Monday 27 May 2013

Arnold Bocklin and Friend


Bocklin's gloomy self-portrait (above). Quite in keeping with the times of the Symbolists, obsessed as they were with sex and death. Often achingly romantic yet exquisitely morbid. Fans of tragic romance would do well to peruse their contribution to art history.

Another Bocklin piece (left). Beautiful, half-naked woman by the sea. Very popular subject in art history, the half-naked beautiful lady. It's just full of pervs.

Took the pictures in the Alte Museum. Unfortunate reflective sheen to both of them.

Born in Basel, Switzerland in 1827, Bocklin spent much of his time in Rome, Zurich, and (just outside) Florence. His most famous work (all five of them), Isle of the Dead, inspired composers and poets. There's almost an adolescent fatalism to his work, filled with grand struggles and epic themes.

If he were a writer, I doubt the endings would be happy ones.

I culled a collection of his work below from the internet. Far better images. Can you feel the angst? The sheer agony of being? The lack of consumer choice? I can.