Arnold Böcklin (1827-1901) — Swiss artist, one of the founders of symbolism, who is considered the author of a new aesthetic in European art. His paintings are a unique mix of romanticism, baroque and classicism, flavored with mysticism and decadence. They are often devoted to the theme of death and the afterlife. It is no coincidence that Böcklin in his famous self-portrait of 1872 depicted himself next to a skeleton playing the violin, symbolizing death, clearly making it clear that life is vanity of vanities and we will all inevitably pass away to another world.
Self-portrait with Death Playing the Violin
However, his work was not always so dark. There was a lot of grotesque and peculiar humor, it is no coincidence that Böcklin was later called one of the inspirers of German expressionism and surrealism.
Playing Nereids
Böcklin was born in Switzerland, but many perceive him as a German artist, since he lived in Germany for a long time. However, he also sincerely admired Italy and said that he would like to live there. Academic conventions were alien to him, perhaps that is why he had to go so long to success. However, Böcklin was not an ardent supporter of the avant-garde, remaining true to his style, which found many admirers.
In the Play of Waves. 1883. Neue Pinakothek, Munich
In his paintings, fictional characters and non-existent places are very harmoniously combined with real landscapes, which Böcklin painted with amazing skill. Moreover, Böcklin managed to give a mysterious atmosphere even to the most ordinary images of nature, without any fantastic creatures. However, looking at his paintings, there is no longer any doubt that "there are miracles, there the devil roams."
Landscape with castle ruins
Böcklin came from a family of Swiss merchants who traded in silk and often traveled with their goods to various fairs. Sometimes he took his son with him, and young Arni became infected with a lifelong love of travel. But most of all he loved to draw and, despite his father's protests, left his home early in search of new knowledge.
Mirestil (Calm Sea)
He entered the Düsseldorf Academy of Art, where he studied the art of painting landscapes, which became the basis of his painting. Böcklin attached great importance to various light effects, in which he was a true master. This allowed him to give the right mood to his landscapes, to set them in a sublimely mysterious mood.
Isle of the Dead. Third version. 1883.
Then there were studies in Geneva and Paris, which finally determined his creative style. He admired the romanticism of Delacroix, the realistic landscapes of the artists of the Barbizon school, the mannerism and baroque of Rubens.
Nessus and Deianira
Böcklin's worldview was greatly influenced by his trip to Paris during the February Revolution of 1848. What he saw there shocked the young artist; it turned out that death was closer than ever to every person, especially during periods of social upheaval or epidemics.
Plague
He returned to his native Basel, but soon felt that he was unbearably bored there in a creative sense. So he went to Rome to touch Italian art. Walking around Rome, looking at ancient frescoes and taking part in excavations, Böcklin once again changed his creative style. His paintings became brighter, sparkled with new southern colors, and the lustful centaurs and playful nymphs depicted in them seemed surprisingly real, as if painted from life.
Centaur and Nymph
Böcklin increasingly began to write allegories on the theme of the difference between the male and female principles. The female, in his opinion, is amazingly bright, harmonious, and represents creation, while the male is only undisguised desire, lust, and the desire for destruction.
Triton and Nereid
However, critics did not like such films, and viewers considered them overly vulgar.
War
Böcklin lived most of his life in obscurity, without proper recognition. But from the 1880s onwards, everything changed. New ideas about art played into the artist’s hands, the academics who had previously been on top were defeated, and the previously despised impressionists and other innovators took their place. Böcklin’s paintings were praised, his famous “Isle of the Dead” was copied in huge editions, and it was even mentioned in Ilf and Petrov’s novel “The Twelve Chairs”.
Battle of the Centaurs
Böcklin took full advantage of his success: he bought a villa in Italy and held a solo exhibition in his homeland. Everything he wanted came true, and death, which he depicted in a self-portrait, only looked in on him at the age of 74.
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