I love this essay. I’ve felt the same way many times--and, as you suggest, judging past artists ( or present ones) is a no-win stance. Who shall cast the first stone? Not me.
This is a beautiful and thoughtful piece of writing, Karen. I just re-read Chaim Potok's The Gift of Asher Lev, and Asher struggles with the evil in Picasso, who changed the art world while being a not very nice man. Happens in literature and in music, too. Beauty coming from broken, flawed people. "That's how the light gets in."
OK, who are you? Your piece brought a few tears for me as I read your deep dive into Degas. To show that duality of his gift of seeing, painting the light, then to expose his hate made me sad. But you also made me wonder at your essential questions at the end. Things to help me keep balance today. A heart-felt thank you.
PS - I grew up with two framed pictures of Degas’ ballerinas in the bedroom I shared with my grandmother. They seemed as faded as the pink flowers on gray wallpaper behind them. Never took them seriously.
I’ve never learned of Degas, the person. I’ve only loved his paintings. But I’ve heard similar debates about composers and manufacturers. Do we accept their gift or reject the person entirely? I prefer to see the complexity of people and learn rather than to blindly accept or reject - to see both the beauty and the pain 🙏
In his laundresses, milliners, exhausted ballerinas and sensitive portraits of women, Degas revealed a humanity he couldn’t show in life. His feeling for character and color put a spell on me. As you say, a pretty terrible person. But so were Picasso, an emotionally abusive misogynist, Caravaggio, a murderer, and many other artists. I enjoyed this perceptive essay.
I love this essay. I’ve felt the same way many times--and, as you suggest, judging past artists ( or present ones) is a no-win stance. Who shall cast the first stone? Not me.
Thanks for starting my Saturday off on an intellectual note. I've shared this with my Facebook friends.
Thanks so much, Trace! ♥️
This is a beautiful and thoughtful piece of writing, Karen. I just re-read Chaim Potok's The Gift of Asher Lev, and Asher struggles with the evil in Picasso, who changed the art world while being a not very nice man. Happens in literature and in music, too. Beauty coming from broken, flawed people. "That's how the light gets in."
OK, who are you? Your piece brought a few tears for me as I read your deep dive into Degas. To show that duality of his gift of seeing, painting the light, then to expose his hate made me sad. But you also made me wonder at your essential questions at the end. Things to help me keep balance today. A heart-felt thank you.
PS - I grew up with two framed pictures of Degas’ ballerinas in the bedroom I shared with my grandmother. They seemed as faded as the pink flowers on gray wallpaper behind them. Never took them seriously.
I’ve never learned of Degas, the person. I’ve only loved his paintings. But I’ve heard similar debates about composers and manufacturers. Do we accept their gift or reject the person entirely? I prefer to see the complexity of people and learn rather than to blindly accept or reject - to see both the beauty and the pain 🙏
In his laundresses, milliners, exhausted ballerinas and sensitive portraits of women, Degas revealed a humanity he couldn’t show in life. His feeling for character and color put a spell on me. As you say, a pretty terrible person. But so were Picasso, an emotionally abusive misogynist, Caravaggio, a murderer, and many other artists. I enjoyed this perceptive essay.