Studie II

Umetnik

thomas messavilla

Rođen/a u Paris, France

Rembrandt Gladys Schmitt: A Pioneer of Abstract Expressionism in the Early 1960s

Rembrandt Gladys Schmitt, born in 1961, stands as a compelling figure within the vibrant and often turbulent landscape of American art during the early 1960s. While her name might not immediately resonate with the broader public, her work represents a crucial bridge between the formal traditions of earlier abstraction and the explosive experimentation that defined the decade’s artistic currents. Schmitt's career unfolded against a backdrop of significant social and political upheaval – the Civil Rights Movement, the burgeoning counterculture, and the escalating anxieties surrounding the Cold War – all of which profoundly influenced her artistic explorations. Her journey began in Rome, Italy, where she initially pursued studies in sculpture before relocating to the United States and dedicating herself primarily to painting.

Schmitt’s early work demonstrates a clear debt to European Modernism, particularly the gestural abstraction of artists like Joan Miró and the color field explorations of Wassily Kandinsky. However, unlike many of her contemporaries who sought to simply replicate these influences, Schmitt quickly developed a distinctive voice characterized by layered textures, dynamic compositions, and an intense engagement with color. Her canvases are rarely representational; instead, they present complex networks of lines, shapes, and hues that evoke mood, emotion, and a sense of underlying energy. A key element in her process was the incorporation of unconventional materials – often incorporating collage elements, found objects, and even textile fragments—into her paintings, blurring the boundaries between painting and sculpture. This tactile approach reflects a desire to move beyond purely visual experience and engage with the materiality of art itself.

The Influence of Fluxus and the Los Angeles Scene

Schmitt’s artistic development was inextricably linked to the thriving experimental art scene in Southern California during the early 1960s, particularly within the orbit of Fluxus and the Huysman Gallery in Los Angeles. The gallery, a hub for avant-garde artists, provided a crucial platform for showcasing her work alongside that of other emerging figures like Joe Goode, Larry Bell, Ed Bereal, and Ron Miyashiro – all key players in the burgeoning movement towards process-oriented art. The Fluxus aesthetic, with its emphasis on chance, ephemerality, and the demystification of artistic creation, profoundly impacted Schmitt’s approach. She embraced the spirit of improvisation and collaboration that characterized Fluxus events, often working collectively to create installations and performances. The exhibition “War Babies,” featuring works by Goode, Bell, Bereal, and Miyashiro, generated considerable controversy due to its provocative poster, ultimately leading to the gallery's closure – a testament to the radical nature of the art being presented.

Notable Works and Recurring Themes

Schmitt’s oeuvre is marked by a consistent exploration of themes related to perception, transformation, and the relationship between interior and exterior experience. Her paintings frequently depict ambiguous landscapes—often rendered in vibrant, almost hallucinatory colors—that seem to shift and morph before the viewer's eyes. Recurring motifs include geometric forms, swirling patterns, and fragmented imagery, suggesting a state of perpetual flux or metamorphosis. “Chloe’s Judgement,” created in 1961, exemplifies this approach, presenting a complex interplay of color and form that evokes both beauty and unease. Similarly, "The Loft Dwellers" captures the energy and chaos of urban life through layered textures and dynamic compositions. Her work from 1962, “Prismatic Lattice,” showcases her mastery of layering and color manipulation, creating an immersive visual experience.

Legacy and Historical Significance

While Rembrandt Gladys Schmitt’s name may not be as widely recognized as some of her contemporaries, her contribution to the development of Abstract Expressionism in the early 1960s is undeniable. She was a vital participant in the experimental art scene of Los Angeles, pushing the boundaries of painting and embracing the spirit of innovation that characterized the era. Her work reflects the anxieties and aspirations of a generation grappling with profound social and political change, offering a unique perspective on the complexities of modern life. Her willingness to experiment with materials and processes paved the way for subsequent generations of artists who continued to challenge traditional notions of art-making. Further research into her archives and exhibitions would undoubtedly reveal an even richer understanding of this often-overlooked artist’s significant contribution to American art history.

Muzej

Alte Pinakothek

Izloženo u Minhen, Germany

Stari Pinakotek: Putovanje kroz Renesansu i Barok

U srcu Minhena, u živopisnom Kunstarealu, nalazi se Stari Pinakotek – ne samo muzej, već duboko uranjanje u dušu evropske umetnosti. Osnovan 1836. godine od strane kralja Ludviga I, ovaj impozantan zdanje nije zamišljen kao obična riznica majstorskih dela, već kao svesni kontrast Gotskoj renesansi, izraz neoklasične veličine i intelektualne jasnosti. Stari Pinakotek se ističe kao jedinstveni spomenik Renesanse i Baroka, pozivajući posetioce u svet gde se svetlost, boja i ljudski emocije sjedinjuju u zapanjujućoj harmoniji. Njegova monumentalna fasada, delo Lea fon Klenzea, odmah uspostavlja osećaj svečanosti i važnosti – nameran gest protiv romantičnih ekcesa tog vremena, dok unutrašnjost šapuće priče o umetničkom patronažu i akademskoj posvećenosti.

Kolekcija ovog muzeja je zaista neverovatna, obuhvatajući preko 600 slika koje se prostiru od 14. do 18. veka. To je tkanje ispleteno nitima italijanskog renesansnog humanizma, severneevropskog realizma i barokovske drame. Ali iznad svega, Stari Pinakotek nudi duboko razumevanje istorijskog konteksta ovih dela – kako su nastala, ko ih je naručio i šta otkrivaju o društvima koja su ih stvorila. Kustosii ne samo da prikazuju umetnost, već je objašnjavaju, podstičući posetioce da se angažuju sa intelektualnim strujama i kulturnim promenama koje su oblikovale ova izuzetna dela. Zgrada, završen 1836. godine, uteljuje ambicije Ludviga I za veličanstvenost i njegovu posvećenost uzdizanju bavarske kulture. Njegov neoklasični stil, takođe delo Lea fon Klenzea, predstavlja nameran odbacivanje Gotske renesanse koja je dominirala evropskom arhitekturom u to vreme. Visoke dvorane, visoki plafoni i pažljivo izvedene unutrašnjosti stvaraju atmosferu poštovanja i kontemplacije – prostor dizajniran da istakne umetnost u njenom najdostojnijem obliku.

Među blagovima Starih Pinakoteka posebno se ističu Albreht Durerovi autoportreti, koji nisu samo portreti već duboke studije psihološke produbljenosti i majstorske crtačke veštine, otkrivajući oštar uvid u ljudsku prirodu kroz meticuloze detalje. Luminousni pejzaži Rembranda van Rijna, prožeti dramatičnom tehnikom chiaroscuro, prenose posetioce na evocirajuće scene obasjane svetlošću i senkom, hvatajući prolaznu lepotu prirode i dramu ljudskog iskustva. Takođe su prisutni i dela Petra Paula Rubensa, uključujući njegov dinamičan „Lov na lava“, svedočenstvo o njegovoj veštini u boji i kompoziciji – živopisna eksplozija energije i pokreta koja utelovljuje bujnost baroknog perioda. Ne zaboravimo ni Hendrika Terbrughena, čije su kompozicije snažno inspirisane Karavađom, stvarajući scene intenzivnih emocija i psihološke dubine. Portreti Bernarda Strigela, karakteristični po svojoj luminoznoj boji i detaljnim sličnostima, nude intimne poglede u živote bavarske plemstva.

Stari Pinakotek nije samo zbirka umetnosti; to je arhitektonsko remek-delo koje podrazumeva i obogaćuje kolekciju koju smešta. Zgrada, dovršena 1836. godine, odražava ambicije Ludviga I za veličanstvenost i njegovu posvećenost uzdizanju bavarske kulture. Uvođenje svetlosnih otvora u dizajn zgrade bilo je revolucionarno otkriće tog vremena, ne samo što je poboljšalo lepotu slika, već i simbolizovalo predanost muzeja transparentnosti i intelektualnom prosvjetljenju. Snažna konstrukcija zgrade, sa debelim zidovima od kamena i sofisticiranim ventilacionim sistemom, osigurala je očuvanje umetničkih dela za generacije koje dolaze. Stari Pinakotek redovno organizuje privremene izložbe koje istražuju određene teme ili umetnike, često ponovo posjećujući poznate favorite sa novih perspektiva. Trenutno se odvijaju zanimljive razgovore između selekcija iz Nove Pinakothek i Istočnog krila Starih Pinakoteka, podstičući stimulativne razgovore prekog vekova – svedočenstvo o međusobnoj povezanosti umetničkih tradicija.

Stari Pinakotek je više od zbirke slika; to je živa priča o evropskoj umetnosti, poziv da se uroni u svet Renesanse i Baroka, da se razume intelektualni i estetski ideal koji su oblikovali Zapadnu civilizaciju. Poseta ovom muzeju nije samo posmatranje umetnosti; to je aktivno učestvovanje u dijalogu sa istorijom, podsticanje divljenja za lepotom, inovacijama i dubokim ljudskim porivom da se kreativno izrazimo.

Korisni linkovi:

Alte Pinakothek

Alte Pinakothek - Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen

Alte Pinakothek - Wikipedia

Korisni sadržaji:

Selfportrait alte pinakothek, munich

Lion hunt Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Landscape with a Rainbow Alte Pinakothek, München