El Greco

El Greco, a talented artist from the 16th century, was known for his unique style that blended different Western art traditions. He created elongated, twisted figures, unreal colors, and an experimental rendering of space in his works, such as "The Disrobing of Christ" and "The Vision of St. John." Despite facing suspicion and criticism during his lifetime, he was revived by modern admirers like Pablo Picasso and Franz Marc. Today, he is considered one of the great old master painters and a reference point across centuries.

Format: Hardback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 03 January 2023
Publisher: Taschen GmbH

El Greco, a renowned artist of the late 16th century in Venice, was a unique individual who possessed an exceptional artistic talent but remained steadfast in his pursuit of his artistic vision. Throughout his career, which spanned from Crete to Venice, Rome, and finally Toledo, Spain, "The Greek" stood apart from his contemporaries, seamlessly blending various Western art traditions to create a distinctive visual language. El Greco's unwavering artistic style rejected naturalism and accessibility, opting instead for a grandiose and intellectual approach. His works, such as "The Disrobing of Christ" (1577–79), "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz" (1586–88), and "The Vision of St. John" (1608–14), showcased elongated, twisted figures, vibrant unreal colors, and an innovative exploration of space. These pieces, challenging to interpret and intended to evoke an art of epic grandeur and intellectual beauty, defied easy visual consumption. Throughout his lifetime, El Greco faced suspicion and criticism, but he was later revived by a group of passionate modern admirers, including Pablo Picasso, Roger Fry, and the pioneer of Der Blaue Reiter, Franz Marc. Today, El Greco is celebrated as one of the esteemed great old master painters, an anomaly of his era and a timeless reference point across centuries. This comprehensive introduction from TASCHEN Basic Art 2.0 delves into the influences and the ingredients that shaped El Greco's radical and singular vision. It explores the symbolic world of Byzantine icons, the humanistic values of the Renaissance, and the nascent beginnings of conceptual practice, all of which played a significant role in shaping his artistic oeuvre.

Weight: 552g
Dimension: 219 x 267 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783836534536