The Infinite Art Tournament Round 1: J. David v. Davis!
Jacques-Louis David
1748 - 1825
French
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Stuart Davis
1894 - 1964
American
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Vote for the artist of your choice! Votes go in the comments. Commentary and links to additional work are welcome. Polls open for at least one month past posting.
Man, this one's tough! On one hand, I really like David's art style - his brushwork and shading is great and the subject matter is more interesting than most paintings we see here. On the other hand, Davis is one of the better abstracts I've seen. I particularly like the way that the first one portrays three-dimensional shapes in a way that is confusing to the brain.
I'll vote for David, by a hair. I like the narratives in the paintings more than I like the aesthetically-together visual confusion of Davis's paintings. However, I won't be disappointed if either of them wins and I can see the winner going far in the tournament.
Can I just say Davi*? No? Um, well, David. No, wait! On second thought Davis. No wait! On third thought, Jacques-Louis David after all. Yes, okay. DaviD.
This is indeed an odd pairing. My first thought was, hey, it's like Lawrence of Arabia v. Bugs Bunny. I like Stuart Davis's paintings quite a bit. My favorites look like they might have been done by Juan Gris, were he a sunny, well-fed jazzcat. But I just can't vote for him over David, especially with Marat's body gone all cold in the tub in that stark helluva painting. So David with a D at each end for me.
Jacques-Louis David was an utterly unpleasant person (See Simon Schama's The Power of Art dvds), but he, boy, he could paint. Stuart Davis, OTOH, was a hoot, but maybe not as much of a genius. However, I'm going with Davis, mostly because he made one of my favorite paintings EVAH! http://www.vontobel-art.com/resources/4285.jpg
Davis, mostly because of the other guy's gratuitous pendulous breast(s) in the second painting. As you can see, I have submitted another totally thoughtful, well-reasoned vote!
See, this is the reason I love the art tournament. Looking at these two guys side by side and having to make a decision jars you -- or maybe just me -- out of the art history rut. So J. David wins big point for technique and execution, but the contrast really points out a certain pomposity, stiffness, and inclination to pick subjects where he can safely show women spilling out of their tops -- I think we're probably looking at the Coriolanus story here. Meanwhile, Davis looks refreshingly playful, improvsatory, and interesting to the optic nerves, but a bit lite as far as content goes.
It's close to a toss-up, but I think I'd rather own a Davis and that's the way I'm voting.
Okay, see, it has to be David, if only for the sword in the background that is three inches over the baby's head (in the bottom right hand corner). I love the way it jumps out at me once I saw it but until then is overshadowed by the more vividly sensationalistic elements (breasts, buttocks, the man with the excellent posture showing his all to the elderly woman about to go clothing-optional, etc.).
It would be even more interesting if this were Coriolanus, but wiki says it's the Sabines--is that wrong?
Voting in the Infinite Art Tournament? Awesome. And, please be aware that purely anonymous votes are not counted. You don't need to log in or use your real name, but you must identify yourself in some fashion for your vote to count.
Davis - very odd pairing of artists.
ReplyDeleteMan, this one's tough! On one hand, I really like David's art style - his brushwork and shading is great and the subject matter is more interesting than most paintings we see here. On the other hand, Davis is one of the better abstracts I've seen. I particularly like the way that the first one portrays three-dimensional shapes in a way that is confusing to the brain.
ReplyDeleteI'll vote for David, by a hair. I like the narratives in the paintings more than I like the aesthetically-together visual confusion of Davis's paintings. However, I won't be disappointed if either of them wins and I can see the winner going far in the tournament.
Can I just say Davi*? No? Um, well, David. No, wait! On second thought Davis. No wait! On third thought, Jacques-Louis David after all. Yes, okay. DaviD.
ReplyDeleteThis is indeed an odd pairing. My first thought was, hey, it's like Lawrence of Arabia v. Bugs Bunny. I like Stuart Davis's paintings quite a bit. My favorites look like they might have been done by Juan Gris, were he a sunny, well-fed jazzcat. But I just can't vote for him over David, especially with Marat's body gone all cold in the tub in that stark helluva painting. So David with a D at each end for me.
ReplyDeleteBugs bunny! I mean, Davies
ReplyDeleteJacques-Louis David was an utterly unpleasant person (See Simon Schama's The Power of Art dvds), but he, boy, he could paint. Stuart Davis, OTOH, was a hoot, but maybe not as much of a genius. However, I'm going with Davis, mostly because he made one of my favorite paintings EVAH! http://www.vontobel-art.com/resources/4285.jpg
ReplyDeleteDavis, mostly because of the other guy's gratuitous pendulous breast(s) in the second painting. As you can see, I have submitted another totally thoughtful, well-reasoned vote!
ReplyDeleteI'll g with Jacques-Louis David, though I agree that it's s difficult pairing since they're so different.
ReplyDeletehttp://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2012/11/08/thursday-night-basset-blogging-242/
ReplyDeleteSee, this is the reason I love the art tournament. Looking at these two guys side by side and having to make a decision jars you -- or maybe just me -- out of the art history rut. So J. David wins big point for technique and execution, but the contrast really points out a certain pomposity, stiffness, and inclination to pick subjects where he can safely show women spilling out of their tops -- I think we're probably looking at the Coriolanus story here. Meanwhile, Davis looks refreshingly playful, improvsatory, and interesting to the optic nerves, but a bit lite as far as content goes.
ReplyDeleteIt's close to a toss-up, but I think I'd rather own a Davis and that's the way I'm voting.
...and an email vote says it's a tie.
ReplyDeleteDavid? Urrgh
ReplyDeleteOkay, see, it has to be David, if only for the sword in the background that is three inches over the baby's head (in the bottom right hand corner). I love the way it jumps out at me once I saw it but until then is overshadowed by the more vividly sensationalistic elements (breasts, buttocks, the man with the excellent posture showing his all to the elderly woman about to go clothing-optional, etc.).
ReplyDeleteIt would be even more interesting if this were Coriolanus, but wiki says it's the Sabines--is that wrong?
And I really like the shield.
Another Chuckdaddy flip flop. David, especially the first one, continues to grow on me. His pictures just seem to be saying so much more than Davis'.
ReplyDeleteDavid takes it, 7-4, and advances to Round 2. Voting is closed in this match.
ReplyDelete