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pomposa
14 July 2009 @ 09:08 am
Séraphine de Senlis  

 

I stumbled upon a catalogue of Séraphine Louis's paintings the other day and was astonished by the power and intensity of her work. I had never before heard of her. I discovered that an award-winning film of her life had recently been made by Martin Provost and so bought the DVD. 'Séraphine' stars Yolande Moreau in the eponymous role and Ulrich Tukur as Wilhelm Uhde, the art dealer, who is the first to appreciate Séraphine's talent. Both actors turn out understated but extremely moving performances. Here is a review.
 

 

Séraphine Louis became known as 'Séraphine of Senlis'. Senlis is a town just north of Paris (I have passed through Senlis, but my only memory of it is stopping to allow a man with a macaque on a lead to cross the road; not Nerval and his lobster, but not bad for a Monday morning).

 Wilhelm Uhde, by Robert Delaunay (1907)


  Wilhelm Uhde met Séraphine Louis in 1912 when she was 48. It was a chance meeting; she worked as a cleaner in a house he stayed in. Uhde was quick to recognise her genius.

 She could turn a bunch of leaves into a riotous constellation;

 
 Or make a tree burn with life;

 
 She could make 'still' lives seethe...

 
   ... and recreate a 'Bunch of Grapes' like no other;

 
 She was motivated by an idiosyncratic religious fervour. It's easy to see how Uhde saw in her work parallels to Van Gogh.

 
 Eventually her visions became all consuming and she ended her days in a mental asylum where she was never to paint again.

 
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( 19 comments — Leave a comment )
karinmollberg (Mollberg is a C.M. Bellman quote): Marble Cassandra With Amber Eyes[info]karinmollberg on July 14th, 2009 01:17 pm (UTC)
Oh, the glorious Tukur! My friend S. in Hamburg who is a scenery master (or whatever that is called in engrish) for the former Kammerspiele now St Pauli Theatre, made me see a few brilliant performances including his Rhythmus Boys. He is a master of the fine tunes inbetween, just as another, sadly gone Ulrich: Mühe and one of germany´s finest actors (has excellent taste in women too) ever, I think.

Had never seen that portrait of Uhde by Sonia Delaunay´s husband, what marvellous colours...they remind me of a Delaunay (Sonia) 1930ies or so kimono I once owned, til mum washed it. Ouch. Ironed it, too. A very orderly woman, mum.

The artist you present, Séraphine Louis, strangely reminds me of one I am still fascinated by, not because of, but despite her illness that she was able to describe as almost no other; Unica Zürn.
karinmollberg (Mollberg is a C.M. Bellman quote): Portrait of Rabelais by Henri Matisse[info]karinmollberg on July 14th, 2009 01:20 pm (UTC)
In case you´d care to read it, I had an entry about her last year, but my laptop/internet connexion doesn´t allow me to link there from here in my flat (wherefore this comment is split into two). But I could try from work tomorrow, if you wish.

Unlike de Senlis, Zürn (who lived with Bellmer in Paris when not in diverse asylums) was able to create even when very ill.
What an incredible waste...an artist like de Senlis who could make the linen cloth come alive like that, going too mad to paint anymore. Death is a mean old guy and that kind of madness a vile relative.
pomposa[info]pomposa on July 14th, 2009 04:09 pm (UTC)

You're right about both Ulrichs; I saw 'The Lives of Others' recently – excellent performances.

As you probably know, Sonia Terk was married to both Uhde and Delaunay, though for rather different reasons. A very talented woman – pity about the kimono!

And do send the link to your Zürn post, I'd like to read that.
karinmollberg (Mollberg is a C.M. Bellman quote): Marble Cassandra With Amber Eyes[info]karinmollberg on July 14th, 2009 04:35 pm (UTC)
I still haven´t seen it, must do. And the Stauffenberg film, although played by a...well, different kind of actor altogether, to say the least.
Unfortunately, I always have a problem with a certain kind of to me, typically german "heaviness" (landing me far too often in my perpetual silliness instead; I leave it to my readers to decide which is worse) so I have avoided both films so far, unconsciusly.

And speaking of, well, that heavy, heavy monster stuff: I had forgotten that entry was a way of dealing (almost twenty years later) with the death of my mother, as I had done in january the same year with my father´s ditto (but at least certain nightmares about them stopped by "the therapy"), so I am afraid there is a lot of rather personal such heavy germanism in there, wherefore I tried to pack it up with artists to be at least remotely interesting for LJ-friends reading in. I also had someone very ill on my friend´s list at the time, so the initial warning was earnestly meant, just like this one.
karinmollberg (Mollberg is a C.M. Bellman quote)[info]karinmollberg on July 14th, 2009 04:39 pm (UTC)
...But,
there is quite a little bit about Unica in there too (smile thing). Whom [info]bricology (hereby warmly recommended as LJ-friend) had only just detected as an artist (though having been interested for years in Bellmer whom most know of, but hardly anyone of Zürn though that seems to change lately.
Be it for that, then. Inspiration, as your posts always are to me, hopefully the Unica part to you (unless you knew her already).
Ah well, enough said and done...you are duly warned and a grown dodo, so here goes: http://karinmollberg.livejournal.com/2008/03/20/

Had no immediate idea about Terk, though her name rings some distant bell I cannot place except for your information here right now. Yet another fascinating personality to look up!
Thanks.
Am housesitting J&B´s place tonight and delighted about their fast internet connection.
pomposa[info]pomposa on July 14th, 2009 06:12 pm (UTC)

One could pick fault with 'The Life of Others', for example the protagonist's change of heart seems to happen too quickly, but, as I said, the performances are terrific and I strongly recommend seeing the film. I didn't find it too 'heavy', just subtle.
I'd prefer to watch a film about Stauffenburg made by Germans and played by Germans (which I presume has been done in the past though without a Hollywood budget).

Yes, I enjoy looking in on bricology's journal; he's exceptionally articulate and has a good eye. I particularly enjoyed his piece on Gabriel Voisin, the car/aeroplane designer, who was someone I'd never before heard of, despite the fact he lived not far from where I do.

That was a fascinating entry on Zürn (I will read more about her – I think you've mentioned your interest in her elsewhere) and vanitas et al. Your tribute to your mother was very moving, an intensely personal story written in such a way as to be universally understood.
karinmollberg (Mollberg is a C.M. Bellman quote)[info]karinmollberg on July 14th, 2009 06:58 pm (UTC)
I´ve heard others say that.
And, of course it is always easy to do so, most never having lived the fears inside a tyranny and few having tried to describe it. Will see, it, for sure. Be it for the absolutely lovely Martina Gedeck (whom I meant with good taste in women, though I may have missed to point out the right male for her;)

The "heavy" germanisms I fear, are about as personal as my review of my mother´s death. To others, that is a film about somewhere far off from them, in an already mythical sphere (it is being romanticized in the east of Germany by many, which to me is as scary as neo-nazism).
cuntacinte[info]cuntacinte on October 28th, 2010 03:27 pm (UTC)
Oh, poor dear heart ---
Such sad reading - about your mama's death, I mean. What a great loss I'm sure - I am sincerely sorry. :/ And it is very sad, too, that you were dumped(junked?) for someone with a presumably younger and firmer figure, and - shall we say - altogether slightly more intriguing Self than yourself...? Or perhaps the wealthy Prince Charming just got tired of you altogether - w/o even having met someone new? OUCH - that's even worse - if that be the case. Anyway, I'll leave you with one of your fave tracks, dear Karin. Goodnight, and sweet dreams! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0-bUSLdwuI
karinmollberg (Mollberg is a C.M. Bellman quote): Three Apes[info]karinmollberg on July 14th, 2009 06:59 pm (UTC)
...For me, that is plain my childhood; yes: in Sweden. We were harrassed and I as child threatened to be killed by the Stasi asking my father to work for them. Etc, etc. Part of my life and to me clearly a reason, why my refugee parents from the GDR lived shorter lives than some others.
Am slowly working myself up, to write about all that, sooner or later. But, I had to first achieve a little lightness and lust for life, to weigh it all up. Coming from the other side, so to speak (also meaning the whole Weill/Gandhi etc. complex).
Like any day now.

Bricology is one of the best. Though I seem not to recall that post. Must look it up. Some oppose to it, and please tell if it gets too much, but I very much enjoy how one person and topic inspires another, and recommending on, as I do you.

Thank you. It was hard stuff writing, wringing one´s heart out.
pomposa[info]pomposa on July 14th, 2009 09:40 pm (UTC)

I see now that I used the term 'heavy' lightly. For me 'The Life of Others' could never have the same resonances as it would have for you or your family; for the likes of me tyranny is a disturbing abstract notion not a terrifying visceral experience. It will be interesting to read your thoughts when you're ready to write about it.
karinmollberg (Mollberg is a C.M. Bellman quote): Deix Peepshow[info]karinmollberg on July 15th, 2009 05:55 pm (UTC)
There exists an excellent three-parts film by Jo Baier from 2003 on Stauffenberg with equally so Sebastian Koch in the main role, also featuring Ulrich Tukur, which I just read, is supposed to be shown in U.S. cinemas next year.
Not only does Koch play the role well, he is also of similar stature (near 2m tall) and face as Stauffenberg, as opposed to Cruise. And, most of all, the family Stauffenberg approved of both film and actor, as was not the case with the Valkyre variety (on the contrary, they protested sharply) where most felt, Cruise was merely using the opportunity to promote his weird "beliefs". Having seen a youtube clip where Cruise raises his right arm/hand to a portrait of its frozen&gone leader, shortly before the film came out, was sickening. He also held some kind of mad speech in Germany at the release party.
Could find nothing in english for you, I am afraid, but here a link to some pics: http://images.google.com/images?hl=de&lr=&q=sebastian+koch+stauffenberg&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=DRdeSoS9H8WfjAfd5sTRDQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4
pomposa[info]pomposa on July 15th, 2009 08:25 pm (UTC)

Thanks for that, I'll definitely look out for the Baier film and if I can't get to see it I'll buy the DVD. (I wonder where I can get an Ulrich Tukur T-shirt... )
There was a programme on Cruise on one of the French channels a couple of nights ago, it was one of those cheap documentaries cobbled together but it showed the protests in Germany at the opening of his film as well as the usual clips of him talking nonsense.
karinmollberg (Mollberg is a C.M. Bellman quote): karinmollbergwithcold.jpg[info]karinmollberg on July 16th, 2009 10:34 am (UTC)
We all need Tukur-T´s. Though to work, I´d prefer a Mühe-T. (The word means "effort" in german, germs can be named just about anything like Herr toadmuck, especially if female with incredible double-entendres, we have big several politicians bearing them). It naturally takes a macaque to complete the pic. On a leash, I mean.
That picture reminded me of the greybearded black labrador without leash, dribbling his white football across the street in Hamburg, always stopping to sit at the red light, one paw keeping his beloved ball in place, (his face as earnest as that of the dog in the saving boat in Gary Larson´s pic of The Decision: who is to be eaten first: "the situation required a certain austerity") til the labrador could dribble on with his longhaired hippie human companion slouching behind. I sadly missed taking a photo of them over the years.
I could have made millions in the T-shirt bisnis!
pomposa[info]pomposa on July 16th, 2009 11:13 am (UTC)

I don't think I could muster enough irony to wear a 'Mühe' T-shirt.
karinmollberg (Mollberg is a C.M. Bellman quote): Portrait of Rabelais by Henri Matisse[info]karinmollberg on July 16th, 2009 12:08 pm (UTC)
It's people like you who have always destroyed the most elaborate marketing campaigns. We'd have to try and think up something for those with (good) taste, then. Might take a little while.
Meanwhile I am looking for houses not under 10 mio. for those who sold Ts to others in need, long before I thought about it. If you have a 500m2 hut with a strand...no: sea of its own, please give a holler. No neighbours. You know: what we all like.
karinmollberg (Mollberg is a C.M. Bellman quote): Three Apes[info]karinmollberg on July 14th, 2009 05:36 pm (UTC)
Ouch, now I got it, heh. Terk-Delaunay. You said so. Bit slow. Must have more rosé!
jermynsavile[info]jermynsavile on July 14th, 2009 06:09 pm (UTC)
It would be interesting to know why she never painted again once in the asylum. Richard Dadd, of course, was allowed to continue. In other places I gather enforced rest or confinement meant inmates did not have the opportunity.

Of course, now it seems that art classes are a compulsory component of all sorts of therapy, more "officially encouraged" than "outsider".

One interesting characteristic of much of the art of this kind I've seen is that it comes into the world fully formed. No development or change of style over the years. From Douanier Rousseau, to Henry Darger, to Scottie Wilson, the vision, and the compulsive need to manifest it, is there right from the start.
pomposa[info]pomposa on July 14th, 2009 06:40 pm (UTC)

Good point about this kind of 'driven' art arising fully formed. It's almost as if Séraphine wasn't searching, she was simply painting what was already 'there'.

The film seemed to imply that she stopped painting because she felt that Uhde had let her down, that somehow she felt betrayed in love. But it's not a Hollywood story; as a German in France at that time life was not easy for Uhde, and his closet homosexuality was an added difficulty. Through him Séraphine had had a taste of life beyond scrubbing floors, it must have been devastating to have had that taste disappear.
daoinesidh: GrandeMère[info]daoinesidh on July 15th, 2009 10:23 am (UTC)
Thank you for this post ... it is lovely! I am quite taken with the first "leaf" painting, and the grapes ... absolutely beautiful works!

Oh, why did all the good ones end up in asylums (or if not in them, displaying all those sad tendencies)?! It is heartbreaking to think of that amazing woman in the first picture ending her days in a place of such horror!!
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