Leon Golub: Prophetic Art
I saw this painting, Interrogation II (1981), in person on a recent trip to the Art Institute of Chicago. It's a very large painting (120 X 168") on unstretched canvas. It just sort of hangs there on the wall, without a frame. It's definitely one of the most overwhelming paintings I've seen in person. Based on this experience, I can't imagine what it must feel like to see Picasso's Guernica.
The painting is part of a series of that Golub executed in the late seventies/early eighties in response to the revealation of atrocities during the Vietnam war and events in El Salvador and elsewhere in Central America. Along with another powerful series--ironically titled "Horsing Around"--"Interrogation" calls attention to the prevalence of sadistic behavior among soldiers, no matter the war and how the behavior, for the most part, goes unpunished. Ultimately, the paintings are illustrations of how masculinity and cruelty become elided.
The paintings are very interesting their two-dimensionality. The figures all occupy the same ground--no one figure is more prominent that the others, like a snapshot. In fact, if you notice, the men seem to "horsing around" for the audience, smiling, making gestures toward the hooded prisoner; it makes it hard to resist comparisons to the Abu Ghraib photographs.
I'm still trying to find a way of working Golub into my book. He's such an interesting figure, but I'm already giving space to Francis Bacon, the troubled Irish-born painter whose paintings are no less violent, but definitely more abstract.
9 comments:
Hi - I really like your website. I have one on aikido martial art here is the link to it. Come visit it and let me know what you think.
Great Blog!
Chip
http://www.focusedinterview.com
Hi Dave. I was looking for fragrance oil related information and came across your blog. Very good reading! I have a fragrance oil site. You can find everything about candle supplies, gel candles, jar candles, and how to make your own candles. You'll find it very informative. Check it out when you can :)
Hi Dave, very unique blog you have! I was looking for candle kit making related information and came across your site. Very good info, I'm definitely going to bookmark you! I have a candle kit making site. You can find everything about candle supplies, gel candles, jar candles, and how to make your own candles. You'll find it very informative. Please visit it.
Hi Dave. I was looking for fragrance oil related information and came across your blog. Very good reading! I have a fragrance oil site. You can find everything about candle supplies, gel candles, jar candles, and how to make your own candles. You'll find it very informative. Check it out when you can :)
Hi there Dave, I was just browsing, looking for candle making related information and found your blog. Very Nice! I have a candle making site. You can find everything about candle supplies, gel candles, jar candles, and how to make your own candles. You'll find it very informative. Please visit, check it out and enjoy!
I enjoyed reading some of your posts Dave. I was looking for candle making related information and found your blog. I have a candle making site. You can find everything about candle supplies, gel candles, jar candles, and how to make your own candles. You'll find it very informative. Come and check it out if you get time :-)
If you have a site similar to mine and would like to exchange links, please contact me through my website.
Hi #NAME#. Just found your site via wireless. Although I was looking for wireless I was glad i came upon your site. Thanks for the read!
HI dave! Very unique blog you have! I am a robot that makes comments on blogs and then tries to sell candles. Im definitly making your blog my HOMEPAGE. BOO YA.
Post a Comment