Re: 'What word would you suggest we use, Derek ?' In this case, art. I know of no other. Except perhaps great art. The word 'aesthetic'' seems feeble and kind of effete in the context. Certainly 'aesthetic pleasure' does!
Re: 'And what quality would you say those prints had more of -- when you saw them in the exhibition --- which they did not have in books of reproduction?' Good reproductions of these prints are very much the same as the originals. But is was impressive seeing such a large collection all together. And well curated, without too much unnecessary hoo ha. DA On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 6:48 AM, Chris Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > What word would you suggest we use, Derek ? > > Those of us who also call these pieces "fascinating, powerful, haunting, > and > disturbing" --- but also find them much more attractive than a lot of > other > things that we would also describe as such. > > ***************** > > And what quality would you say those prints had more of -- when you saw > them > in the exhibition --- which they did not have in books of reproduction? > > > > > > ****************** > > Derek wrote: > > There is an exhibition of Goya's etchings at the Petit Palais in Paris at > the moment. Anyone (such as umpteen contemporary aestheticians I have > read) > who is still wedded to the 18th century idea that art is explicable in > terms > of beauty should spend some time looking - really looking - at Goya's > etchings, especially the Caprices and the Disparates. If he/she comes away > still wedded to the same idea, then in my view he/she should give up > talking > about visual art altogether. It is just not their thing. Goya's works are > fascinating, powerful, haunting, and disturbing, but one thing they are > certainly not - and very very obviously make no attempt to be - is > beautiful. The very word seems ridiculous - derisory - in their presence. > > With a bit of time left I wandered through the rest of the Petit Palais > and > saw their permanent exhibition. In one corner of a large gallery there is > perhaps the most sickly Bouguereau I have ever seen - a Virgin with Angels > all encased in a suitably ornate gilded frame. After the Goyas it was ... > how was it? - like listening to one of those awful cloying melodies from > Sound of Music after listening to Mozart or Monteverdi, or being forced to > read some sickly romance novel after reading Dostoyevsky. > > If your famous search for 'a.e's' has anything to do with beauty, > Cheerskep > and Chris, forget it. Much of the world's greatest art has nothing at all > to do with beauty. Goya for a start. > _____________________________________________________________ > Click to create your dream holiday in Florida. > > http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2211/fc/Ioyw6ijmAla67KoM0EiRF6GKHMsCY9 > BWz30aE16JZQTfXVJxlys20U/?count=1234567890<http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2211/fc/Ioyw6ijmAla67KoM0EiRF6GKHMsCY9BWz30aE16JZQTfXVJxlys20U/?count=1234567890> > > -- Derek Allan http://www.home.netspeed.com.au/derek.allan/default.htm
