Study Talk @the Whitney...I will give today!!!!
As part of my docent's training at the Whitney, here is the oral assignment for today:Discuss the artwork for 3-5 mn presenting an interpretation of the work grounded on specific descriptions. Keep in mind the different interpretative or methodological frames that you are using.
The following paper is my draft and won't in any case be anything else than a personnal paperwork.
Max Weber
Chinese Restaurant, 1915
Oil on canvas, 40 x 48 in. (101.6 x 121.9 cm)
Purchase 31.382
Welcome to the Whitney Museum of American Art.My name is Laurence Neron-Bancel.
Together we are looking at "Chinese Restaurant" painted by Max Weber in 1915.
Let me show you why this work is considered by scholars as one of the earliest and best examples of American Cubism.
American indeed by its subject. In 1915, Chinese restaurants had just begun to open. Max Weber chose one of the many exotic novelties brought by the waves of immigrants, entering the country. Max Weber was himself an immigrant, born in 1881 in Russia ( Bialystock, now in Poland)and arrived in America when he was 10 years old.
Max Weber chose to depict the Chinese Restaurant not in a realistic way. He later explained that he wanted to "convey the impression of entering one of New York's brilliantly lit and profusely decorated Chinese restaurant from the darkness of the sreet outside"(Frames of References page 65)
To achieve his goal,Max Weber used the techniques of cubism and futurism.
Those styles translate into fragmented images, use of pattern and repeated forms.
Let's look again at the painting. "It is like an exploded Jigsaw Puzzlee, in which we can still make out some of the pieces. Black and gold squares cover the lower halh of the canvas.This is the linoleum on the restaurant floor. Red and gold, traditionnal color scheme in chinese restaurants, predominate." (sources : http://www.whitney.org/www/american_voices/525/index.html)
Throughout, Max Weber incorporates textures and pattern inspired by pre-columbian and native american artifacts reminding the various elements of the restaurant's decors.
Fragments of faces gives a sense of the crowded interior and the movement of the waiters. Some faces are repeated. It is like you're looking at the scene through a kaleisdoscope.
How was it possible for Max Weber to describe a chinese restaurant in such a modern and nnovative way?
Well.... in 1905, Max Weber sailed to Europe.At that time, Paris is the international center for Art and the place to experiment avant-garde art. Maz Weber got rapidly involved with the artistic community. He befriended artist like Picasso, Delaunay and Rousseau. He took lessons in Matisse's Studio. However, the most important influence was Cezanne who he won't even meet. Cezanne died in 1906.Max Weber will admire his work during the big Cezanne restrospective in 1907 and also on the walls in Gertrude and Leo Stein's home.
He traveled a lot to Spain, Italy, Holland and England.
After returning to America in January 1909 Max Weber is not very well received by the critics but will keep on to paint based on what he learned abroad. He wanted to express in his paintings the modernity of the urban life in New York.
Chinese Restaurant is" among the most radically abstract work created by any american artist up to that time." (frames of reference page 64)
Thank you.
The following paper is my draft and won't in any case be anything else than a personnal paperwork.
Max Weber
Chinese Restaurant, 1915
Oil on canvas, 40 x 48 in. (101.6 x 121.9 cm)
Purchase 31.382
Welcome to the Whitney Museum of American Art.My name is Laurence Neron-Bancel.
Together we are looking at "Chinese Restaurant" painted by Max Weber in 1915.
Let me show you why this work is considered by scholars as one of the earliest and best examples of American Cubism.
American indeed by its subject. In 1915, Chinese restaurants had just begun to open. Max Weber chose one of the many exotic novelties brought by the waves of immigrants, entering the country. Max Weber was himself an immigrant, born in 1881 in Russia ( Bialystock, now in Poland)and arrived in America when he was 10 years old.
Max Weber chose to depict the Chinese Restaurant not in a realistic way. He later explained that he wanted to "convey the impression of entering one of New York's brilliantly lit and profusely decorated Chinese restaurant from the darkness of the sreet outside"(Frames of References page 65)
To achieve his goal,Max Weber used the techniques of cubism and futurism.
Those styles translate into fragmented images, use of pattern and repeated forms.
Let's look again at the painting. "It is like an exploded Jigsaw Puzzlee, in which we can still make out some of the pieces. Black and gold squares cover the lower halh of the canvas.This is the linoleum on the restaurant floor. Red and gold, traditionnal color scheme in chinese restaurants, predominate." (sources : http://www.whitney.org/www/american_voices/525/index.html)
Throughout, Max Weber incorporates textures and pattern inspired by pre-columbian and native american artifacts reminding the various elements of the restaurant's decors.
Fragments of faces gives a sense of the crowded interior and the movement of the waiters. Some faces are repeated. It is like you're looking at the scene through a kaleisdoscope.
How was it possible for Max Weber to describe a chinese restaurant in such a modern and nnovative way?
Well.... in 1905, Max Weber sailed to Europe.At that time, Paris is the international center for Art and the place to experiment avant-garde art. Maz Weber got rapidly involved with the artistic community. He befriended artist like Picasso, Delaunay and Rousseau. He took lessons in Matisse's Studio. However, the most important influence was Cezanne who he won't even meet. Cezanne died in 1906.Max Weber will admire his work during the big Cezanne restrospective in 1907 and also on the walls in Gertrude and Leo Stein's home.
He traveled a lot to Spain, Italy, Holland and England.
After returning to America in January 1909 Max Weber is not very well received by the critics but will keep on to paint based on what he learned abroad. He wanted to express in his paintings the modernity of the urban life in New York.
Chinese Restaurant is" among the most radically abstract work created by any american artist up to that time." (frames of reference page 64)
Thank you.
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