Expressionist Painter
When I think of expressionism and expressionist painters, I usually think of the Germans, such as Emil Nolde and the other Die Brücke artists. Chaïm Soutine, originally from Lithuania was an expressionist painter who primarily worked in France.
Reminiscent of Auerbach, Soutine’s paintings seem concerned with the essence of the subject and the shape and texture of the colors, more so than an exact representation.
“In their violence of expression, some Soutines might almost seem to be caricatures…His sombre paintings of ox carcasses, hung up in his studio (and painted from life as they rotted and stank) are obvious acts of piety towards Rembrandt.”1
Carcass Paintings
The paintings of Ox carcasses – directly influenced from Rembrandt, are the paintings of his I most respond to. These are less a rendering of the light falling on the object though, and more of a color and texture exploration. Soutine’s compositions are also interesting. Singularly focused on one particular object, the forms elongated are exaggerated almost in caricature, the paint looking twisted with movement.
Product Focus:
Sennelier paints were originally developed in the late 1800’s at the beginning of the post-impressionist period. With their intense colors and fluidity they were well suited to expressive painters such as Soutine.
Sennelier Plein-Air Artist Oil Colors
Distortion
Still life with Pheasant, illustrates Soutine’s ability to accentuate and distort organic and man-made forms to achieve his goal in a painting. Staying true to his vision of color and form. Again, the focus is on the object inhabiting the center of the frame, albeit at a skewed angle. The contrast between light and dark elements is also effective in making our eye hit the dead center.
I enjoy the chaotic grotesqueness of Soutine’s work. An artist whose style was original but also authentic. Looking at his paintings there is no doubt they come from an internal combustion of emotional intensity.
1. Hughes, The Shock of the New, p 292