Artistic Impressions Degas’ World

 

 

Here Degas shows a couple in a café staring out ¹⁾disconsolately¹, with a glass of the ²⁾deadly green ³⁾absinthe on the table in front of the woman. Degas’ friend Monet painted a dandish male absinthe drinker just over a decade before. But Degas in many ways paints a more ⁴⁾graphic² picture which doesn’t ⁵⁾glamorize either the café itself or the drink, which was ⁶⁾deemed to be ⁷⁾addictive³ and ⁸⁾lethal⁴ enough to be banned by the end of the century. Instead he paints a sympathetic portrait of a tough, dreary⁵ world from which the only escape is drink. The work provoked a strong reaction when it was first shown at the second ⁹⁾impressionist exhibition in 1876. But its notoriety helped Degas to sell the work to an English collector called Captain Hill from Brighton.

Degas remained interested in public spectacle as well as private and produced this dramatic image of the acrobat⁶ Miss Lala, a ¹⁰⁾sensation is Paris in 1879 when she performed at the ¹¹⁾circus Fernando. Her specialties⁷ included the ¹²⁾trapeze, and, most ¹³⁾spectacularly of all, being hauled up to the roof by her teeth in a painting which you could say has a real bite. It’s an image which captures the sense of physical 14)exertion⁸ as well as perfect ¹⁵⁾poise⁹, and makes us look up at this almost angel-like figure with a feeling of ¹⁶⁾precariousness¹⁰ and ¹⁷⁾awe¹¹ as if we’re seated in the circus room below.

In this painting, color takes over in a ¹⁸⁾blazing symphony of reds which ¹⁹⁾amplify¹² the ²⁰⁾dynamic image of the woman having her hair combed in a way that is almost savage¹³. She ²¹⁾clutches at her head to stop the maid from pulling it out by the roots. The whole ²²⁾thrust of the painting follows the line of that ²³⁾tugging action from bottom left to top right, and in what might otherwise be a ²⁴⁾tweed image of booed wild ²⁵⁾vanity. Degas gives us an almost uncomfortable image of energy.

The bathers were the final stage Degas’ chronicling of the various experiences of contemporary women almost to the point of ²⁶⁾obsession¹⁵ with every ²⁷⁾conceivable aspect of their lives charted when used as a ²⁸⁾vehicle for his exploration of different artist media. In the 1890s, as his sight got worse, his images of women became even more ²⁹⁾radical¹⁶. Depicted¹⁷ in ever more closer, ³⁰⁾cropped, and increasingly abstracted forms. In this bold picture, the forms are ³¹⁾layered, with the figures visible in the distance, but the motion of the picture is pushing forward into our faces amplified¹⁸ by the skins of ³²⁾pastel ³³⁾pigment¹⁹ creating a pattern of ³⁴⁾kaleidoscopic²⁰ color. It’s a fitting finale from the dance ³⁵⁾maestro Degas, the work which makes you dizzy just looking at it ³⁶⁾animated in style and subject matter and as one artistorian observed, elevating pastel painting to a major art form.

     Ironically, in his late use of bold simplified colors with a degree of abandon, Degas came closest to the concerns of mainstream²² impressionism. But he also anticipated a more expressionistic approach to art, which flourished in the next century. Above all, though it was his line work, sense of experimentation²³, coupled with a complex and often dark vision of contemporary life, which fascinated artists from Picasso onwards.  CE

 

 

07、德加印象

 

在这张画中，德加画了咖啡馆里一对目光愁闷的情侣，女子面前的桌上放着一杯惨绿的苦艾酒。十年前，德加的朋友莫奈画过一个饮苦艾酒的纨绔子弟。可是从多个角度来看，德加的画更加生动鲜明，既没有美化咖啡馆也没有美化苦艾酒，后者在19世纪末被认为是会上瘾致命的禁物。与此相反，他画了引人同情的一张画，在艰难而沉闷的世界里，酒成了唯一的逃避。这张画初次在1876年第二届印象派画展上展出，就引起了强烈反响。可是它背负的恶名使德加只好把画卖给了来自布莱顿的英国收藏家希尔上尉。

德加对公众和私人演出都很感兴趣，所以给杂技演员拉拉画出了这张生动的画像，拉拉1879年随费南多马戏团在巴黎演出，非常轰动。她的特长是打秋千，其中最惊人的是她咬紧牙被吊到屋顶，从画中你能看到咬得很紧。这张画捕捉到了身体力度感以及完美的平衡，使我们从仰头的角度看到人物，感受到不稳与畏惧，仿佛我们就是坐在底下的马戏团房间里似的。

这张画中，颜色编织出激烈的红色交响曲，几近暴力的梳头动作使画面的动感得到突出。女子抓住头以防头发给侍女连根拔出。画面的力度顺着拖头发的方向由左下朝右上方走，如果用其他表现方式则会造成画面结构松散，空白过多而不讨好。德加向我们展现了一股几乎是令人不舒服的力量。

入浴者常出现在德加最后几年的画中，他为当时各类女性作画，入木三分地表现出她们生活中所有可想到的方面，并借此来探索不同的艺术表现手法。在19世纪90年代，德加的视力每况愈下，他画中的女子也愈显极端。特写更多，更突出，更抽象。这张画的手法大胆，很有层次感，能看得到远处的人物，但粉彩创造出万花筒般的画面效果，突出了人物肌肤，使画面呼之欲出。这张画是艺术大师德加的画笔下的终场之舞，其风格与题材都很活泼，令观者目不暇接，从艺术角度来看，它将粉笔绘画提升到主流艺术中。

具有讽刺意味的是，德加后来大胆摒弃一些颜色，简化了色调，非常接近印象主义主流派。但他也先一步用出了较具表现主义的艺术画法，表现主义在下二十世纪中相当盛行。尽管他的代表作中带有实验感，兼表现了当时生活中复杂的阴暗面，但重要的是德加的画给后来的毕加索等画家提供了丰富的灵感。 CE

 

 

1)  disconsolately [dis5kCnsClitli] adv. 悲伤地，愁闷地

2)  deadly [5dedli] a. 死一般的，沉的

3)  absinthe [5AbsainW] n. 苦艾酒

4)  graphic [5grAfik] a. 生动的，轮廓鲜明的

5)  glamorize [5glAmEraiz] v. 使有魔力的

6)  deem to 认为，相信

7)  addictive [E5diktiv] a. 上瘾的

8)  lethal [5li:WEl] a. 致命的

9)  impressionist [im5preFEnist] n. 印象派画家

10) sensation [sen5seiFEn] n. 轰动，耸人听闻

11) circus [5sE:kEs] n. 马戏团

12) trapeze [trE5pi:z] n.吊秋千

13) spectacularly [spek5tAkjulEli] adv. 引人注意地，惊人地

14) exertion [ig5zE:FEn] n. 发挥，行使

15) poise [pCiz] n. 平衡，均衡

16) precariousness [pri5kZEriEsnis] n. 不稳定

17) awe [C:] n. 畏惧;敬畏

18) blazing [5bleiziN] a. 炽烈的，强烈的

19) amplify [5Amplifai] v. 增强，放大

20) dynamic [dai5nAmik] a. 动力的

21) clutch [klQtF ]v. 抓

22) thrust [WrQst] n. 推力，延伸

23) tug¹⁴ [tQg] v. 拖拉

24) tweed [twi:d] a. 休闲松散的

25) vanity [5vAniti] n. 空白

26) obsession [Eb5seFEn] n. 迷住，缠住

27) conceivable [kEn5si:vEbEl] a. 可想得到的

28) vehicle [5vi:ikEl] n. 传达手段

29) radical [5rAdikEl] a. 激进的

30) cropped [krCpt] a. 难以接受的

31) layer [5leiEr] v.  分层

32) pastel [pEs 5 tel] n. 粉画

33) pigment [pigmEnt] n. 颜料

34) kaleidoscopic [kElaidE5skCpik] a. 万花筒般的

35) maestro [5maistrEu] n. 艺术大师

36) animate²¹ [5Animeit] v. 使生气勃勃的

 

1 disconsolately   

adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸

参考例句：

• A dilapidated house stands disconsolately amid the rubbles. 一栋破旧的房子凄凉地耸立在断垣残壁中。 来自辞典例句
• \"I suppose you have to have some friends before you can get in,'she added, disconsolately. “我看得先有些朋友才能进这一行，\"她闷闷不乐地加了一句。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

2 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

3 addictive   

adj.(吸毒等)使成瘾的，成为习惯的

参考例句：

• The problem with video game is that they're addictive.电子游戏机的问题在于它们会使人上瘾。
• Cigarettes are highly addictive.香烟很容易使人上瘾。

4 lethal   

adj.致死的；毁灭性的

参考例句：

• A hammer can be a lethal weapon.铁锤可以是致命的武器。
• She took a lethal amount of poison and died.她服了致命剂量的毒药死了。

5 dreary   

adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的

参考例句：

• They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
• She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。

6 acrobat   

n.特技演员，杂技演员

参考例句：

• The acrobat balanced a long pole on his left shoulder.杂技演员让一根长杆在他的左肩上保持平衡。
• The acrobat could bend himself into a hoop.这个杂技演员可以把身体蜷曲成圆形。

7 specialties   

n.专门，特性，特别；专业( specialty的名词复数 )；特性；特制品；盖印的契约

参考例句：

• Great Books are popular, not pedantic. They are not written by specialists about specialties for specialists. 名著绝不引经据典，艰深难懂，而是通俗易读。它们不是专家为专业人员撰写的专业书籍。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
• Brain drains may represent a substantial reduction in some labor force skills and specialties. 智力外流可能表示某种劳动力技能和特长大量减少。 来自辞典例句

8 exertion   

n.尽力，努力

参考例句：

• We were sweating profusely from the exertion of moving the furniture.我们搬动家具大费气力，累得大汗淋漓。
• She was hot and breathless from the exertion of cycling uphill.由于用力骑车爬坡，她浑身发热。

9 poise   

vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信

参考例句：

• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise.她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。
• Ballet classes are important for poise and grace.芭蕾课对培养优雅的姿仪非常重要。

10 precariousness   

参考例句：

• The precariousness is further increased by self-experiences in the aforementioned marginal situation. 在上述边际情况下自身经验会更进一步增加这种不确定感。 来自互联网
• These reports have revealed to the insurgents the precariousness of their position. 这些报导使叛乱士兵知道了他们的危险境地。 来自互联网

11 awe   

n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧

参考例句：

• The sight filled us with awe.这景色使我们大为惊叹。
• The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。

12 amplify   

vt.放大，增强；详述，详加解说

参考例句：

• The new manager wants to amplify the company.新经理想要扩大公司。
• Please amplify your remarks by giving us some examples.请举例详述你的话。

13 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

14 tug   

v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船

参考例句：

• We need to tug the car round to the front.我们需要把那辆车拉到前面。
• The tug is towing three barges.那只拖船正拖着三只驳船。

15 obsession   

n.困扰，无法摆脱的思想(或情感)

参考例句：

• I was suffering from obsession that my career would be ended.那时的我陷入了我的事业有可能就此终止的困扰当中。
• She would try to forget her obsession with Christopher.她会努力忘记对克里斯托弗的迷恋。

16 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

17 depicted   

描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述

参考例句：

• Other animals were depicted on the periphery of the group. 其他动物在群像的外围加以修饰。
• They depicted the thrilling situation to us in great detail. 他们向我们详细地描述了那激动人心的场面。

18 amplified   

放大，扩大( amplify的过去式和过去分词 )； 增强； 详述

参考例句：

• He amplified on his remarks with drawings and figures. 他用图表详细地解释了他的话。
• He amplified the whole course of the incident. 他详述了事件的全过程。

19 pigment   

n.天然色素，干粉颜料

参考例句：

• The Romans used natural pigments on their fabrics and walls.古罗马人在织物和墙壁上使用天然颜料。
• Who thought he might know what the skin pigment phenomenon meant.他自认为可能知道皮肤色素出现这种现象到底是怎么回事。

20 kaleidoscopic   

adj.千变万化的

参考例句：

• London is a kaleidoscopic world.伦敦是个天花筒般的世界。
• The transfer of administrative personnel in that colony was so frequent as to create kaleidoscopic effect.在那个殖民地，官员调动频繁，就象走马灯似的。

21 animate   

v.赋于生命，鼓励；adj.有生命的，有生气的

参考例句：

• We are animate beings,living creatures.我们是有生命的存在，有生命的动物。
• The girls watched,little teasing smiles animating their faces.女孩们注视着，脸上挂着调皮的微笑，显得愈加活泼。

22 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

23 experimentation   

n.实验，试验，实验法

参考例句：

• Many people object to experimentation on animals.许多人反对用动物做实验。
• Study and analysis are likely to be far cheaper than experimentation.研究和分析的费用可能要比实验少得多。