I recall watching and listening to an interview with Roy Lichtenstein, I was interested in his comment as he viewed a 35 mm slide of a Monet painting of Rouen Cathedral. He referred to it (quite sincerely) as a beautiful painting. The Monet slide was placed beside an image of his own painting of the same subject. His final comment was that he would gladly trade his painting with the Monet.
He indicated his desire to have his work of the cathedral appear as though it had been made by a machine from our contemporary age. Twice he referred to the Monet as a beautiful painting.
Throughout the program one could enjoy his lighthearted and knowledgeable intelligence concerning painting and art history. That intelligence is of course, one of the sources of the decline of painting during the past 40 to 50 years. Andy Warhol’s equal intelligence has been even more influential toward this decline. Since humanity is eternally and wonderfully curious it is not surprising that some would reach out for the complete opposite of the status quo. The current cycle which these artists have generated is simply the low end, the downside of the cycle. They have been extremely influential with younger artists and it is sad that they are on such a dead end track but at least they can have fun while on that track.
Lichtenstein’s work was acceptable to a certain appreciative group of sophisticated artists and critics because he designed his paintings quite skillfully and handsomely which made it acceptable and an opening to a safe haven from complete dismissal. These artists and critics could be considered “important” and influential consumers as opposed to casual observers. However the contradiction between elegant design and inelegant subjects is the very issue that renders such work spiritually vacant however intelligent. (And, if not profound, at least a true reflection of American cultural values) And I suppose that art has, in return, been influenced by the culture that it shines a light on. It’s almost as depressing as the American film and television culture that rewards the lowest common denominator in that art form. They also, present products that show highly developed technical and visual skill. But often the content is wholly meretricious.
Better days ahead?
Ron
