Naturalism is that feature of art that involves the reproduction of nature in all its complexity and aesthetic richness. Unlike idealized art, in which all bodies, landscapes or portraits reproduce a canon of visual perfection of that era, naturalism also encompasses the particularities of the subject, highlighting the charm of supposed "flaws".
An inclination towards naturalism can be observed in Hellenistic Greek art, Caravaggio's art or in various stages of modern art, and in the case of all, a viewer who expects to see in a painting or sculpture only "classical" beauty will be slightly disturbed by the naturalistic images. In addition to the initial disturbance, naturalism serves to guide the aesthetic abundance of parts of the world that would easily escape us; as in the case of Stein János's work that opens our eyes to the inexhaustible and the expressive charm of femininity, regardless of age.
In the case of modern art, the expressivity of naturalism is often doubled by an artistic technique. The seemingly unfinished surfaces, the wrinkle-like brush strokes, the earthy color palette, they all reinforce the idea that is also expressed by the subject.
The artist studied at the great art academies, in Berlin, Munich, Paris, and Budapest, where he learned an academic manner, also revealed in this work. Thus, it can be observed in the case of the present study, an interest in anatomy, the artist being also the author of a work of artistic pathology.
Stein János Gábor
Semi-nude of an elderly woman
oil, canvas, 41.5 x 26 cm
unsigned
Condition of the work:
poor, horizontal cracks caused by folding
Documents:
export certificate 0921/2017
Stein János Gábor
1874, Cluj - 1944, Budapest
Because of his withdrawn nature, the artist lived a modest life.
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