Author Archives: ds-admin

The drawings of August Rodin (1840-1917) have always been fascinating to me because they have a special power of observation that I associate with other great sculptors like Henry Moore, or Alberto Giacometti, or Giacamo Manzu. In fact, I often … read more >

Today while studying the “June Clouds” I suddenly saw the cobalt sky behind and above the clouds (in my inner eye) into a beautiful blue dome, with a huge cloud above it, from behind which gold yellow light poured downward … read more >

As is well known, Picasso’s core inspiration was rooted in sexual energy, especially women’s bodies. At the same time, his daring explorations into what we later called cubism was compatible with his interest in African masks, shapes and colors, that … read more >

Some few years ago at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, I saw these ink line drawings of Henri Matisse (French; 1869-1954), in which he explored the Slavic blouse patterns used in his painting The Dream (ca. 1940). I had … read more >

For many years I have studied, admired, contemplated this fresco. I visited it almost weekly in 1958 when I lived in Florence. Since that time I have included it in my art talks because of its delicate and timeless balance … read more >

Lucien Freud (1922-2011) was widely considered the pre-eminent British artist of modern times. The grandson of Sigmund Freud, he was noted (not surprisingly) for the intense psychological penetration of his portraits, models and even animals. Freud after some years of … read more >

For those who are not familiar with the monotype process, a word of explanation. Monotype has come to refer to a work of art made by drawing or painting with printer’s inks (often diluted) onto a metal or plastic printing … read more >

In the summer of 2013 I had the opportunity to see a large exhibition of the drawings of the American artist, Edward Hopper (1881-1967) at the Whitney Museum of Art in New York City. As a young artist, Hopper made … read more >

Beatrix Potter, born into the wealthy class of English nobility in 1866, was educated at home, like all girls of her social class. She kept a diary in code that was only cracked after her death in 1943, revealing the … read more >

Thoughts about my life-long appreciation of the Bolognese artist, Giorgio Morandi. I first saw the work of Giorgio Morandi in Florence Italy in 1958. At that time I had never heard of him, but his small intimate paintings inspired me … read more >