Paul Sérusier 1895

Editor: So, here we have a pencil drawing titled "Paul Sérusier," created by Georges Lacombe around 1895. The paper's gray tone and the delicate lines give it a very somber feel. I'm curious, how do you interpret this work, especially within the context of the Les Nabis movement? Curator: It’s interesting how Lacombe, embedded in the Nabis, veers away from their decorative tendencies here. Rather, this drawing pulls at broader societal anxieties. The averted gaze and shadowed form might reflect a turn-of-the-century crisis of masculinity and the male intellectual. Considering the symbolist leanings of the Nabis, could Sérusier’s averted gaze symbolize a turning inward, a rejection of the material world for deeper, perhaps troubled, introspection? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. I was focused on the artistic style rather than the psychological implications. Is it common to interpret portraits from this period through such a lens? Curator: Absolutely. The late 19th century was a period of intense societal change, prompting artists to question established norms, including representations of gender and identity. Think about how the rise of psychoanalysis offered new frameworks for understanding human behavior. Doesn't it prompt you to see past the aesthetic? Editor: It definitely does. The social and psychological context really enriches my understanding. I am so used to analyzing Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings by the same artists for formalist attributes like color or brushstroke. It gives me an additional perspective on art-historical movements and cultural theories. Curator: Precisely. And that is a recognition of intersectional approaches which allows us to consider more deeply works we only thought we knew.