One of the most human things we can do is to be interested in art. There can be many reasons for this, but just so we don’t find ourselves surrounded by contradictions, let’s remember a scene from the film The Intouchables, specifically when one of the protagonists asks the other about the purpose of art. This brings forth a monologue about how human beings realize our existence and the passing of time through it. This may sound a bit reductionist, but those words are enough to know that, indeed, the study or the appreciation of art are activities that remind us we’re still here.
That’s why art and its multiple manifestations can become recurring subjects when talking about things that matter to all of us. However, within this search for reasons or evidence, it’s impossible –just like it is with any other subject– to fall into foolish comments, superficial judgments, or even completely absurd opinions, to the point where this subject, for some people, remains off-limits during small talk, just like religion, politics, and football.
There are too many people who, while trying to come off as versed or knowledgeable, repeat the same thing over and over. They talk just to say something, and might only know one “interesting” fact, and from there spin into a whole bunch of nonsense. So, in order to help expand a few horizons and not have you look like you’re always heading towards that dead-end, we’ve compiled the list of artists that seem to always pop up during a conversation about art for no apparent reason.
This is not to say that they’re historically or culturally irrelevant, but knowing this could help you or someone you know break free from the same opinions or comments that might give the impression that you haven’t visited a museum or read about art history since high school.
Frida Kahlo
We could start with the Mexican artist loved by the entire world. Frida will always be Frida, and her legacy is undeniable. But, in recent years, there’s been an almost uncontrollable elation over her work, and even more extreme on her personal life. Those eyes, those eyebrows, and those tears can be found on a pair of sneakers or supermarket bags, without mentioning how tactlessly her work is used. So in an effort to let her have some peace and help the person speaking of her not come off as another snob from the Fridamaniacs clique, why not take a look at Maria Izquierdo? One of the least recognized Mexican artists with an incredible body of work.
Leonardo da Vinci
In the years following the rage over a best-seller that promised secret messages and revelations hidden within da Vinci’s paintings, the obsession over “The Vitruvian Man,” “La Gioconda,” and “The Virgin of the Rocks” grew exponentially. This is without taking into account that for many his most important piece is the “Mona Lisa.” This in turn has released a slew of absurd comments regarding her gaze, her sex, and her unforgettable smile. To leave this science and art master on the sidelines for a bit, it could be convenient to talk instead about Titian. This painter, who rose to fame during the Renaissance, was also a trailblazer when it came to studies on religion, the human body, and color.
Salvador Dalí
There is truly no one like the Spanish master to represent Surrealism. Sadly his production and personality also tend to be taken very lightly, and in most cases, people who follow his body of work are seen as presumptuous. Surely, in most cases this accusation is as unfounded as the comments coming from others. So in order not to fall into a tiresome cycle, look up Paul Delvaux. His contributions to the movement are based on dreams, as well as his crossing into other trends such as Neoimpressionism or Expressionism until the moment he met Magritte.
Vincent van Gogh
Yes, “Starry Night” is beautiful and van Gogh’s brushstrokes are like nothing else. But to bring up this Dutch artist’s work during a conversation about art comes off as tedious if you only mention the poverty he endured, the discredit he faced, the madness that took hold of him, and the fact that he cut off his own ear as an act of desperation or insanity. If you want to go in a similar route, look up what was studied by Jacques Derrida in The Truth in the Painting. You could also explore Aaron Smith’s work, a contemporary painter that retook the strength and thickness of the Postimpressionist brushstroke and brought it to the present day.
Yayoi Kusama
This contemporary artist is impressive. The power with which she manages artistic and aesthetic experiences by retaking elements of Pop Art, Minimalism, Actionism, and other hallmarks of avant-garde, is more than enough to make her stand out, not just in her native Japan, but worldwide. It is time we also bring in the work of Cai Gui Qiang, a post-revolutionary Chinese artist that also experiments with atmosphere and the interaction with the spectator.
Sandro Botticelli
No, under no circumstance is Boticelli summed up with “The Birth of Venus” or “The Spring.” The truth is that the stories around him are marvelous and his body of work has survived over the centuries as an excellent sample of the study of human anatomy, portrait, and the use pagan elements. But that’s not all he is. Using his name during conversations is usually so abrupt that it can seem bothersome to remind ourselves of his historical impact time and time again. Focus on Masaccio instead, an artist of incredible relevance to painting and architecture, who has been sent to the shadows despite everyone knowing his religious representation but not going deeper into his other work.
Francisco de Goya
There is much to say about Goya and his works.
We may never tire of his depressing paintings and his delving into dark and disturbing subjects. But when talking about this artist from Zaragoza, we might give off the impression that we don’t know much about contemporary Spanish art, given that his body of work crosses into the twentieth century. There are few names aside from his during this transition that should be acknowledged. Why not talk about Sorolla y Bastida? He had over 2,200 catalogued works and was also recognized as an innovator in the use of light in Spanish painting.
Joan Miró
Painter, sculptor, print-maker, potter, and architect, he was one of the masterminds when the time came to transform the reality of his native country. Even when he’s named as the greatest genius of Surrealism, his Fauvist, Cubist, and Expressionist nature cannot be overlooked. This has put him at the center of numerous studies and commentaries. It’s regrettable that his mention is sometimes only there for a need to speak of the avant-garde. If you don’t want to go too far from his peculiar point of view, you should look up Alexander Calder, a friend of his and precursor of Kinetic sculpture.
Diego Velázquez
The Baroque artist from Seville is remembered for his Naturalist, Chiaroscuro, and free kind of development as a painter. His most famous painting is “Las Meninas,” an enigmatic piece of multiple gazes and incredible wonder. Yet this artist that was named the painter of painters and basic reference for French Impressionists feels worn out if what is intended is to demonstrate knowledge of art. He obviously won’t lose his importance or name, but wouldn’t it be nice to give the work of Singer-Sargent a chance? This artist is one of the greatest to study Velazquez and who managed to transform that dark quality into a broader play of hues until the arrival of Impressionism.
Edgar Degas
If all you know about Degas is his fascination towards ballet dancers, then we’re toast. If you know a little more about his work you’ll realize he is quite amazing; you might even recognize an unending need to capture movement, the feeling of being alive, the transformation of energy and beauty on Earth. Studies on his work can be found anywhere, even a newspaper stand. And that’s fine; it shows how his paintings still have power, but it also shows his overdone presence in people’s artistic imagination. Study instead Robin Cheers, a contemporary painter inspired by Degas.
Banksy
Until Banksy burst into the scene, Street Art did not know its true reach and possibilities. The divergence in his activities, as well as the complex argumentative nature of his acts, has placed him as one of the key personalities in our present political horizon. But, is that all we can say about urban art and counterculture graffiti? Let’s look up Robbo King, the late artist with whom Banksy held a tough rivalry. You can also find about Blek le Rat, another pioneer of Street Art.
Again, this is not to say that we should forget all about some artists or even look down on their work. But we should stop presenting and using them as if they were the only ones or refer to them because of a lack of knowledge.
Translated by María Suárez