Art Art &Bill Peckmann &Books &Daily post 12 Oct 2012 05:30 am
Western Art
– I have a love/hate relationship with western art. The truly great, such as Remington, give a power and majesty through an extraordinarily honest approach to the world they found, pristine of the footsteps of western man. Many of the later followers are not quite as brilliant to my taste. I appreciate the extraordinary artistry and craftsmanship of many of these painters, but they stand on a plateau much lower than that of the great. Of course, there’s a wide variation among these artists, and they were searching for something very different than a Remington or a Charles M. Russell or Albert Bierstadt.
Bill Peckmann has sent some beautiful works of what seem to be predominantly early 20th century art. There’s a nice variation among the artists, some are on the genius level others aren’t quite as great. Some such as Thomas Hart Benton don’t seem to fit properly into the overall scheme as a “Western” artist. He seems more like a Mid-Western painter, a WPA artist, rather than a Western one, but I’ll post anything by him anytime. He’s exceptional, to say the least.
Here are Bill’s comments:
- Growing up in the Bronx with all of that asphalt, bricks and mortar years ago, it was very easy at that time to become enamored with the wide open spaces and succulent sagebrush scenery of comic book, movie and TV westerns. Like all first loves, those images had a way sticking with you through life. (In most of those oaters, I’d say the scenery often got the upper hand with a lot of those gunslinging heroes.) Somewhat older now, (and hopefully with a little better handle on the arts) it’s nice to see that ‘fine art’ western painting still has that same ability to make you want to become an ol’ cowhand.
Here is a sampling from different art books of a few of the artists who captured the best of the West.
1Here is Maynard Dixon. (IMHO one of the greats, a western Edward Hopper.)
2
Maynard Dixon
3
Maynard Dixon.
4
E. Martin Hennings
5
Ernest Blumenschein.
(This painting still floors me every time I look at it.)
6
Gustave Baumann.
A western woodcut artist, a niche he made all his own.
7
Ernest Lawson.
8
Birger Sandzen
9
John F. Carlson
10
Maynard Dixon
11
Gustave Baumann
12
Ernest Blumenshein
13
Maynard Dixon
Georgia O’Keefe
15
Gustave Baumann
17
Maynard Dixon
Thomas Hart Benton
19
Gustave Baumann
Maynard Dixon
21
Maynard Dixon
22
Gustave Baumann
Maynard Dixon
24
Maynard Dixon
25
Gustave Baumann
26
Maynard Dixon
27
Maynard Dixon
on 12 Oct 2012 at 9:46 am 1.Elliot Cowan said …
That Ernest Blumenschein is mind-blowing.
Extraordinary.
Man o man.
on 12 Oct 2012 at 9:55 am 2.Stephen said …
When I was a kid I wanted to be a cowboy the images want me to be one again
on 12 Oct 2012 at 10:37 am 3.Tim Rauch said …
I love western art – even when it’s a bit kitschy! Of course these are all beautiful displays of composition and color, so no need to qualify here. I’d seen only one image by Baumann before and it stuck with me, very happy to see more here.
on 12 Oct 2012 at 11:11 am 4.Suzanne Wilson said …
A re-definition. Western Art with a capital “A”!
on 12 Oct 2012 at 12:59 pm 5.Tom Ruegger said …
Do try to see the new feature-length documentary about Maynard Dixon and his photographer wife Dorthea Lange — it’s called “Child of Giants” and it was directed by Tom Ropelewski. It’s a great film, a great story — a real eye-opener.
on 12 Oct 2012 at 5:41 pm 6.The Gee said …
I have not heard of some of these painters before now and the work doesn’t look completely familiar.
I didn’t know Dorthea Lange was married to a painter.
In looking over these one thing which stands out is the light. Almost each of them is definitely set at a time of day, when the shadows fall certain ways. That’s what strikes me as pretty cool about the Dixon paintings.
That’s what (i think) makes the T. Hart Benton one stand out. It has an almost artificial look to it. That is the color, yes, and it shows up strongly in the hay. But, there is also one the things that endeared me to Benton ever since I got to see one his murals back when I was in grade school. Couldn’t articulate it to save my life back then but he’s a really cartoony painter. It is wonderful stuff. If his time had been more recent, he would have been a sports painter. The way he treats the figures, and that he shows people doing things, is wonderful.
All of the images are pretty cool to see. (i’m glad it isn’t all cowboys on horses.)
on 27 Aug 2015 at 9:44 am 7.Richard said …
I love this western Art. I went to the Denver Art Museum yesterday and really appreciate Maynard Dixon.