RoR: Forum

Robert:

Your comments in post #19 are very interesting. The only problem I have is that I don't see any of that in this painting. Even after contemplating your observations, I still fail to read the "Christian morality" in anything relating to the pose or the rendering of the figure against the background. It doesn't appear to me that this girl is making any real attempt to "cover up" and she conveys no sense of shame so far as I can tell. Regarding the concealment of the pubic region and partial concealment of the breasts, in the spirit of "less is more", I find this pose much more appealing and appropriately feminine (i.e., sexual) than that seen in the Zorn painting posted my Michael, which by the way, is certainly the best of Zorn's paintings that I have see. At least for me, Chabas' painting is much more of a celebration of the idealized female form than Zorn's.

Robert, I'm not challenging you here, and accept that this is what the artistic effects of this composition convey to you. However, I would be very interested to hear from others whether they get a similar reading from September Morn. Other than Michael, no one else has registered a positive response to this piece.

Regards,
--
Jeff

Post 21

Friday, April 25, 2008 - 3:42pm

Hi Jeff (and Stephen and others),

I am glad that you like Turner. Nowadays we can't escape Turner in Dallas. It is everywhere. We went to the Symphony the other day to hear Debussy and Ravel and there it was, Turners projecting on a big screen. I found it extremely distracting.

My reaction to "September Morn" is

What was she doing out there in a chilly morning naked like that?! No wonder she looked so uncomfortable!

Sorry, I guess I am too literal.

Post 22

Friday, April 25, 2008 - 4:14pm

Decency, not Shame

I very much like September Morn. It reminds me of and excels what I like from Maxfield Parrish. The pose is undeniably one of "modesty." However it is not one of shame. She does not have her gaze averted. Given the times and its mores this painting is actually quite natural. Had she been spread-eagle like Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct the painting would have conveyed something less than a lack of Christian "decency." In its context this is a wonderful picture.

Post 23

Friday, April 25, 2008 - 5:02pm

Ted:

Interesting that you mention Maxfield Parish, another favorite artist of mine. I had never thought to compare the two, but you are correct that there is a similar sensibility to the repose of the figures in many of Parish's works and September Morn, although I might describe it as demure rather than modest. It is also interesting that many art critics categorize both artist's works as kitsch. Their loss!

I also think you make an excellent observation about having to evaluate this piece in the context of its time period.

Regards,
--
Jeff

Post 24

Friday, April 25, 2008 - 5:47pm