Jez Burrows / Dept. of Enthusiasm

40. Painting of a painter
January 10th, 2021

Und im Sommer tu ich malen
(File under: books, art, photography, painting, sweaters)

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This project, a collaboration between artist Hank Schmidt in der Beek and photographer Fabian Schubert, could be the best barometer for measuring how a person feels about art and artists.

A painter travels to locations in Europe that inspired notable plein-air painters, stands in front of sweeping vistas, and proceeds to paint whatever sweater he happens to be wearing. An exceptional visual pun on the surface but underneath: Is this an indictment of artists as self-obsessed and blinkered? Or is the painting shown just as valid as a traditional landscape? What even is a ‘traditional’ landscape? Is this about the artist or is this about the viewer? Are you so vain you think this photograph is about you? Didn’t we already go over this in 1656? Where do I get that sweater?

I miss the feeling of standing in front of art in a gallery and being buried beneath a deluge of questions. Luckily, it doesn’t always require a gallery.

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Dept. of Enthusiasm is a charmingly sporadic email from me, Jez Burrows. You can read some past issues, or sign up below.