It may be depressing to contemplate the "lack of imagination" among those who make pieces that are identifiable by nationality -- but I don't think this is a new trend.
Italians/French/German etc. people seem to look at human bodies in a certain way -- and despite years of similar academic training -- and a similar canon of recognized art museum masters -- artists of those nationalities can't help but express their national differences. Even if they TRY -- as exemplified by this statement (c. 1932) published by Chicago sculptor, Marvin Marr Albright (the twin brother of Ivan Albright - a Chicago icon) "As to whether my art is American or Chicagoan: what pray tell me, have those terms to do with the muscles in a man's stomach ? A man may be a Jew from Jerusalem or a Negro from Africa or a Frenchman from Paris, but if his work is Jewish in spirit or Negro or French it is nothing -it is small and narrow and very limited. The only spirit worth striving towards is the spirit of God, the spirit of the universe, the spirit of truth. And this is to be found by observing nature in her infinite yet harmonious forms,not by aping your incoherent human beings." And yet -- when I look at his work: http://www.ilovefiguresculpture.com/masters/american1/albright.jpg ...I can't help but thinking: aha! - this is the work of an American Jew! (and despite his obscurity relative to his more famous brother and father, he's my favorite artist in the family) ********************* I've always been mildly dismayed at an aspect of this conformity. The "rebellious" youth has so often adopted modes that differ -- in a rejecting way -- from their parents or their societal opposites, and I've always understood that. But the modes are so often exactly the same as everyone else in their gang. I've sensed it hasn't always been merely a desire to stand by the gang -- it was very often simply a lack of imagination. If it's true -- what you say about figure sculpture in Europe -- I find that depressing. ____________________________________________________________ Click here to find the rental car that fits your needs. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2231/fc/Ioyw6ijmhQ3ExJlYLCfgDwJdYvJ4rK ycNyiISei2TdIdf6TvdhBmVO/
