Monday 8 July 2013

GEORGE BELLOWS AND PAUL GAUGUIN

GEORGE BELLOWS AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY, LONDON

I just made it to see this exhibition, a few days before it closed. It was well worth it!

There were some fantastic views of NY City, in sombre blacks and greys.

He used to work in New York and took his sketchbook out, particularly on the areas were construction was taking place.
A group of paintings were focussed on the the new Penn Station.
The huge hole in the ground, surrounded by cliffs of earth, made me look hard.
I have used Penn Station, and it does not seem possible that relatively recently it was just a mammoth construction side, with not a building in sight.

Also Bellows painted some fine landscapes, and there were drawings of the local scallywags, the poor boys who lived near his studio, playing in the city and swimming in the river, I suppose it was the Hudson.

Unfortunately you cannot take photos in the Royal Academy, so I have no images.
Will see if there is a link, though
Royal Academy information about this closed exhibition

THE COURTAULD GALLERY, PAUL GAUGUIN, SOMERSET HOUSE.

COLLECTING GAUGUIN

SAMUEL COURTAULD IN THE '20S


The largest of the exhibition spaces on the top floor has several prime Gauguins in oils in this exhibition, most of them very familiar;  still it is worth going to have a look.  Two are on loan, and I enjoyed looking at the works very much.  However, George Bellows is more my cup of tea, all that urban grime!  

The text as usual was informative and interesting.  In addition there are a numer of wood-cuts prints.

Courtauld, Collecting Gauguins