How do
artists create meaningful images when one component of their brain is
analytical and the other is intuitive?
In an earlier post focused on
Daniel Heimlich, I proposed that his arrangement of subject material matches
the constructs of the Foote, Cone and Belding Grid in engaging the viewer’s
left and right brains' functions. For the present discussion I will move the
focus away from the concept that the analytic and intuitive leanings of our
divided brain prefer certain arrangements of imagery and focus on how these two
propensities of the brain impact on the way that artists’ make images. More
specifically, I wish to discuss how Sir Francis Seymour Haden (1818–1910) and Sir
Frank Brangwyn (1867–1956) present their very
different ways of looking at subjects into coherent images.
Before exploring these artists’
approaches I must clarify that the following explanation is based solely on what
can be seen in the prints examined rather than being based on privileged
knowledge about these artists’ motivations and intentions when they made the
images.
At first glance, Haden's etching, Thames Ditton—with a Sail (shown below) may
appear to be an easily understood image. Essentially, the immediate foreground
shows the broken remains of a tree trunk. The left silhouette edge of this tree
creates an arching rhythm leading to a sail strung loose on a mast with water
behind it stretching back to a cluster of houses in the distance. On a closer
inspection, however, this initial reading of the scene is not so straight forward.
The foreground tree is not an objective representation of what Haden would have
seen (see detail further below). For instance, the treatment of its upper
region is far from being an accurate description of bark and twigs. But this
does not mean that the drawing of the tree is inappropriate. It is a wonderful
tree. From my standpoint the treatment of its representation with a web of
seemingly searching marks expresses clearly Haden’s emotional response to the
non-visible spirit of the tree. Just as important, this very subjective
rendering of the tree juxtaposed beside the mimetic treatment of the rest of
the image projects a mood of unease arising from the note of discord the
contrast between the two drawing styles creates.
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(Sir)
Francis Seymour Haden (aka Dean, H [used for RA exhibitions])
(1818–1910)
“Thames Ditton—with a Sail” (aka ”Le Village de Thames Ditton”),
1864
Etching with drypoint on fine cream laid paper with wide margins.
Size: (sheet) 26.8 x 36.1 cm (plate); 14 x 20.6 cm; (image
borderline) 12.7 x 20.5 cm
State viii (of viii) with the “bare strip 10mm. across the bottom
of the plate” and the inscription from the previous state with the address of Cadart
& Luquet removed.
Schneiderman (Seymour Haden) 68.VIII (Richard S Schneiderman 1983,
“A catalogue raisonné of the prints of Sir Francis Seymour Haden”, Robin
Garton, London, p. 171, cat.no. 68.VIII); Harrington 73 (Samuel Henry Nazeby
Harrington 1910, “The engraved work of Francis Seymour Haden, an illustrated
and descriptive catalog”, p. 36, cat.no. 73)
The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print
from the same state (viii) as this impression:
“The village of Thames Ditton on a river. In the foreground two
old trees and a man in a sailing ship.”
See also the description of the print by the British Museum:
Condition: crisp, impression with a bare upper left corner—perhaps
resulting from the plate having been inadvertently held before it was printed.
The sheet is in near pristine condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds,
abrasions, stains or foxing but there is lightening of tone around the
impression).
I am selling this exceptionally fine impression in faultless
condition for the total cost of AU$430 (currently US$324.65/EUR270.86/GBP238.76)
including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.
If you are interested in purchasing this remarkable print by Haden
with a simply incredible drawing of a tree that goes far beyond a pictorial
description of it and from my viewpoint expresses Haden’s intimately personal
exploration of what the tree means to him, please contact me
(oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make
the payment easy.
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(Detail)
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(Detail)
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(Detail)
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What Haden exemplifies in this
print are two essential ways of drawing. One way is by visual representation of
superficial appearance arising from the left brain processes, as exemplified
in the mimetic rendering of the landscape beyond the foreground tree. This
approach also involves the mechanics of drawing (e.g. perspective, sight-size
measuring, construction of shadows. reflections and all the other subtleties of
portraying form) in a very conscious and disciplined way. In short, this
approach is to create what may be described as “pictorial space”—a space of
three-dimensional illusions. The other way is by analogue representation of essentially
non-visual experiences arising from right brain processes, as exemplified in the
web of gestural marks describing the foreground tree. This is a more intuitive approach
wherein artists configure their gut feelings about a subject into marks,
shapes and rhythms onto the drawing support. This concept of intuitively
sensing the subject and configuring the drawing to match the experience may be
described as “graphic space”—a space of synthesised ideas and non-visual
feelings.
These two spaces—pictorial and
graphic—are equally evident in Brangwyn’s remarkable etching, Le Pont Valentre, A Cahors (shown below).
Here Brangwyn’s analytical eye defines his vision of the bridge and reflection
with finely hatched strokes rendering the tones in pictorial space while his
intuitive eye describes in a layering of richly inked lines his experience of a
tree on the right in graphic space. What I find fascinating with this print is
how literally the two spaces are so unapologetically abutted. From my
standpoint, Brangwyn is making a forceful statement with this print that the
world of concrete mortar and bricks is also inhabited with the shadowy world of
a brooding mood.
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Sir Frank Brangwyn (1867–1956)
Le Pont Valentre, A Cahors, 1912
from Revue de L’Art Ancien et Moderne
Etching in sepia ink on cream wove
paper,
printed by Chardon Wittman with
original tissue guard
18 x 24 cm (plate); 22.6 x 30.9 cm
(sheet)
Condition: beautiful impression in
pristine condition.
I am selling this print for $310
AUD including postage and handling to anywhere in the world. Please contact me
using the email link at the top of the page if you are interested or click the
“Buy Now” button.
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(Detail)
Le Pont Valentre, A Cahors, 1912
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(Detail)
Le Pont Valentre, A Cahors, 1912
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Although the above discussion
focuses on how Haden and Brangwyn integrated their divided ways of looking into
a singular vision, for the viewer of their images the point needs to be made
that composition also plays a significant role in how meaning is communicated.
Again, like Daniel Heimlich’s arrangement of subject matter, these two artists’
disposition of pictorial and graphic space aligns well with the constructs of
the Foote, Cone and Belding Grid: pictorial space is shown on the left and
graphic space is shown on the right.