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science... matisse, picasso

updated thu 5 aug 04

 

David Martin Hershey on wed 4 aug 04


Hi Kathy,

Ah to be close enough to NYC to roam
the museums and galleries at will,
but far enough away to keep your sanity.

Re: Matisse and Picasso- did you ever hear this one?
In his later years, Picasso was in a serious discussion on
the nature of painting, and was reputed to have said
with a sigh: "In the end, there is only Matisse..."

Maybe your professore was talking about transcending the ego.
Picasso never could, and it turned him into a Picasso machine
for the last 25 years of his life.

Matisse, on the other hand...
was still tapping the source from his death bed.

And then to further confound things
on the subject of Matisse,
there is this little gem from the late brilliant historian
and curator Kirk Varnedoe.

"All 20th century American painting before Pollock refers to Matisse,
all American painting after Pollock refers to Pollock."

If you ever get a chance, look up Kirk on Charlie Rose.
He puts Pollock together in a way that no one else ever has.

Best, DMH
Beautiful Hermosa Beach CA USA
Where the humming birds are
fighting over the 25 foot tall
blue agave's bloom...