St. Valentine's Day -- a cold day in mid February dedicated to the warmth and cheerfulness of romance and love (and lusty one night stands). This is the first of two posts intended to help those in need of those little details that make the day really meaningful. This one is about Valentine-appropriate art. For those with significant others, many of these images will make fantastic Valentine cards. For those that intend to spend the day with chocolate/alcohol, some of these images will hopefully remind you that love is possible (or, in modern times, is over rated)
Sacred and Profane Love (1514), Titian (pictured above)
This is an interesting one. On one side stands "Profane Love" -- lust, one night stands, promiscuity, etc. On the other is "Sacred Love" -- true, eternal, romantic, spiritual, soul mate kind of love. But which is which? As it turns out, Sacred Love is the beautiful nude to the right of the central stone table. She is Venus incarnate. Vouluptous, yes. But ultimately modest (look at her avert gaze) and divine.
The Kiss (1907-1908), Gustav Klimt
I've always found this one a little troubling. It is generally accepted that this is the image of two lovers in an embrace -- of a woman submitting to her lover's touch and submitting to ecstasy. Though there's something about the way her head is tilted that makes me think otherwise. But for the sake of Valentine's Day, let's stick to the popular interpretation.
Olympia (1863), Edouard Manet
This famous painting is a late 19th century modernization of Titian's Venus of Urbino. How is it a modernization? Manet's Venus is a prostitute who sells love as a commodity. So, this isn't exactly the image you want to present to your lover. It's more of a reminder how impersonal love in the modern era often is.
At Père Lathuille's (1879), Edouard Manet
This scene is so full of light and joy -- who wouldn't want to be one half of the couple at Pere Lathuille's?
Cupid and Psyche (1783), Canova
Canova's Cupid and Psyche is one of the most arresting sculptures at the Louvre. Delecate and pure, it is an image of that moment Love awakens you to the world.
The Kiss (1889), Auguste Rodin
Seriously, this sculpture is the reason I'm an art historian (and Rodin's the Burghesses of Calais). Pure passion, pure romance, a pure moment. This is what a kiss should be.
The Swing (1766), Jean-Honore Fragonard
Valentine's Day almost requires a bit of Baroque-over-the-topness. So the fella is looking up her skirt and all those petticoats. She knows what she's doing. And I think we all get the inuendo implied in the swing. Those dirty 18th Century Frenchmen ;) All the dripping sexiness aside, it is a pretty image -- very chocolate box or Card with doily appropriate.
At a New York Restaurant (1922), Edward Hopper
A little less joyful than Manet's cafe scene. However, unlike many of Hopper's other paintings of individuals in American cities, there is a greater sense of intimacy, or perhaps a lesser sense of isolation and loneliness. I really like the painting -- we're given a glance into a private moment, in a public place, between a man and woman and it's up to us to tell their story.
Lovers in a small cafe in the Latin Quarter (1932), Brassaï
Romance only the way the French can picture it -- making out in a corner of a small cafe in Paris. It's a cliche we hold dear to this day.
Coronado Beach (c. 1930), Unknown photographer
Joy. Bliss. and Beach. Just a lovely scene of a lovely couple. And there's something immortal about black and white images... dontcha think?
stay tuned for Valentine's Day appropriate playlists.
3 comments:
Nothing is more erotic then the work of Klimt. I think that the kiss is definitely a very different look into the portrayal of women in his art. Its definitely not as seductive, to me its personal. But I think the comment about her head is an interesting one. It has got me thinking about the meaning of seduction. There are very few modern artists who are also romantics and I think Klimt and Schiele both were a rare breed.
And as I believe I remember the great Anne Higonnet once saying about the Canova (to paraphrase), "I mean, who wouldn't want to be woken up like this?" ;)
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