history".
Apollon Nikolaevich Mokritsky (Russian: Аполлон Николаевич Мокрицкий) was a Ukrainian-Russian painter and art educator, known for his contributions to the 19th-century art scene. Born in 1810 in Pyryatyn, Ukraine, Mokritsky became an influential figure in Russian academic art, specializing in portrait and historical painting.
Mokritsky's work is celebrated for its detailed realism and emotional depth. His portraits often capture the essence of his subjects, showcasing his skill in rendering lifelike expressions and intricate details. One of his most notable works is the portrait of the renowned Russian poet, Taras Shevchenko, which exemplifies his ability to combine technical precision with profound sensitivity.
In addition to his painting, Mokritsky played a significant role as an educator. He taught at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, where he mentored many young artists who would go on to shape Russian art. His influence extended beyond his own works, helping to cultivate a new generation of artists.
Today, Mokritsky's paintings can be found in various museums and galleries, including the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. His contributions to art and education continue to be recognized and celebrated by art collectors and historians alike.
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Jan Verkade, birth name Johannes Sixtus Gerhardus Verkade, later changed to Willibrord Verkade, was a Dutch and German Benedictine monk, Post-Impressionist and Symbolist painter.
Jan was captivated by art from his youth and began studying painting at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam, later in Paris he met Paul Gauguin, Paul Sérusier and other Symbolists, which played a major role in his worldview. In the last years of the 19th century, Verkade joined the Nabis (Les Nabis), a group of Symbolist artists. Fascinated by esoteric mysticism, the Kabbalah and Eastern magical teachings, he, however, adhered to the canons of Christianity.
In 1893 Verkade went to a Benedictine monastery in Boiron, Germany, painted churches and monasteries, and in 1902 he became a priest and changed his name to Willibrord Verkade. He continued to paint until 1927, but was no longer able to reach the level of his French period, considered his best period. However, he made a significant contribution to the Beuron school of art, which was founded by a confederation of Benedictine monks in Germany at the end of the 19th century. Up until his death in 1946, Verkade led a reclusive life, writing several religious, historical, and scientific linguistic works over the years.
Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun was a celebrated French painter, renowned for her skill in portrait painting during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Born in Paris in 1755, Vigee Le Brun's artistic talent was evident from a young age, leading her to become one of the most successful female artists of her time. Her father, a portraitist himself, was a significant influence on her early artistic development.
Vigee Le Brun is perhaps best known for her association with Queen Marie Antoinette. She painted more than 30 portraits of the queen, capturing her in a light that combined personal intimacy with the regal dignity required of royal portraiture. Her ability to portray her subjects with both elegance and psychological depth won her acclaim and patronage from the highest ranks of society across Europe.
Her career spanned one of Europe's most turbulent periods, including the French Revolution, which forced her into exile. During her years abroad, she lived and worked in major cultural centers such as Rome, Vienna, and St. Petersburg, further cementing her reputation among European aristocracy.
Vigee Le Brun's works are displayed in prestigious museums worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Louvre in Paris. Her legacy is not only in her portraits but also in her memoirs, which provide a vivid account of the cultural atmosphere of her time and her encounters with various historical figures.
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Nadezhda Savelyevna Voitinskaya-Levidova (Russian: Надежда Савельевна Войтинская-Левидова) was a multifaceted Russian artist, writer, and translator, whose life spanned from 1886 to 1965. Born into a family with a strong academic background in St. Petersburg, she carved a unique path for herself in the arts and literature. Voitinskaya-Levidova was not only known for her artistic talents but also for her resilience and adaptability through challenging times, including her wrongful arrest in 1938 and survival during the siege of Leningrad in World War II.
Her journey into the arts began with painting lessons in private studios in St. Petersburg, followed by studies in painting and lithography in Paris. Voitinskaya-Levidova's return to Petersburg marked the beginning of a prolific period where she became closely associated with the "World of Art" artists. She made significant contributions through a series of lithographic portraits of famous writers of her time in 1909, demonstrating her skill and versatility in graphic arts. Her academic achievements included graduating from the Petrograd Institute of Art History in 1924, after which she dedicated herself to teaching and translating, enriching the cultural landscape with her translations of works by European authors and her own literary works.
The legacy of Nadezhda Savelyevna Voitinskaya-Levidova is preserved in the archives of Russia's National Library and her artworks, many of which are housed in prestigious collections such as the State Russian Museum, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. Her life and work stand as a testament to her enduring spirit and significant contributions to Russian art and literature.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, the story of Nadezhda Savelyevna Voitinskaya-Levidova is a compelling narrative of creativity, resilience, and the power of cultural expression. Her contributions to art and literature continue to inspire and resonate with audiences, underscoring the importance of preserving and celebrating her legacy.
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Lynd Kendall Ward was an American artist and novelist, known for his series of wordless novels using wood engraving, and his illustrations for juvenile and adult books. His wordless novels have influenced the development of the graphic novel. Although strongly associated with his wood engravings, he also worked in watercolor, oil, brush and ink, lithography and mezzotint. His best-known books are Gods' Man and his Caldecott-winning children's story, The Biggest Bear.
