I am not ashamed of my love of Decadent Art.
This picture from
http://www.leninimports.com/alphonse_mucha_gallery.html#amgall
with thanks
I am not ashamed of my love of Decadent Art.
This picture from
http://www.leninimports.com/alphonse_mucha_gallery.html#amgall
with thanks
And I am not ashamed of being Puritanical (at least as much as Lorado Taft was)
Definition of Decadence from the Concise Oxford Dictionary: “a luxurious self-indulgence”.
(which is exactly what I was thinking before I looked it up! — and it certainly fits the image you have presented)
What’s wrong with a bit of self-indulgence ? Nothing, I hope— or how dreary our lives might be.
But to glorify self-indulgence through the arts ? No — the only things that should be glorified are things that are higher, greater, and other than self.
As if it mattered what we do.
Wow this is going to be a deep one and complicated.
If you have a quick look at The Decadent Movement associated with The Aesthetic Movement,’Fin de siecle’ writers and with Symbolism in Art then you will see what I meant. Where do you feel Taft fits in that pot Chris?
Yikes! I’m not that literary — and I can’t even read French!
I have spent the last few months reading — and re-reading — an 1895 Chinese novel (in translation) about life in the upscale brothels of Shanghai. Talk about decadence — whew!
It doesn’t seem to celebrate a “luxurious self indulgence” however. More like — just a report on the difficulties of life.
Like — the paintings of Edvard Munch — who, Wikipedia tells us, was also in the “Decadent movement”
Where does Lorado Taft fit into it all?
To me — he seems to celebrate midwestern American wholesomeness.
It’s a rather limited – perhaps superficial theme – but it has a certain local charm.
God RObert! YOur blog is hitting home run after home run!
every post blows me away