Royal portraiture

[Cynthia Daniel]

Grethe,

Didn't you mean to post this in the presidential portraiture thread?

[Michele Rushworth]

My goodness, these are certainly different from what would be appealing to most clients here! They are energetic and colorful but too brave for any of the portrait agencies or official portrait clients that I know of in the U.S.

[Grethe Angen]

Originally Posted by Cynthia Daniel

Grethe,

Didn't you mean to post this in the presidential portraiture thread?

Cynthia,
I thought about it, but then I thought maybe this was the place to start a discussion, maybe. I am a newbie so please guide me.
Michele,
I think not only in the US.I believe it is rather a rare phenomenon that highly profiled persons just accept to be rendered almost like zombies.

[Garth Herrick]

Wow, these are really interesting, Grethe!

I like their straightforward forcefulness. Also how the floor, wall and face are in textured concert with the plethora of military decorations displayed. Here in America, I fear an artist might be burned at the stake for a similarly inspired effigy of President Bush, but I could easily be wrong. People are afraid to speak forthrightly here.

Thanks for this awakening breath of fresh air!

Garth

[Mike McCarty]

I am curious to know whether these of the King and Queen are "authorized" portraits.

If you knowingly place yourself in front of a painter that demonstrates this style then all is well. Except for the thought that these notable figures are creating portraits for the people, for the public, not just for themselves. It's a little like a state of the union address. These look like the state of the union is a bit chaotic.

Well I see now that you state that these are the official portraits.

[David Draime]

Originally Posted by Grethe Angen

I think not only in the US.I believe it is rather a rare phenomenon that highly profiled persons just accept to be rendered almost like zombies.

Actually my first thought was "Dawn of the Dead." They look like something one might see on a B-grade horror movie poster.

Originally Posted by Garth Herrick

People are afraid to speak forthrightly here.
Garth

If I may be so bold....whatever merit lies in the way the figures are rendered (if there is any) - the paint handling itself, - it is completely undercut and invalidated by the random, abstract marks that fill the background; mark-making that, to me, seems arbitrary, self-indulgent, lazy, signifying nothing....it's as if the painting wants to be representational and abstract at the same time, causing it to fail on both counts. And I'm not judging this from some kind of reactionary, anti-modernist, classical realist perspective: I would much prefer to see an entirely abstract painting by this artist - it would, no doubt, be more intriguing, (more consistent at least). And, conversely, if this artist were to really explore how this particular mark-making can render form - a worthwhile endeavor. But, as they are - speaking forthrightly - I find these paintings really....lame. And the fact that they are official portraits of royalty....well...

Is it just me...?

[Grethe Angen]

Hi all,

This is the "number one" portrait painter in this country. Hakon Gullvag has painted most of our official portraits,besides the King and Queen, all the portraits on his site are of well known persons such as actors, authors, musicians, professors etc. He is very well known and accepted in a wide range.

I agree to a certain point that his artistic approach is interesting, but when it comes too official portraiture I have a hard time to accept.
None of his portraits were ever rejected, as far as I know. Or in case , it would be a very well kept secret. He usually are on the news headlines whenever a new portrait is unveiled. And the critics usually very positive.

The Kings portrait hangs in Oslo City Hall, where the reception of all foreign official visitors are held.

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

My take on this works as official portraits:
I am sure these are not the one and only paintings depicting the royals. I find it quite normal that an artist which is widely regarded as very influential in his country is commissioned to tackle the subject. To me it looks that he did so honestly, with the same attitude he has used toward other sitters and which has landed him this commission. Also if he is so well known, Norwegians will be visually used to his style.

He hasn't mocked the royalties or made them look ugly (see Freud's portrait of Elizabeth), rather he has worked on their iconic look: they are immediately recognizable as north european monarchs, the queen almost looks like a doll in her satately dress, the king like a lead soldier, which I have seen in other paintings by Gullvag on his website. I think he almost allude to their official persona almost as a role they have to play.
I believe these works will be hanged more as interesting works of art rather than " beware the king is watching you" painting, and as such I find them very respectable.
There is a dark side to them , is true, but I can't help being fascinated by these images.
I don't find them lame, David, it looks to me as this artist IS trying to include elements of abstraction and action painting, and that they do work in contest. But again it's a personal view.
Ilaria

[Grethe Angen]

Interesting thoughts, Illaria. but I do not agree with you. Nevermind.

As Allan mentioned there will be a Nordic portrait competition where they accept abstract paining. along with traditional portraiture. In my opinion abstract portraiture should compete separate because I think it is wrong to put the two up against each other.

[Thomasin Dewhurst]

All art is abstract - sometimes it just happens to look like something recognisable. It is the balance of the two that makes for great representational art, take Degas for example.

He just pushes wonderful designs of colour and tone into the realm of space and form as we know it, but barely. It is our own minds that flesh out the figure into a reproduction of reality.

And our own Sharon Knettel

Sometimes, often, mere representation of a thing does not allow for a painting to sing. The artist might as well have been painting walls. And songs can be a lot more that just lullabies.