One of Gwen John’s paintings, that of a quiet corner of her attic room, is the fulcrum (or main character, so to speak) of the novel by Margaret Forster, “Keeping the World Away.” For those who haven’t read it, the story opens with a fictionalized, though well researched, Gwen John arriving in Paris. The story continues through other women’s lives, all of whom are affected by John’s painting. The novel came onto my life at exactly the right moment and moved me deeply, particularly since I already had an interest in John’s art and life story. In this case, the written work enriched my interest ....as does the wonderful watercolor and insights of today’s “Art in Isolation” talk. These talks are incredibly welcome and always fascinating. Thank you so much!
Wow! Wow! You are still here.......what a blessing to the realm.......I have been away for a while, and was quite excited to see you are creating new, and compelling content........this small piece of art is so relavent ..........it resonates on a frequency in allignment with our current experiences....... external, and internal. Your command of interpretation is exquisite, intimate, rare, and reassuring......you give light to a moment captivated by shadow! What is life without water, color, form, sustainabilty, and curiosity? Thanks for all that you do! All the best, Desmond.
Delightful ..and thank you Philip. These short films are an absolute joy, as they were earlier in the year in the first Lockdown. Very good filming and editing by Oliver.
So enjoying this second series. I live a few miles away from where Augustus John and his bohemian family lived in Poole , Dorset, and a few years ago visited a local exhibition of his work. Having read a biography of him, would now like to learn much more about Gwen, his sister. I find this painting of hers quite haunting.
So glad you’re back. Lifts my spirits just to know I can watch it and see the lovely countryside where you are in isolation. Stay safe too. I’d love even more of an art history lesson on your shows. A Longer and more in depth one of the artist. I know asking a lot from you but we are all out here waiting to see your next show. Bye for now from Collingwood, Ontario, Canada
Philip and Oliver, your Art in Isolation series is an absolute treasure. Thank you both for sharing your home, your knowledge, your gift for film making and your hearts and souls. Although our isolation here in sunny SW Florida is not nearly as dramatic as other places in the world my wife and I look forward each day to spending time with you. Philip, you have a genuine gift in making the viewer feel as if seated across from you in your living room. Further, I truly feel that time will treat this body of work very well and it just may become your shared personal masterpiece. I look forward to our continued time together. With warmest and most heartfelt wishes from Casey Key, Florida, USA - Dee 🇬🇧🇺🇸🌍
I so love these tutorials. When I went to art school, a million years ago, the early 70”s, Janson was the book of choice for art history. Not a woman painter in the book. I love when you introduce us to the women painters.
I love these jewels of time that you share with us so generously. The news of this second series .......well, talk about 'surprised by joy''! Thank you so much.
In the painting of the young woman not only is she hugging herself in protective manner, she also has no thumbs, she is powerless.. Very powerful statement of how she feels.
I'm glad that you're well and I want to thank you for introducing me to a new artist. And a woman at that. Once we are allowed back into libraries and I recover from rotator cuff surgery (cannot drive), I'm definitely going to research her. The watercolour is imho one of intense holding in of her emotions. The hands seem to reinforce the impression. Rodin may have been a great sculptor but he treated his lovers harshly. Camille Claudel and now Gwen John.
What wonderful surprise to find you back again. The Gwen John went straight to my heart. Of course I have never seen this work before, and have only managed to see a small number of her works. Thank you for the experience. What a painter. Quiet,.Reflective, Small....but heart stopping. Just as you have gone into lock down again, we in Melbourne, Australia are just coming out of it. Today is the first day we can walk outside without a mask.
"She thought her validity was her interior world." Those words stuck me to my inner core. Our modern ultra-urbanised world diminishes the awareness of our inner selves, our souls. Munch's "The Scream" perfectly symbolizes that angst. The piece you have chosen reveals one who is aware of that inner self, but a self in deep turmoi, a soul rejected. Great art is like a mirror, a threshold into the soul of the viewer. Once again, an excellent art lesson. Kudos!
Lovely, and so great to see female artists featured two episodes in a row! I look so forward to this and to the stroll through your gardens, at any season it’s a great escape. Thank you Philip.
During this time, most of the world was experiencing grief. Not an easy thing to convey so accurately, and with nothing more than a sketch and grey watercolour. At least Augustus acknowledged her talent. Thanks for another episode, though they always leave a thirst for more knowledge about the painter and sitter. If only they could speak.
I am a brit (and unknown artist) living in Austin Texas and miss houses like yours and teachers like you - so your channel transports me into magic and it makes my week - thank you!
Thank you Thank you ... I just love love how articulate and brilliant is your mind! I am delighted you and Oliver are back... Many many Thanks from a devoted fan from Calgary Canada 🇨🇦 Keep up the great works
A welcome return to Philip and his son's brilliant camerawork /editing. I had recognized the artist from the first teaser but was not sure of the subject.
What a beautiful portrait. I've just been listening to Celia Paul talking about her book 'Letters to Gwen John'. The lives of these two painters share so many similarities. Thank you for your wonderful programmes.
Another fine episode. I’m learning so much from these short but relevant programs. Love them and can’t ensure for the next one. Almost makes the isolation not so lonely.
Loved this one! It’s really haunting; those eyes and brows show so much expression as does her posture. And there are so few lines! But walking into your house it just looks so warm and inviting with so much character and your paintings just add to that.
I use to watch a program on PBS years ago about a nun, Sister Wendy (I think) who would show you great paintings and describe the picture in minute detail. I loved that show and you saw things in each painting that you would never have noticed or the reason why they were painted the way they were. I was eventually lucky enough to visit the Louvre and other beautiful museums in Paris, throughout England and Japan.
Always great to see your tours round the home, flashes of colour yes, cosy furniture, and the paintings! it's a good room as not too much light coming in to spoil anything delicate. Perhaps the spotlights need to be carefully used....Love the Gwen portrait at the beginning. The 18th c lady next to the watercolour seemed to have a big presence too. Love the music, who's the composer....?
Very stong! She's got integrity! And... I just wonder... it struck me as soon as you showed the selfportrait - this is a camouflaged selfportrait! I love your programs thank you for all the good warm inspiration.
I wish someone would commission you to write/present a history of British art, channel 4 perhaps ??? You actually talk about the work of art not awful speculation or bland theory. Good luck and many thanks. Warrwn
during this last time, I have faced severe grief and illness...Thank you Philip for helping me reach Art again...its been a difficult week, I can pick up my brushes again now
I like very much how you've developed this story, the placement of the watercolor in the room, your feelings about the painting and the room itself - how you've made the room as legible as a welcoming book ready to be read by the fire - simply by walking into the room. Warmest regards Jennie
My fave work of hers is 'A corner of the artist’s room, Paris'.. Thanks so much for sharing this insight into her life and work. I also find the women in her paintings all look troubled or despondent.. Signs of those times perhaps?
I am so happy I was right!! How is your wiew on Helene Schjerfbeck....I think there are similaritiers between the two. I sa Gwen John paintings in Wales in the 70-ties...loved them then and love them now being over 70!!
Appears Gwen John harboured a lot of angst. Portraits of her make of her a rather plain Jane. Is there any documentation about her years with August Rodin and what Rodin 'did to her' to cause her to escape Rodin's influence after which Gwen John required recuperation? Of course, the so-called 'Spanish flu' pandemic was rampant at the time of this frowning Brittany watercolour's creation. Doesn't the poor wretched subject have part of her left thumb missing? Bohemian Gwen slept in French fields? _I've slept in a French field's ploughed furrow too when I was young and wandering. We have all slept under wild scary stars in our lives haven't we?_
Oh my gosh...it's incredible. The weight of the lines are done so well. It has a feeling of swaddling...or the need for swaddling. There's so much to be said for well-done minimalism. Or should I say that it speaks for itself. This picture speaks a thousand words. Her work is stunning. It has a feel of oil pastel. Here's another case of an underrated female artist. How much does her work sell for and why isn't she selling at auction at Christie's for millions? The art world is still too sexist.
Delighted that you feel so passionately about the image. We actually included the work in our exhibition, 'Pioneers: 500 Years of Women in British Art', in an effort to offer a greater platform for women artists throughout British history, which you can view on the gallery's website.
@@philipmouldco4360 Thank you, I will view the exhibit. And thank you for steps taken to tout women artists. Having both sexes represented changes the dynamic to be more joyous.
very much touched by the way you present this watercolor. Yes, Gwen John the painter has indeed a very particular esthetic, a bit scary I admit, or as you said, a psychological one. I just must listen to the story again...
Love Gwen John there’s a few of her paintings in the national museum of Wales in Cardiff. Also Welsh Band Manic Street Preachers also wrote a song about Gwen and her brother, it’s called the secret He had missed.
Wonderful video thank you. The madness displayed at this time in the world has created more art and yet in many ways, it seems art is dying along with love. beautiful videos like this can't compete with the viral insanity and the fear that is propagated by the anti-artist in leadership. Thank you for the fight against the mundane Phillip.
Gwen John was a fascinating woman, after Rodin she lapsed into hyper religiosity alas (or not depending on one's viewpoint of the matter.) Rodin had a habit of driving young female acolyte's crazy did he not?
Yeah you right. I imagine he was a narcissist. Poor Camille Claudel. Recently has been proof that Rodin was inspired by her and not the other way around. Art History always put women as a secondary on the creative world. I wish art historians would acknowledge their bias. On the 90’s a painting was discovered and atribute to Frank Hals . The painting had a great quality. Then a cleaning reveal was done by Judy Leister and art historians that recognized the quality said that Judy Leister was an aprentice of Frank Halls. It was an embarrassment! Finally was acknowledged the high level as an artist of Judy Leister and she was not apprentice of anyone. When women are good they can’t recognize openly, they had to atribute the talent to a male and the female it’s just an assistant. Always downplayed women. I think Camille Claudel was better than Rodin.
I love listening to art critics. They make up such wonderful stories that don’t exist about features of a painting that were no more than just copied for what they were and ascribe to them a knowledge that was never intended or realised. A sort of Charles Dickens, but without the insight.