The black model from Gericault to Matisse

Exhibition at the Orsay Museum from Marz 26 to July 2019, 62 Lille street 75343 Paris Cedex 7, open from Thursdays to Sundays (9.30 am to 6pm) except Tuersdays (9.30 am to 9.45 pm) closed Mondays, phone : 01.40.49.48.14, ticket full price : 12 €.

The Orsay Museum in collaboration with the New - York Wallach Art Gallery speaks about a them that has never happened in French museums the representation of Black females and males in painting. The exhibition covers a period between the beginning of the 19th century until the middle of the 20th century. Before the 18th century the artists used a ridiculous way for painting black people deforming their faces lines or their bodies. This way of making correspond to a way of thinking of that time leaded by the 1685 royal decree named "Black code" written by the French king prime minister Colbert in which the black weren't considered as human beings. The black people representation raise up during the 18th century because French intellectuals (Montesquieu, the Encyclopedists, Brissot, the Grégoire Abbey, Olympes de Gouges) critize highly the slavery system. The result of that movement will be the first abolition of slavery (February 4 1794, 16 pluviôse An II decree). The paintings and the sculptures show us more real characters with a specific attention on colors and drawings but the models play always small part (maids, ...).

Théodore Géricault "Le radeau de la Méduse" (1818, 1819)

In 1818 the painter Theodore Géricault paints his famous painting "le radeau de la Méduse" dealing with the sinking of a boat who underlines the part playing by a black model named Joseph inside the canvas. Towards the painting Géricault denounces the slavery system. During all the 19th century the representation of black models in painting grows up like in the Manet painting named "Olympia" (1863) but the main step will happened in New - York  City. With the help of some maecenas and the creation of some papers and associations the area of Harlem know a golden age named Harlem Renaissance. Painters or sculptors make some canvas or sculptures for the African - Americans upper class living in Sugar Hill and they invent new pictures finding their roots inside the African esthetic traditions (West Africa). The final step will be the "Black studies" initiated by Frédérick Douglass and W.E.B. Du Bois involving deep searchings about history and cultural of African - Americans people and also proposing a political way of painting.

Tribute to the Manet "Olympia" by Jan Banning.

Art / Africa, the new studio - artetcinemas.over-blog.com

Exhibition at the Louis Vuitton Foundation until August 28th 2017, Mahatma Gandhi avenue, Paris 16th, open from Wednesday to Monday from 12am to 7pm, Saturday and Sunday to 8pm, fee : 5 to 14 €. The

http://artetcinemas.over-blog.com/2017/07/art/africa-the-new-studio.html

Jean - Michel Basquiat, rages to riches - artetcinemas.over-blog.com

Documentary directed by : David Shulman, produced by : BBC Studios and PBS distribution, (2017), 55 mn. The David Shulman documentary follows those who have been already done about the "radiant ...

http://artetcinemas.over-blog.com/2018/11/jean-michel-basquiat-rages-to-riches.html

Slavery routes (TV serie) - artetcinemas.over-blog.com

Arte TV serie, directed by : Daniel Cattier, Fanny Glissant, Juan Gélas, written credits (in alphabetical order) : Frédéric Gazeau, Sandrien Gregor, cast (voices) : Nathan Willcocks, Mathieu ...

http://artetcinemas.over-blog.com/2018/12/slavery-routes-tv-serie.html

Musée d'Orsay: Accueil

Exposition au musée d'Orsay Le "Talisman" de Sérusier 29 janvier - 2 juin 2019

https://www.musee-orsay.fr/

Comments

[Richard Murray]

the jan banning photograph surprised me

[Philippe]

I understand your surprise but you mustn't forget that Banning follow two purposes. First giving a tribute to the famous Manet painting ("L'Olympia" (1863)) and second showing that the beauty of Black models can also like the beauty of White models be underlining in painting. The Manet painting and the Banning photography are the same but the model in front of us are differents...