Ramblings of a wannabe painter
By: Paul Gauguin ; edited and translated by Donatien Grau
Contributors: Grau, Donatien, editor, translator, writer of added commentary
Series: Ekphrasis; Ekphrasis (New York, N.Y.)
Publisher: David Zwirner Books
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 52
ISBN-13: 9781941701393
Subjects: Painters; Art criticism; Written works; History
Work titles: Racontars de rapin
Description: "Criticism is our censorship . . ." So begins one of the greatest invectives against criticism ever written by an artist. Paul Gauguin wrote "Racontars de Rapin" only months before he died in 1903, but the essay remained unpublished until 1951. Through discussions of numerous artists, both his contemporaries and predecessors, Gauguin unpacks what he viewed as the mistakes and misjudgments behind much of art criticism, revealing not only how wrong critics' interpretations have been, but also what it would mean to approach art properly<U+2014>to really look. Long out of print, this new translation by Donatien Grau includes an introduction that situates the essay within Gauguin's written oeuvre, as well as explanatory notes. This text sheds light on Gauguin<U+2019>s conception of art<U+2014>widely considered a predecessor to Duchamp<U+2014>and engages with many issues still relevant today: history, novelty, criticism, and the market. His voice feels as fresh, lively, sharp in English now as it did in French over one hundred years ago. Through Gauguin<U+2019>s final piece of writing, we see the artist in the full throes of passion<U+2014>for his work, for his art, for the art of others, and against anyone who would stand in his way. -- publisher's statement.
Notes: English translation of Racontars de rapin, an essay written by Gauguin a few months before his death.
Table of contents: title: The last words of the first modern artist / Donatien Grau; title: Ramblings of a wannabe painter / Paul Gauguin.