George Jensen

Happy Birthday George Jensen!! The Danish silversmith was born in 1866 in Radvaad, Denmark, north of Copenhagen in the lush countryside. His father was employed in a knife making factory as a grinder and George was soon recognized as one with artistic talent. His family moved to Copenhagen so he could pursue his art through an apprenticeship to a goldsmith. He would eventually win a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Art, Copenhagen, as a sculpture student. Although he never did succeed as a sculptor, his silversmithing was greatly enhanced by this talent. Jensen was known as the “Father of Scandinavian Silver”. His work would later reflect nature in a unique style picked up in his silversmith studio and echoed still today. The gently flowing tea set below is named Blossom.

Theo van Doesburg

Happy Birthday Theo van Doesburg!! Dutchman born in 1883, Christian Emile Marie Kupper signed his work with his stepfather’s (whom he regarded his natural father) name: Theo Doesburg. He added the “van” which was a common practice. He was actually the son of photographer Willhelm Kupper. Vincent van Gogh influenced his early desire to become a painter. Later van Doesburg became convinced that abstract painting was the only true reflection of what was in one’s mind. The painter was quite avant-garde in approach after he became acquainted with Piet Mondrian and founded De Stijl. Note the similarities between the two artists in van Doesburg’s Simultaneous Counter-Composition 2, 1929. (I wrote about Mondrian on March 7). I am fascinated with this particular canvas with the underlying composition of colored geometrical shape offset by the bold black grid over top, hence "counter composition".

De Stijl-or The Style began as a magazine promoting the ideas of Mondrian, van Doesburg and Neo-plasticism. Neo-plasticism being strict abstract art relying on geometric shapes in primary colors with black and white, set at right angles to the vertical or horizontal axis.

John Leech

Happy Birthday John Leech!! This English caricaturist and illustrator was born in 1817. His father was from Ireland and the landlord of the London Coffee House. He passed his love for drawing on to his son and John was said to begin drawing at age 3. He began selling his art at age 18, with a collection of studies of characters from the streets of London. His engravings, woodcuts and lithographs were precise in line and design. He conveyed a liberal political message with his caricatures of societal classes. His lithographs and engravings illustrated the political magazine Punch beginning in 1841. Punch was a British weekly including humor and satire known for its anti-Catholic and anti-Irish stance The illustration below is simply titled Paddy, 1845. The apelike character is “Paddy” in an obvious slur toward Irishmen.

Morris Graves

Happy Birthday Morris Graves!! Born in 1910, American painter Morris Graves painted in what was termed Romantic Expressionism. This was a dreamy, contemplative style connected with communicating mood. He was self taught and traveled to Japan after dropping out of high school in his sophomore year. There his eyes were opened to the art world. He returned to the Seattle area and Fidalgo Island where he spent the majority of his career. Together with Guy Anderson, Mark Tobey, and Kenneth Callahan he founded an art movement called the Northwest School. The group created visions of Puget Sound, the Sagit Valley and depended heavily on Asian influences. Graves worked primarily in oils gouache and tempera, his work becoming progressively more abstract. The painting below is Time of Change, painted in 1943, an example of Graves' recurrent bird theme.

Man Ray

Happy Birthday first to my Grandbaby Isabella Paz who turns 2 years old today!! And also to Man Ray!! Born in 1890 this modernist American painter/photographer was connected with the Dada and Surrealist movements of the mid 1900s. Man Ray lived most of his adult life in Montparnasse, section of Paris (a favored artist quarter). He was also a fashion and portrait photographer and renamed his photographs “rayographs” after himself. These were experimental in the technique of solarization, where the image is portrayed as the negative, or light areas are dark and dark areas light. His most discussed work, though is probably the enigmatic assemblage, The Gift, an antique iron with a row of tacks glued down the center of the smooth side. ARTnews magazine named him one of the 25 most influential artists of the 20th century.
 

Jacques Emile Ruhlmann

Happy Birthday Jacques Emile Ruhlmann! Art Deco style cabinetmaker, Ruhlmann was born in Paris in 1879. He assumed the family decorating business at age 28. Ruhlmann worked in the Art Deco style, which reached its height in the 1920s and was even named Art Deco’s greatest artist by the New York Times. He designed exotic one of a kind furniture pieces of the finest materials such as Macassar ebony or rosewood inlaid with ebony or tortoiseshell. His furniture tended to be elegant and curvaceous, as well as comfortable. His work became progressively more modern as time went by.

Jacob Maris

Happy Birthday Jacob Maris!! The Dutch painter was born in 1837 to a family of painters. He and his brothers belonged to the group known as The Hague School. Jacob studied art at Antwerp University as well as in Paris with Hubertus van Hove, for 6 years. His important work is primarily landscapes featuring bridges, windmills and magnificent skies. A prime example is his Village Near Schiedam, below. Maris was interested in achieving effect rather than particularly realism; perhaps a glimpse of Impressionism yet to come?