JaZzArt en València

WHO IS THE GREATEST PAINTER OF ALL TIME?

Well, it could be said that it may be Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519)…
Art history has emphasised that he is the ultimate synthesis of art and science. And furthermore, and these are simply facts, that his Mona Lisa (to me a second rate portrait), and The Last Supper (phenomenal but badly done and due to that it is almost totally deteriorated), are among the most studied and reproduced images on Earth.

It has also been said (mostly by “experts”, good grief!) that he transformed painting into a form of intellectual inquiry. That he was able to merge light, anatomy, spirit and mystery into his paintings successfully.
And finally “experts” simply conclude that he was a genius.

I do not think he was a genius. I think he was a painter of his time and that there were probably many other “Leonardos” in abundance during the Renaissance, especially in Italy. He was not, in my opinion, the author of intellectual inquiry. And reference merging light, anatomy, spirit and mystery to create, well, allow me to introduce you to the real master, Sandro Botticelli, the author of La Nascita di Venere (The Birth of Venus). And let me add that Leonardo was also a bit lazy. Most of his paintings are unfinished and many times he had been commissioned, and paid, to create either a painting or a sculpture and he would leave the job either half done or not at all. Is that the work of a genius? I do not think so…

And The Mona Lisa, definitely not his best portrait and it would not have become so famous had it not been stolen. After the theft the “marketing” campaign created the mystique and after it was recovered the museum sent the painting on a world tour to ensure its fame. If you really want to admire a great Leonardo portrait take a look at “Lady With An Ermine” totally superior to The Mona Lisa.

Now, if we mean the most “famous” painter in art history, one might say it is Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)…
His life story, along with his art, was woven into a myth. He was the mad painter, victim of suffering and of course his death made him a martyr, and martyrs sell. They (“experts”) say that the struggle, the passion, the vision. I don’t buy it, and it reminds me of another artist, one that I do not like, because I do like and admire van Gogh, which is Frida Kahlo…

Art historians claim that his style, i.e. his use of colour and of “swirling emotion” changed the language of painting forever. Well, perhaps, but the language of painting has been changing and by his day, it had changed much and still is. So that is nothing so big that it can elevate him to that level.
Finally they claim that he put his soul into his work. I would remind the “experts” that most good painters have done that and still do.

So I would conclude that Vincent van Gogh was a great painter and a reference to all artists that study art history. And if you are, or aspire to be, an artist you must study art history. But to me he is not the most famous painter in art history.

But if we mean to say the “most influential painter on modern art”, without a doubt it would be Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)…
Picasso was the true genius of art. He totally reinvented painting and opened the door for all the other painters of the 20th Century. When he invented cubism he created a new way of expression on the canvas that allowed for all the other art vanguards of the 20th Century to come forth. He did not create surrealism, or abstract art, but his break with tradition and classicism allowed others to become surrealists, expressionists, or abstract artists. His innovations even allowed for the clear and unequivocal development of realism and ultra-realism.

Picasso worked tirelessly. His incredible body of work proves that he was the consummate professional of art. He delved into sculpture, poetry, theatre, set and costume design and let us not forget that he invented the collage.
Picasso was the true revolutionary of art.

So, who is the greatest painter in history? Well, you tell me. But, to not let you wondering, here are a few contenders:

• Michelangelo – unmatched in power and divine drama.
• Rembrandt – master of human light and introspection.
• Claude Monet – father of Impressionism and modern vision.
• Caravaggio – light and darkness turned into revelation.
• Diego Velázquez – painter of truth before photography existed.
• Francisco de Goya – Arguably the first modern painter.

CHEERS

Ya hemos de entrar de lleno en el S. XX y en sus tantas vanguardias y diferentes tendientes artisticas. Una de las mas famosas y duraderas es el surrealismo y quien mejor para dar ejemplo de sus sutilezas que el artista que proclamó, ante el propio creador del surrealismo, André Breton, que él era el surrealismo, Salvador Dalí.

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We are about to fully immerse ourselves in the art of the XX C. and the many vanguards that flourished. One of the most famous ones, which has endured the test of time, is surrealism. Then, who better to give an example of the subtleness of this style than the artist who proclaimed himself…in front of the creator of surrealism, André Breton…to be surrealism, Salvador Dalí.

GRACIAS – CHEERS

Parece que entonces no se escaparán y pagarán sus culpas los traidores…

Bien…

El primero es de la serie JaZzArt en València, Fase II, etapa rosa, número uno,(La serie completa en Instagram: @Francisco_Bravo_Cabrera). Mide 25x35cm y la técnica, grafito (lapices) y tinta sobre una base abstracta de acuarela. La bailarina ocupa el centro de la composición y sus músicos ocupan el lateral izquierdo, mientras que la simbología ocupa el derecho, siendo esta un búho…

La danza es algo mágico-sensual, el arte que siempre nos ha fascinado. ¿Acaso Salomé no bailó con tal sensualidad que embrujó a Herodes con los movimientos de su cuerpo y esto terminó causándole la muerte a Juan el Bautista? ¿Hace falta decir más?

Okay…

The first one is from the series JaZzArt en València, Phase II, Rose Period, Number One. Measures 25x35cm and I painted it with graphite and ink over an abstract background done with watercolours. The dancer occupies the central part of the composition. She has to the right the musicians and to the left symbology in the form of an owl…

The dance is magic-sensuality and is the art form that has always fascinated mankind. Didn’t Salomé dance so sensuously that she bewitched Herod with her movements and this ended up causing the death of John the Baptist? Need I say more?

El segundo…«Terminando la pirueta»…lo he pintado con pintura acrílica sobre tela cien por ciento algodón. Mide 30x60cm y va ser el primero de un triptico que aún está por pintar. El tema es, igual que el anterior, la danza, la sensualidad del movimiento rítmico, fluido, coreografiado o improvisado, pero destinado a ser placentero y bello. ¿Acaso no dicen que los bailarines son «sex-symbols»?

Bailar, con o sin pareja, es un acto social y también uno artístico. Bailamos en nuestras casas cuando nos sentimos felices y queremos celebrar, solo o acompañados. Lo hacemos también en las fechas importantes de nuestra vida, como el día en que nos casamos, en las fiestas de noche buena y por supuesto en la noche vieja ya que dicen que si comenzamos el año bailando bailaremos el año entero. ¡Venga!

The second one is titled «Terminando la pirueta» («Finishing the Pirouette»). It is acrylic on canvas and measures 30x60cm. This is the first of a triptych that I have yet to paint. It’s theme, again, is the dance, the sensuality of motion, of rhythm, fluid movements, choreographed or improvised, but destined to give pleasure and be beautiful. Or don’t they say dancers are «sex-symbols»?

To dance, with or without a partner is a social act and an artistic one. We dance at home when we are happy and we want to celebrate, with others or alone. We also dance at those important times in our lives, like the day of our wedding, on Christmas parties and of course on New Year’s Eve! They say that if one starts the year dancing one will be dancing the whole year! Smashing good!

El tercero…y último…es un cuadro que he titulado «Fiesta». La técnica, acrílico sobre tela y mide 50x60cm. Se imponen, sobre un fondo abstracto dominado por los colores rosas y amarillos, cinco siluetas, tres bailando, una haciendo unos movimientos gimnásticos y uno tocando un tambor. Se palpa el movimiento en la composición, se sienten los golpes en el cuero del tambor, se respira la alegría de los bailarines y de todos…

Concluyendo, digo que bailar es una reacción humana que surge cuando estamos felices, cachondos o cuando queremos alabar al Dios que nos creó. Los bailarines somos nosotros, la música nos motiva y nos hace movernos al ritmo de un tambor o de una pandereta, pero la música que mas nos ha de hacer bailar está dentro de nuestros oídos y nadie más la puede escuchar…

The third, and last one, is titled «Fiesta» («Party»). It is done with acrylics on canvas and measures 50x60cm. The composition is made with an abstract background, mostly in rose and yellows wherein five silhouettes abide. Three of them are dancing, while one is doing some gymnastic-type movement and one is playing a drum. One can feel the movement, one can hear the pounding on the drum and one can sense the joy of the dancers and all…

In conclusion I will say that dancing is a human reaction that surges within us when we are filled with happiness, when we feel sexy or when we want to praise the God of our creation. We are the dancers and music motivates us and makes us move either to the rhythm of a drum or a tambourine. But the music that really makes us dance is the one that only we can hear and no one else can…

(Imagenes, de los cuadros pintados por Francisco Bravo Cabrera, son propiedad de Francisco Bravo Cabrera y no pueden ser reproducidas sin permiso escrito. Derechos Reservados. C.2021, All Rights Reserved)

(Images of the paintings done by Francisco Bravo Cabrera are the property of Francisco Bravo Cabrera and cannot be reproduced without written permission. C.2021, All Rights Reserved)

GRACIAS – CHEERS

Comenzare por deciros que el trabajo de José Guadalupe Posada me encanta. Nació en Aguascalientes en 1852 y fue grabador, ilustrador y caricaturista. Se hizo muy popular por sus escenas costumbristas, y sátiras sociopolíticas, pero mas que nada por sus ilustraciones de calaveras, la mas llamativa entre ellas, La Catrina. Posada estudió en la Academia Municipal de Dibujo de Aguascalientes y a los dieciséis años comenzó a currar.

Las calaveras de Posada representaban la vanidad de los vivos ante la implacable realidad de la muerte. Las dibujaba montadas a caballo, en montando bicicleta, señalando las lacras, la miseria y los errores políticos de su país. La Catrina, o también llamada La Calavera garbancera, se burla de indígenas enriquecidos durante el regimen militar de Porfirio Diaz (1876-1911) que despreciaban sus orígenes y costumbres, y querían vestir modas europeas.

El mayor referente para Posada fue, sin dudas, el grabador Manuel Manilla (1830-1895) quien fue el primer caricaturista de estas calaveras. Se reconoce que ambos, Posada y Manilla influyeron en artistas como Diego Rivera, y otros.

Seguiré con algunos de los grabados de José Guadalupe Posada y ya me diréis lo que os pensáis…

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GRACIAS

Comenzare por deciros que el trabajo de José Guadalupe Posada me encanta. Nació en Aguascalientes en 1852 y fue grabador, ilustrador y caricaturista. Se hizo muy popular por sus escenas costumbristas, y sátiras sociopolíticas, pero mas que nada por sus ilustraciones de calaveras, la mas llamativa entre ellas, La Catrina. Posada estudió en la Academia Municipal de Dibujo de Aguascalientes y a los dieciséis años comenzó a currar.

Las calaveras de Posada representaban la vanidad de los vivos ante la implacable realidad de la muerte. Las dibujaba montadas a caballo, en montando bicicleta, señalando las lacras, la miseria y los errores políticos de su país. La Catrina, o también llamada La Calavera garbancera, se burla de indígenas enriquecidos durante el regimen militar de Porfirio Diaz (1876-1911) que despreciaban sus orígenes y costumbres, y querían vestir modas europeas.

El mayor referente para Posada fue, sin dudas, el grabador Manuel Manilla (1830-1895) quien fue el primer caricaturista de estas calaveras. Se reconoce que ambos, Posada y Manilla influyeron en artistas como Diego Rivera, y otros.

Seguiré con algunos de los grabados de José Guadalupe Posada y ya me diréis lo que os pensáis…

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GRACIAS

These three are very interesting and quite different in style and approach to their creative process. I think they are a great special edition to this series of «Art History in One Minute (videos)«.

CHEERS

Parece que carecemos de liderazgo…