Aragon et l'Art Moderne
‘Aragon et l'art moderne,’ the exhibition currently on display at the Musée de la Poste is a necessarily selected survey from a long career as a poet, novelist, journalist and long-time friend and collaborator to some of the 20th century’s most celebrated artists.
Divided into three time periods, the show is a snap shot of Aragon's participation in the political alliances and artistic movements of the era, as illustrated through his paintings and publications.
The show highlights Aragon’s work during his involvement with the 'intellectual transformation of Dada' from cubism and fauvism to surrealism. Aragon, along with writers and fellow French Communist members Paul Éluard, Andre Breton and Philippe Soupault, explored the boundaries of experimental writing, taking the absurdity of Dadaism into a realm that became known as Surrealism.
The
exhibition features poems and images from Aragon’s Surrealist involvement, as
well as a short film of artist Henri Matisse, made during the writer’s long researched biography that finally came to press in 1970. The film presents
Matisse working in his studio, showing all the delicious domestic objects we
know so well from his still-life paintings. Small,
though essential key works by Max Ernst, Jean Arp, Man Ray, Paul Klee and
Ferdinand Léger are also featured in the collection.
In 1934 Aragon and André Malraux attended the Congress of Soviet Writers, where both became interested in the social aspect of art, one with a more educational and ideological focus. Selections from Aragon’s involvement in Russian Socialist Realism are represented, along with other politically conscious works, such as John Heartfield’s satirical photomontages. As the editor of the communist funded news pamphlet ‘Les Lettres Francaises’, Aragon published a shockingly uncritical edition on the occasion of Stalin's death, causing a stir, as by that time the Russian leader’s crimes were well known. A copy of the text is displayed along with the controversial portrait of Stalin as envisioned by Picasso. Despite the turmoil, Aragon remained a convinced Communist all his life. Less political pieces in the exhibition include the more sensual abstract works that represent the poet’s friendship’s with artists Chagall, Giacometti, Miro, Masson and Delaunay.
Louis Aragon was a writer about art never, an 'art critic', a term and occupation he deplored. Among his many writings were 'La Peinture au Défi' (’65) (or 'Paintings Challenge') and 'Ecrits sur l'art moderne' (‘81). Aragon kept close ties with his artist colleagues and developed new connections with socially aware artists, such as Christian Boltanski. His classical poems were also often used in popular songs; such is the place of a poet in French culture.
The Musée de La Poste presents a fascinating glimpse into Aragon’s world through a dynamic collage
of ephemera: post cards, drawings, paintings and letters from friends, much of which is on loan from the Moulin de Villeneuve. ‘Aragon et l'art moderne’ provides access into the life and creations of an important philosophical
and intellectual catalyst, around which artists revolve. 'Aragon et l'art moderne'
Musée de la Poste34 Boulevard de Vaugirard
Paris 75015
Mon-Sat 10-6
Entry 6.50 euro
On until 16 September
In 1934 Aragon and André Malraux attended the Congress of Soviet Writers, where both became interested in the social aspect of art, one with a more educational and ideological focus. Selections from Aragon’s involvement in Russian Socialist Realism are represented, along with other politically conscious works, such as John Heartfield’s satirical photomontages. As the editor of the communist funded news pamphlet ‘Les Lettres Francaises’, Aragon published a shockingly uncritical edition on the occasion of Stalin's death, causing a stir, as by that time the Russian leader’s crimes were well known. A copy of the text is displayed along with the controversial portrait of Stalin as envisioned by Picasso. Despite the turmoil, Aragon remained a convinced Communist all his life. Less political pieces in the exhibition include the more sensual abstract works that represent the poet’s friendship’s with artists Chagall, Giacometti, Miro, Masson and Delaunay.
Louis Aragon was a writer about art never, an 'art critic', a term and occupation he deplored. Among his many writings were 'La Peinture au Défi' (’65) (or 'Paintings Challenge') and 'Ecrits sur l'art moderne' (‘81). Aragon kept close ties with his artist colleagues and developed new connections with socially aware artists, such as Christian Boltanski. His classical poems were also often used in popular songs; such is the place of a poet in French culture.
The Musée de La Poste presents a fascinating glimpse into Aragon’s world through a dynamic collage
of ephemera: post cards, drawings, paintings and letters from friends, much of which is on loan from the Moulin de Villeneuve. ‘Aragon et l'art moderne’ provides access into the life and creations of an important philosophical
and intellectual catalyst, around which artists revolve. 'Aragon et l'art moderne'
Musée de la Poste34 Boulevard de Vaugirard
Paris 75015
Mon-Sat 10-6
Entry 6.50 euro
On until 16 September
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