Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Joseph and Marie Louise by Sarah Robertson, 1930.

“Joseph and Marie-Louise” by Sarah Robertson, from about 1930


I enjoy impressionistic art. Impressionists take the things I see and pull them like taffy into exaggerated propotions, while retaining and respecting the emotional integrity of a work.

I found 'Joseph and Marie Louise' while drifting through 'The Dali Book', blog the other day. It would be an understatement to say that it caught my eye. Far from it. I stumbled when I saw it.

The picture rolls. The fields roll. The people are rounded and the sky is warped.

The only thing that stands firm is a nondescript building in the background (you have to look for it), and the cross.

There is no doubt that the cross is the central object in the painting and in the lives of the people who erected it.

Take a look at the people. Robertson paints the woman to look stooped and pregnant. And in case her posture suggests her imprisonment, the man isn't much better off. There are only two raised man made elements in this work - the cross and the rake which weighs on his shoulders. Is Robertson suggesting that both are instruments which suppress rural Quebecers? Its a pretty gutsy painting when you consider that it was painted in 1930 when the church was a dominant force in a nearly feudal,rural Quebec society.

The picture was taken from The Dali House, and its article on the Beaver Hall Group.
Please click here.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thank you for posting your comments.
ATTENTION SPAMMERS: Comments with links to other websites, will not be accepted.

A message for anonymous posters: Comments will be accepted provided they are thoughtful and articulate.

Reciprocating comments between posters will not be accepted. Sorry - I have no intention of giving readers the opportunity to engage in flame wars. It won't happen.

Fredericks-Artworks Blog, copying policy


The Canadian Copyright act, section 29 reports on fairdealing, that it is not an infringement to reproduce someone else's work for research, study, criticism, review or to report. Which pretty much sums up what this site is about. All content sources, be they artists, printed references, and website url's are respectfully identified on this site. http://http//www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/stat/rsc-1985-c-c-42/latest/rsc-1985-c-c-42.html

Mission Statement
A Portrait of the Visual Arts in Canada, is intended to celebrate the richness of Canada's visual arts, and to promote the arts in Canada.

Statement of Intent
I make every effort to credit the sources of information used in this blog and to obtain the permission and cooperation of all the works presented by living artists. I try, as much as possible to use works from public sources eg. national and provincial collections, of deceased artists. If for any reason, any artist disapproves of anything written about them or their work the artist is encouraged to request withdrawal of the content.