Reborn as a great painter, with a system, you can be willful

"This is a self-portrait that Courbet painted for himself. He must be very satisfied with his appearance." Jacques looked at the portrait and said to Jiang Zhe.

Jiang Zhe said: "In this painting, Courbet has long hair and the melancholy temperament of an artistic youth. But it doesn't look like a realistic style."

Jacques said with a sly smile, "Wait a minute, you'll see how he looks to others."

Jiang Zhe was not able to see the work that Jacques mentioned so quickly.

The tour route chosen by Jacques was a bit awkward.

Jiang Zhe saw another famous painting - People Gleaning Wheat Ears.

"This scene was quite common in the French countryside in the 19th century," said Jacques.

Jiang Zhe replied: "We also have this kind of situation."

"Miller spent his entire life painting rural themes. He and a group of like-minded friends formed the Barbizon School, and they didn't like Courbet. Do you know why?" Jacques looked at Jiang Zhe.

Jiang Zhe shook his head.

“Because they thought of peasants as the subject of their works earlier than Courbet. But they did not create well-known works like The Burial at Ornans, so they are not convinced.

At that time, works such as The Evening Bells and The Gleaners were not taken seriously.

It can be seen that pioneers are not necessarily successful.

But whether it was Courbet or Barbizon who started this aesthetic trend, it did open up a new path under the influence of classicism and academicism.

Their appearance caused controversy. At that time, people in society who cared about art and the future all participated actively or passively.

Regardless of who was right or wrong, Courbet and the Barbizon School became famous.

In the art world, if you create controversy, you create attention.”

The two chatted as they walked and came to a higher level of the museum.

"Standing here, you can see the bottom floor of the museum." Jacques stopped and pointed downwards and said, "Do you know what the museum was originally used for?"

Jiang Zhe said, "I heard it's a train station?"

Jacques said, "Yes. There is a corridor in the middle of the museum that is lower than the two sides. It is where the railway tracks used to be. The exhibition halls on both sides are the original platforms.

Because of technological development, train stations are no longer enough.

In order to make good use of this land, it was transformed into the current museum. Look at the layout on both sides. This design, to some extent, echoes the difference between the left and right banks of the Seine. The right bank is full of well-off academics and epic works, while the works on the left bank are all about the hungry people. "

Jiang Zhe also discovered this phenomenon after being reminded by Jacques.

"Is this an intentional arrangement?"

"Perhaps," Jacques replied.

The two continued their tour and saw some less famous portraits.

Jacques told Jiang Zhe, "After Courbet became famous, many young painters appeared in Paris who dreamed of becoming famous overnight. These portraits are their works. These works are actually not much different from the academic school.

Because their goal was to enter the official art salon dominated by the academic school. This was the way to become famous at that time.

What do you think the life of these people is like?"

Jiang Zhe looked at the works and said carefully: "I can't guess the details, but judging from the size of the works, most of these young painters come from wealthy families."

"At that time, most people who studied art were not poor," Jacques said. Of course, there were exceptions.

Pay attention to this painting, its author is called Bazille. He is the heir of a winery. "Jiang Zhe saw that the painting that Jacques specifically pointed out depicted a party scene in the courtyard.

“This is a family gathering at his house. The tall man on the left is Bazille.

This painter's works are somewhat mediocre, but he has a good friend - Claude Monet. "

The two soon saw a work by Monet.

Jiang Zhe said: "This painting does not show Monet's typical personal characteristics. Was it placed here intentionally?"

"Yes, because Monet, like everyone else at the time, dreamed of joining the academic school. Also, the painting was very large. But Monet was not rich.

Fortunately, he was friends with the wealthy Bazille." Jacques walked a few steps quickly, pointed to another painting, and said: "This work depicts Bazille's studio.

Look, this is the scene where Monet and his friends went to borrow the studio.”

Jiang Zhe recognized Bazille in the painting at first sight, but he couldn't see his expression clearly.

"Bazille not only let these friends borrow his studio, he even funded them." Jacques pointed to the Monet works in this exhibition hall and said, "This painting by Monet, Women in the Garden, was purchased by Bazille. This work is very similar to the family gathering painted by Bazille."

As the two were talking, a young girl came over and greeted Jacques.

She knew Jacques, but Jacques didn't know her.

The girl introduced herself as a student studying painting. She liked Jacques' works and asked if she could take a photo with him.

Jacques readily agreed, and then introduced Jiang Zhe to the girl.

After hearing the introduction, the girl was very polite to Jiang Zhe, but she did not show the same admiration as she did to Jacques.

Jacques held Jiang Zhe and took a photo together.

After taking the photo, the girl thanked Jacques and the others again and said goodbye.

When she showed off her photo with the famous painter to her friends, she didn't know the other value of this photo.

Jiang Zhe said as he walked: "Jacques, I can see that you really enjoyed the feeling just now."

Jacques said, "Yes. You will have this opportunity too. If you come to study at the Academy of Fine Arts, you will be constrained, but it will also be beneficial. Just like those great painters, they once longed to be accepted by the art salon."

They stopped in front of another famous painting.

This painting depicts a group of art world giants surrounding the painter Manet.

"The slovenly guy in the corner is Monet, and the tall Bazille is very conspicuous. This man is called Zola, and he later became a best-selling author. His income at the time was higher than that of Hugo and Maupassant." The two identified the celebrities in the painting and shared the information they knew.

"The man in the hat is Renoir, and this group of young people is surrounding their common idol, Édouard Manet."

"Manet was the first painter in this group to become famous overnight like Courbet, but his fame was somewhat due to luck," Jacques said. "The painting that made him famous is hanging on the top floor."

After they finished identifying the works, they continued walking forward. Passing the booth displaying Manet's masterpiece, Olympia, Jacques said, "Courbet found a different subject matter and perspective under the influence of the academic school. Manet was openly challenging the academic school's aesthetics. Let's go to the top floor now to see the most essential part of the Orsay - the Impressionist Gallery."

Jiang Zhe has been here once and is still looking forward to seeing those works.

He looked at his watch and realized that he had been touring the museum for an hour without realizing it.

The two quickened their pace and walked up the escalator to the top floor. The first painting they saw was Manet's "Luncheon on the Grass".

Jacques said, "This is the work that made Manet famous. I like this work and I used to imitate his creative method."

(End of this chapter)