Royal portraiture

[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.

[Mike McCarty]

There are those that believe that anything created by human hands is beautiful. I tend not to be so generous.

When you create representation art, without the use of clouds for hair, or figs for ears; upon completion you have taken yourself out of the loop. There is no need to call you back to explain your meaning, or weave your motives to those who would stand and listen. There is, in fact, much less chance for celebrity. Some, however, understand that if they can create some mystery, intrigue, or exclusivity surrounding either their process, or their reasoning for the use of figs, then they will still be needed. Those that are intrigued will continue to call on them to explain (or refuse to explain) themselves. If in the explanation even more ambiguity is created then all the better.

What a wonderful thing

[Grethe Angen]

Mike McCarty..... Those that are intrigued will continue to call on them to explain (or refuse to explain) themselves. If in the explanation even more ambiguity is created then all the better.

Here`s Artist and Queen, while explaining Ibsen ... http://nrk.no/contentfile/file/1.101...img1017075.jpg

[Mischa Milosevic]

I am saddened by the fact that these paintings, supposedly representations of nobility, are considered as works of art let alone representations of a human being. Is this is the artists imagination or this is for financial gain it makes no difference. If an educated artist cannot find beauty in another and in things created and must represent what he/she seas in such a manner then there is something wrong. Where is the problem or who is wrong? I think we all know and is clearly seen and understood. It is sad.

[Mischa Milosevic]

The link must be typed out and you get the photo of the queen and the artist.

[Grethe Angen]

Hello Mischa,
yes it`s sad, I agree.

I tried to post a link to some ver interesting images for those who have found this topic intersting. But because there are strange letters in our language it is not possible to post a link. But if you google the following on images:
Gullvaag, Ibsen you should be able to see them.

[Cynthia Daniel]

I fixed the link so it works now.

[Grethe Angen]

Cynthia, Thank you very much.