I don't know if there is a good answer to your question. Not from me, at least. Probably artists of all eras were mindful of their audiences, no matter what they might have said to the contrary. That's just human nature, isn't it? Velasquez' teacher (and father in law) Pacheco wrote somewhere that portraits should be left a bit indistinct so that viewers would see the person they expect. Here is an early common-sense recognition that we "construct" our vision and fill-in. With slightly out of focus portraits (painted with masterful facture) viewers would see the likeness as the person they imagine. But certainly, that idea didn't begin with Pacheco. That reminds me of Napoleon's famous remark to Jacques David upon receiving the portrait for which he never sat. N said, "David you show me perfectly, not as I am but as the people think I am" or words very close to that. (Napoleon never sat for his portrait).
People who like Kincaide or whoever mainly to extent of surface interest, are probably unaware of what more complicated art has to offer. Personally, I'd rather look at vomit than anything by Kincaide or other charlatans, of which there are many, many, many. wc ________________________________ From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected]; [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 1:45:01 PM Subject: Re: Fw: dead photos- alive paintings Do you suppose..the people the paintings were mde for had any effect on the fracture? You wouldn't use very complicated syntax on someone who didn't hear or read any of it. I have heard people who buy Kincaids complimenting each other on having bought something with really good brushmarks and a lot of paint,something really solid looking. Of course the buyer having something to do with the facture would mean that Goya's patrons were possessed of sensitivities not previously suspected but they must have had some good points. Kate Sullivan
