THE DEATH OF LANDSCAPE?
THE DEATH OF LANDSCAPE? Jackie Wullschlager wrote in this article in the Financial Times that “Landscape in 20th and 21st century art is less than unfashionable – it has dropped off the radar screen. Why?” She notes that in a guide to the Tate Modern Museum, out of hundreds of works, “there are just three landscapes – by Matisse, Cézanne and Emil Nolde.” And a recent book, Thames & Hudson’s ART SINCE 1900,” includes only two landscape paintings among more than 1,000 featured works.” I had not noticed this trend. Landscapes from previous centuries–Ruisdael, Constable, the French and American Impressionists—are popular. Good landscapes can be found at local art shows. The article does not attempt to answer the question it asks (”Why?”).
My sister Gail Resen and her husband Ken had a joint show this month at the Finn Art Gallery at the Greenwich library. At their lecture at the gallery on January 11th Ken stated that although his work derives from the Bauhaus school his current work was primarily landscapes in part because he liked to work with a horizon. See http://flinngallery.com/Photo%20gallery.html for a few of his recent landscapes.