Frederick Carl Frieseke - American Impressions - Remembering What He Would Not And Did Not Want Anyone To Lose
Artworks by Frederick Carl Frieseke:
(Click on images to view them individually.)
Some people have a tendency to stereotype artists as simply being narcissistic. While artists may have narcissitic attributes, it is important to consider that some of their motives may be more than pride and conceit. I know very little about Frieseke. But his artistic works suggest he, like many other artists, was not simply interested in “idealizing” the world by illustrating it as more colorful and perfect than it was.
Frieseke, an American Impressionist, like other Impressionist painters, was likely not primarily interested in showing off how well a human being could simulate realism. I think many people love impressionist paintings because the impressionist movement is inherently human. Impressionism doesn’t ask a painter to simply re-create or to be redundant of what is seen. Impressionism as a form asks the painter to reveal the highlights of what the individual sees - a human exercise.
For example, Frieseke’s mirrors, water reflections, and windows, as seen in the paintings in this post (like Monet’s ponds and water lillies), are not primarily interested in replicating precise imagery. Instead, they take on the arguably impossible task of revealing layers of transparencies and lights. And to me, they succeed because they show an admirable human attempt to reveal those energies and depths. Impressionism is beautiful because it’s cares about general impressions as much or more than precision. It suggests an overview may be as important as the details.
I believe artists sometimes look to record and remember the attributes of objects, eras, people, atmospheres, and more - so that future generations can see the beauty, design, and intelligence they could perceive. Beauty can be images, emotions, philosophies, and more. And some artists have spent a tremendous amount of their lives in service of the concept that the lovely, universal aspects of their visions may be good enough to share with future generations for their possible enjoyment and consideration.
I concede there is some pride, narcissism, and cockiness in those kinds of artistic pursuits. But I forgive those conceits to the degree the pursuits also clearly seek to please, educate, console, and encourage future generations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Carl_Frieseke
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