Hitler, and most serious artists of the time, were into realism. Many artists still are, myself included. The reason why abstract art took off is because there was an influx of mediocre artists from well connected families who thought with their resources they could succeed where artists from lower income families had to be diligent. As they realized it required work and effort to become a capable competent artist, they instead chose to use their family connections to get ahead and conspired to keep skilled artists out of the market. Then photography came along, changing the rules of engagement. Most artists are just fronts for money laundering and drug smuggling. I remember when I was a mover, I showed up at a NYC gallery to move some art and the woman running the place had just snorted some cocaine. I know this because she had the stuff powdered about her nose in such a way that you couldn't think it came from a powdered doughnut.
When I was in school, a student was marked down for painting super realistically because "they didn't put their own style" into it.
How fuckin odd is that.
I feel bad for that kid.
These days, if you're serious about art, you've got to go to east Asia to really develop yourself and secure an income. Specifically, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Japan. There's a reason why American cartoons these days have such hyper simplistic artwork and it's because the artists are all the progeny from connected families.
Ahh, another reader of Mathis' works, I see.
If not, he actually dug up the respected families, and found where the CIA claimed to have invented abstract art (see, e.g. )
The article seems interesting. Which 'Mathis' in particular are you referring to, because he's not mentioned in the article and I know of several.
from e.g. that article about relevant topic.
Worth a read.
(post is archived)