In Reply to: who are the masters of today?? posted by keith on 10/24/01 at 10:42 PM:

: Can someone tell me why painters sometimes used newspaper in there backrounds? I always wanted to no that. Also can someone inform me on some new masters of today? One more, i just came from the library and saw a self portrait Rambrant painting, unbeliiiiiievable, especailly the pores and highlights, how did he achieve them? No lie , the painting could have been breathing it looked so real.

: keith

Hi Keith,
About the new Masters. You know the "Masters" is a term that used to be used in relation to the Director of the Atelier. I dont suppose that is what your talking about....You must be asking about the leading most respected painters of today, of course. I would say that there is Jasper Johns, Gerhardt Richter, maybe David Hockney or David Salle, Chuck Close and perhaps Lucien Freud also Rosenquist. Those are the big living high profile internationally appreciated painters whos work sells for over $500,000.00 each occasionally. It seems superficial to judge an artists status by thier "success" level but it seems appropriate in this day and age. Gerhardt Richter might be considered tops right now because he just sold a painting at Christies last week for 2 1/2 million and change. His painting style is photo realism but he also does abstract paintings that amazingly capture the presence of a Realist painting but are totally non realistic!? About using newspaper in the background...are you referring to Jasper Johns use of news paper as a back drop for his American Flag paintings? In that case it was to imply the American people and thier activities via symbolically. It also adds depth and texture in a formalist mode but I havent read what Johns says about it. That was in the 1970s I think. He's linked to Pop art and they used mass culture as a subject. It only follows that a newspaper might be incorperated....I hope that helps you out.
Anwar here over and out...chow