Thursday, July 22, 2010

Self-portraits

"Self-portraits make artists present as the embodiment of their art; it sounds so neat and succinct. But they often do so only to ask who or what this person is who is looking back from the mirror, how dismaying it is to be alone, how hard it is to to represent or even just to be oneself in the whole world of mankind." (Cumming, Laura: A Face to the World. On Self-Portraits, Harper Press, London 2009, pp.7f.)

Back in October I was excited about this book. Well, I started reading it, and then, because I always have 746 books on the go, I somehow stopped. I think subconsciously I was saving it because it is so good.
I am reading it now, every night before going to sleep, and I look forward to it all day. It is beautifully written, often humorous, and deeply human (which is what a lot of art history books lack).

"Los autorretratos hacen de los artistas la encarnación de su arte. Suena tan sencillo y sucinto. Pero frecuentemente lo hacen sólo para preguntar quién o qué es esta persona que está volviendo la mirada en el espejo, qué consternación es estar solo, qué difícil representar o incluso simplemente ser uno mismo en este mundo de la humanidad." (Cumming, Laura: A Face to the World. On Self-Portraits, Harper Press, London 2009, pp.7f.) (como siempre, mi propia traducción mala..)

En octubre escribí sobre este libro. Empecé a leerlo entonces, y, ya que siempre estoy leyendo tantos libros al mismo tiempo, dejé de leerlo por alguna razón. Creo que subconscientemente lo estaba guardando, porque es un libro tan bueno.
Lo estoy leyendo ahora, cada noche antes de dormir, y todo el día pienso en ello. Está muy bien escrito, con humor y una humanidad que muchos libros sobre la historia del arte carecen.

Jan van Eyck

Frida Kahlo

Philip Guston

Judith Leyster

Rembrandt

Velázquez (I wrote an essay on this painting in college and became utterly obsessed with it -must write a post on this)
Escribí un ensayo sobre este cuadro en la uni y me volví obsesionada con ello -será otra entrada para aquí

2 comments:

  1. -¡Me acuerdo de lo de las Meninas!
    -Ah, estoy estudiando Historia del Arte por la Universidad a Distancia. ¡Ya empiezo el segundo curso!
    -Te tengo que mandar alguna imagen de mis grabados.

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  2. -By the way, I'm writing reviews for a (rather) serious and important cultural magazine. They do not pay me, but the workload it's not too heavy and it's quite enjoyable. And one thing you will love to hear: I'm currently preparing a review about a book set in Ireland. Well, it's 'Brooklyn', by Colm Toibin. As far as I know, he's very well-known in Ireland.

    -The previous review was about a book that combines short texts by different authors and illustrations by an artist. I think you may like it.
    -They are long reviews. One page long, approx. I'll check if I can send you one.

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