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#Post#: 14709--------------------------------------------------
Obscure artists, forgotten masterpieces
By: Alharacas Date: April 24, 2019, 9:13 am
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Recently, somebody told me about the book "Hitmakers" by Derek
Thompson.
Apparently, there's an interesting chapter in there about the
famous French impressionists, why Monet, Manet, Cezanne and
Renoir are world-famous, while almost nobody's ever heard of
Gustave Caillebotte, let alone Joaquín Sorolla or Max
Liebermann. (Let me know if you're interested in the very
plausible answer and I'll tell you in the comments.)
What I'm really doubtful about is literature, though. I mean,
there may be any number of literary masterpieces gathering dust
in people's desk drawers, of course. But once a book has been
published - does a really good book disappear again without a
trace? Have you ever come across a novel from long ago which
made you think "Brilliant! I wonder why there's never been
another edition"?
#Post#: 14739--------------------------------------------------
Re: Obscure artists, forgotten masterpieces
By: Chizuko hanji Date: April 25, 2019, 8:05 am
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[quote] does a really good book disappear again without a trace?
Have you ever come across a novel from long ago which made you
think "Brilliant! I wonder why there's never been another
edition"?[/quote]
If a good book isn't published again, I think it's not time for
people. For example, no one wants to read The Miserable during
the babble economy period.
I don't read books written before the 20 century. It's too old.
Besides other many authors write with same theme. New authors
who read great books write about life again. Human mind never
change. Love, anger, friendship, family, war, betray, help....
Since human always forget what important is in life, someone
writes again and others read it.
#Post#: 14834--------------------------------------------------
Re: Obscure artists, forgotten masterpieces
By: NealC Date: April 28, 2019, 10:29 pm
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The oldest popular fiction I have enjoyed is Agatha Christie. I
had a similar idea to yours and tried some older novels,
figuring I would discover a few gems. In reality there are some
great authors whose work "stands the test of time", but most
fiction is tied to the language and conventions of the time it
was written. A generation or two later and it is best left in
the landfill.
#Post#: 14873--------------------------------------------------
Re: Obscure artists, forgotten masterpieces
By: Aliph Date: April 30, 2019, 7:50 am
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I rather wonder why people still mention some classics as
absolutely necessary. When I started learning Spanish, my sister
offered me the Don Quixote in Spanish. I really wasn’t able to
read it, the plot didn’t interest me at all.
This month I started reading a book of Lawrence Durrell
(1912-1990). I read his Alexandria Quartet ages ago and
absolutely loved it. This book (Bitter Lemons) however is merely
a kind of diary, notes and reportage about his life in Cyprus
with lots of words, hundreds of words that I have to look up on
the dictionary. Since I mainly read novels, late at night, to
fall asleep, I find this one boring and too demanding. It keeps
me awake.
But someday, I will re-read all the great Russian classics.
Maybe I should book a journey on the Transiberian railway
between Moscow and Vladivostok and download Tolstoy on my e-book
reader device. Sadly, I will have to read a translation.
#Post#: 14878--------------------------------------------------
Re: Obscure artists, forgotten masterpieces
By: Irena Date: April 30, 2019, 8:39 am
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[quote author=Alharacas link=topic=1000.msg14709#msg14709
date=1556115213]
Have you ever come across a novel from long ago which made you
think "Brilliant! I wonder why there's never been another
edition"?
[/quote]
Well, no, but that may just be because I never find out about
such novels. I don't study literature or literary history for a
living. So, if a novel's been forgotten (justly or unjustly),
then how am I supposed to learn about it?
#Post#: 14886--------------------------------------------------
Re: Obscure artists, forgotten masterpieces
By: Aliph Date: May 1, 2019, 1:02 am
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[quote author=Irena link=topic=1000.msg14878#msg14878
date=1556631567]
[quote author=Alharacas link=topic=1000.msg14709#msg14709
date=1556115213]
Have you ever come across a novel from long ago which made you
think "Brilliant! I wonder why there's never been another
edition"?
[/quote]
Well, no, but that may just be because I never find out about
such novels. I don't study literature or literary history for a
living. So, if a novel's been forgotten (justly or unjustly),
then how am I supposed to learn about it?
[/quote]
Good question Irena! Maybe you could find such a novel in a
second hand bookstore by mere chance. When I go to Paris I just
adore walking along the Seine river and browse through the books
that are sold there in the open air stalls by the second hand
booksellers called “bouquinistes”. One can found sometimes
forgotten gems. I do not know if there still are such bookshops
where you live.
And inheritance of death relatives of course. Recently, an
unknown lady called me because she had heard from common friends
that I was interested in the Middle East. Her great aunt was a
specialist in the field and had passed away leaving her a huge
amount of books. She wanted to offer me some of them. I had to
refuse the kind offer of this lady because I was afraid to be
drowned under an avalanche of books.
Libraries also “prune” regularly their stocks and offer old
books for free.
#Post#: 15283--------------------------------------------------
Re: Obscure artists, forgotten masterpieces
By: Forest Date: May 10, 2019, 4:23 am
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This is one of the subjects that I am most interested in these
days. I would like to talk about artists that have disappeared
in art history.The names of many genius artists have been
forgotten, and in particular most female artists have
disappeared in western art history, despite the fame and ability
of the day. This shows that the excellent ability of artists
have nothing to do with reputation of the artworks.
However, if you try to examine some female artists in
Renaissance and Modern times, you will find women masters
easily.
#Post#: 15286--------------------------------------------------
Re: Obscure artists, forgotten masterpieces
By: Alharacas Date: May 10, 2019, 5:24 am
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I agree, SJ. Artemisia Genileschi and Maria Sibylla Merian come
to mind, also Amrita Sher-Gil.
What about Korea? Any excellent woman artists, whether forgotten
or not?
#Post#: 15288--------------------------------------------------
Re: Obscure artists, forgotten masterpieces
By: Forest Date: May 10, 2019, 5:43 am
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Yes, we have competent women artists, but Western people
wouldn't know them, because Korean art belongs to kinda cultural
outskirts. Along with in Western culture, women couldn't work as
professional artists in Korea, due to gender discrimination and
traditional social values on what women should be like. Talented
women was not welcomed in the traditional society, both Asian
and Western societies, I think. Since 1970s, feminist art
historians are exploring hidden women artists in the history.
Currently, Artemisia Gentileschi and sibylla Merian are
generally well known to normal people there, not to experts?
#Post#: 15292--------------------------------------------------
Re: Obscure artists, forgotten masterpieces
By: Aliph Date: May 10, 2019, 6:47 am
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Nobody knows who’s Artemisia Gentileschi among common people,
nor Camille Claudel.
Now I am wondering, SJ did you post controversial discussions
about art on Italki? Before the summer 2018 (when I was
definitely kicked out from that joint). I remember vaguely
something.
P.S. and funnily Artemisia is the pseudonym that I chose trying
to open a new account on italki, but those ba*t*ards identified
me and closed it.
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