KNYSNA NEWS - For the month of November, the Knysna Fine Art gallery is hosting an exhibition titled The Allegory of Painting, to celebrate some of our finest painters, and the public is invited to enjoy the exhibition.
Ochre, umber, sienna, terre verte, ivory black, veridian, vermilion, and rose madder all come to mind when one contemplates classical painting.
Sensory memories
The scent of genuine turpentine brings back memories of art school and studio visits in artists' creative spaces. Oil painting is more than a vehicle, it carries sensory memories and unconscious narratives.
Oil painting as we know it didn't become a widely used medium in Europe until the 15th century when Flemish painter Jan van Eyck created his oil paint formula.
Van Eyck paved the way for artists to acquire vibrant pigments, glazing and velvet surfaces. Before the use of oil paint, artists employed tempera paint and Fresco techniques which were both restrictive in nature.
Rebirth of classical thought
The Renaissance period in Europe was a symbolic rebirth of classical thought. This altered every aspect of modern civilisation, particularly art and literature.
This era brought attention to the need for an alternative painting medium to egg-yolk tempera which was of use at the time. Artists recognised that oil paint produced a higher colour saturation and opacity and gave them the ability to add more depth to paintings.
The Art of Painting by Johannes Vermeer (1665) explores the complex relationship between art and history and the importance of the artist's role in society.
In the work, a large curtain is drawn back revealing an artist painting a young model with a detailed map in the background. The painting was completed during the period of Dutch 17th century painting and the Dutch exploration and invasion of other continents.
Expressive brushstrokes
The art of painting grew over the centuries to reach exceptional heights in the Romantic period. Delacroix's use of expressive brushstrokes and new interpretation of colour paved the way for later movements.
The invention of photography freed the painter from merely depicting the visible world. Painting became a vehicle for emotion and expression.
New revival
Today we have cutting-edge materials due to technological advancements. Acrylic paint, laser cutting, and various digital printing techniques leave the sky as the limit to artists. Paradoxically, however, there is a new revival of the practice of oil painting. This time-consuming discipline takes years to master.
The relationship between the passing of time and value is emphasised and questioned in a world where everything is instant.
Hours of the gallery, at Thesen House, 6 Long Street, Knysna: Monday to Friday: 09:00-17:00; Saturdays: 09:00-13:00. During the exhibition, wine will be served on Saturdays from 10:00 to 13:00.
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