Here is another musée Maillol photo... I saved it because I really like its framing; I took it on the first floor (for Americans: 2nd floor!) where they had - and still have until March 23, this temporary Russian painter exhibit from the Georges Costakis collection. They also have a special tribute to Dina Vierny, the muse of Maillol, the one who modeled for him and opened the museum in 1995 and who just died at the age of 90.
That is an eerie drawing and I am not sure what to make of it. Perhaps I need to enlarge it to get the full effect.
ReplyDeleteWow - the George Costanza Collection, huh? I never knew he was into art. This painting does capture a certain inner turmoil that George always seemed to be experiencing though, so I can understand how it is included here.
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Costanzulations from cali!
ReplyDeleteLOL Carrie. Talk about worlds colliding!
ReplyDeleteEnlarging this photo only made it more disturbing. :(
Actually, I think you can look at it another way. It may not be a scream you're looking, he may just be tired - think of it with the title "The Yawn". : )
ReplyDeleteOh, to have a muse...
ReplyDelete..oh, to BE a muse
I was told I was a muse the other day... :)
ReplyDeleteThis photo is really atmospheric, I love it Eric.
That's pretty sweet, Lynn.
ReplyDeleteI told someone I was amused the other day - it didn't have the same effect.
Funny, Carrie.I'll just mention to the people outside the US that you have to watch a lot of USA TV to "get" it.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this picture looks as dramatic in person?
I hope that one day, these Rubenesque women come back in style so I can eat myself into a coma at Laduree.
The tv thing was Carrie's first comment, not the second comment she made that is NOW above mine.(tho that was funny too.
ReplyDelete"Well, I used to disgusted,
ReplyDeleteNow I try to be amused."
Nice photo. I, too, appreciate the framing of the door frame.
There are many nice Maillol sculptures at the Norton Simon museum in Pasadena. With the garden open in back, there are a couple very large ones there.
We have a museum of Russian art, and I myself am bemused that I have not visited it.
Used to BE disgusted.
ReplyDeleteNow I try to be amused.
I messed up Elvis Costello's lyrics.
Which I changed to: "I used to be disgusted, now I'm disgusting." If you can't beat them . . .
ReplyDeleteWell, its generally not something I usually rely on, but, yes, I'm placing all my faith on decades of American cultural imperialism - and actually hoping I'm not wrong!! Either way, thanks PHX, for explaining to those who haven't had their televisions taken over.
ReplyDeleteThe other reference is to Munch's "The Scream".
LOL Caro, several times! {Do tell me if you get tired of me calling you Caro...}
ReplyDelete{I watch too much US TV, phx.}
Cali, way to go! After much head scratching, I've come to the conclusion that you're going to have a cross-dressing Sumo wrestler dangling off your crown. Good luck with that. {Don't look up.}
Shell Sherree - you and everyone else can definitely call me Caro - I would have changed my sign on name, but the Man Who Decrees Things Inside The Computer wouldn't let me!
ReplyDeleteNow - about that cross dressing sumo wrestler - its a great image, and everyone else may get it, but I'm at a loss! : )
I like the painting as well as the photo. Love the brown shadows and lines with the glowing light.
ReplyDeleteI asked for a trip to a museum for my birthday. Maybe it'll be the Norton Simon...
It's ok, Caro, my brain spark plugs don't always fire in sane order.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the subject looks like - um, he? has a substantial man's chest/arms/legs but a silk chemise with superfine spaghetti straps that have slid down. {Actually, I nearly said 'shot putter' because he's not as substantial as a typical Sumo and almost has a shot put stance, but 'shot putter' looks odd, as if it's like a golf putter, which gives totally the wrong idea. But since the whole concept has now become rather bizarre - oh, never mind.}
LOL Carrie!! I had to laugh at your comment, George Constanza is one of my favourite tv characters. Just saw it on the Seinfeld re-run we get every night through cable.
ReplyDeleteEric the photo is intriguing and great like usual, but just couldn't resist Carrie's commnent
What's best is I'll finally get to visit this museum cause I bought my ticket to PARIS!!! I'm spending the whole month of June in Paree.
ReplyDeleteAm I jumping for joy?!?!
You people all crack me up. Are we to assume that this drawing depicts Dina Vierny, Maillol's muse?
ReplyDeleteIf so, then I guess I could still be a muse (and no need to hold the Berthillon)!
Congrats, GF from cali!
Oh, Monica! Wheee!
ReplyDeleteWoooohoooo Monica!!! I'm very happy for you!
ReplyDeleteOK Shell - now I get it. Originally was getting a male vibe from the figure and I was totally focused on the face. I didn't examine it more closely but I can see now that it does look like a slippy thing and the more I look it seems that it might be a she and not a he. But, its pretty hard to tell.
Maybe its a working sketch for Mickey Rourke's next character in the film prequel "(I Coulda Been A Sumo) Wrestler".
Oh, Alexa and PHX, I do hope you're right and that we're looking at a painting of the muse (thus keeping Sharon Stone from being the only physical role model for this fantastic job assignment!). It would certainly explain the slippy thing. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd, if so,what is she saying? Perhaps its: "No, No, I told you, it must be Laduree or I just can't inspire at all!"
ReplyDeleteAh - he Norton Simon. Thanks for reminding me, Jeff. It's been years but I still recall being amazed with that collection.
ReplyDeleteLove the lighting on this great yawn (or singing?) painting.
Hope you're fully enjoying your travels, Eric.
Oh thanks, Caro ~ now I can't get Mickey Rourke in a silk slip out of my head.
ReplyDeletePetrea and Carrie:
ReplyDeletedouble wheeee and whoohooo !!
LOL Shell Sherree - I'll bet Tall Gary can even find a picture of that to link for us. We'll just give him time to find it - it has to be out there, this is Mickey we're talking about after all.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought on seeing this was that if Vermeer were a photographer in today's Paris he would envy Eric's framing of this image.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm worried if there will be a PDP tomorrow because, after all, "It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings," and she is really belting out one hell of an aria, using so much force that the jet stream of her breath is causing her to tower over like an off-balance female sumo wrestler slamming into the floor of the ring as if she were Mickey Rourke in drag splatting into his own wrestling mat while his manager is ringside doing one of these. But Mickey is part of a tag team and his partner reaches out like a mirror image of Adam in the Sistine Chapel, touches the collapsed and done-for fingertips of Mickey, and leaps into the ring for an inter-gender battle of such epic proportions that it was immortalized in bronze by Maillol.
"tower over": it's like topple over but from a towering height
ReplyDeleteTG, I think you've outdone yourself this time. Breathtaking!
ReplyDeleteLOOOOL Gary - I knew you would come up with some gems.
ReplyDeleteI'm gratified to learn from your lengthy and depthy research that indeed it wasn't Dina who was the muse, but rather George himself. Look at how every minute detail, not only of body but of emotion, is captured in this ode to the patron. He is the very embodiment of the perfect Rubensesesque model. This evocation of the real and the ideal together in one image just makes one want to just tower over with happiness.
Yay Monica! That's great news. :) lol Caro.
ReplyDeleteQuite haunting!
ReplyDeleteIt's okay Eric, we understood that you were a Maillol Museum's fan!! ;)
ReplyDeleteThis picture is a bit scaring...as if you pushed a door you were not allowed to open. But I like it.
Didn't take the time to see this exhibition yet, but I definitely will.
Do you know who is the painter?
Guille, it looks like it might be Solomon Nikritin but the site is just Greek to me. It would take a Greek speaker to verify this.
ReplyDeleteSo, in the bottom left corner of the painting is an empty dish and tipped wine bottle. That open mouth could be an order to the waiter, a call for the bill, a refusal to accept the bill, an aria from the famous Verdi opera "I Eat A"...
extraordinary...so much emotion
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