Georges Rouault and Material Imagining

This book explores the materiality and painting of Georges Rouault,focusing on his experimental and challenging modernist work. It emphasizes the process of making as a search for understanding and a response to the problematic world of the 20th century,drawing upon the residue of Gustave Moreau's symbolism,Fauvism,and Alfred Jarry's theatrical experiments.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 24 December 2020
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This book delves into profound inquiries into the realm of materiality and painting, with a central focus on the enigmatic artwork of Georges Rouault. By employing an innovative critical lens, it explores the diverse range of questions raised by this challenging modernist. Rouault, often characterized as a difficult and dark painter, is known for his highly experimental approach to art. His paintings evoke a sense of chaos and disorder, with images of the circus emerging from a flurry of intricate marks and landscapes appearing as if frozen in thick layers of paint.

Rouault's artistic journey is a fusion of various influences, drawing upon the symbolism of Gustave Moreau, the vibrant extremes of Fauvism, and the radical theatrical experiments of Alfred Jarry. His relentless repetitions and re-workings challenge conventional notions of chronological treatment, placing the utmost emphasis on the emergence and genesis of the artwork itself. Through this exploration, the book unveils the process of making as both a quest for understanding and a response to the complex and troubled world of the 20th century.

In conclusion, this book offers a groundbreaking perspective on the interplay between materiality and painting, providing a fresh and thought-provoking approach to the enigmatic work of Georges Rouault. It serves as a testament to the power of art to challenge our perceptions and provoke us to explore the depths of human experience.

Weight: 516g
Dimension: 162 x 240 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501346095