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Friday, August 06, 2010

Séraphine de Senlis

I have posted before about Séraphine de Senlis

The 2008 bio-pic about the French artist Séraphine Louis (called simply "Seraphine") brought her art to public attention. Her life was tragic. Her pictures have a dazzling intensity and power. She was motivated by a rather idiosyncratic religious fervour. She was a self-taught painter (beginning only in her forties) in the naïve style

Seraphine was a cleaner and maid from the town of Senlis, north of Paris.

In 1912, Wilhelm Uhde, the German art critic and dealer, spotted a small painting of a bunch of flowers by Seraphine. He befriended her and began a professional association

Sadly Seraphine was eventually confined to an asylum, where she died in 1942, buried in a common grave, forgotten.

A few years ago a plaque was placed nearby. It reads:

"Here Seraphine Louis Mallard (without rival) rests … while waiting for happy resurrection."

Séraphine Louis (1864-1942) (known as Séraphine de Senlis) in the 1920s
From LEXPRESS.fr

Séraphine Louis (1864-1942) (known as Séraphine de Senlis)
Bouquets de mimosas
Oil on canvas
1.45 m x 0.97m
Musée du Vieux Château, Laval

Séraphine Louis (1864-1942) (known as Séraphine de Senlis)
L'arbre du paradis
c.1929
Oil on canvas
1.95m x 1.3m
Musée d'Art et d'Archéologie, Senlis

Séraphine Louis (1864-1942) (known as Séraphine de Senlis)
Arbre rouge
1928
Oil on canvas
1.93m x 1.3m
Musée national d'Art moderne - Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris

Séraphine Louis (1864-1942) (known as Séraphine de Senlis)
Grenades sur fond vert 1927 -30
Oil on canvas
92 cm x 73 cm
Musée international d'Art Naïf Anatole Jakovsky, Nice

Séraphine Louis (1864-1942) (known as Séraphine de Senlis)
Arbre
1930
Oil on canvas
1.46m x 1.14m
Kunsthalle, Hamburg

11 comments:

  1. just seen the film Seraphine. Deeply moving.

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  2. I just saw it on the 4th also. I am so glad I learned of Seraphine.

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  3. My wife and I discovered the film on Netflix and were deeply moved by her humble life and the intensity of her work. We noted a reference to "those in Paris who paint like children" and assume that was a reference to the "Impressionists" movement also active in Paris during this time. By the way, The Impressionists, produced by the BBC is highly recommended and is also available via Netflix.

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  4. Just finished watching the movie of Seraphine, just wondering, specially after the wedding scene if Seraphine suffered from Bipolar disorder - often people who suffers from Bipolar disorder, most of the time very creative people - like Van Gogh - ended up in asylums, does anyone agree with me? I can actually relate to this movie, very moving!

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  5. Magnific and beautiful. Very creative, wonderful and proud!! The movie is touching.
    I love it.

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  6. Loved the film and the story has stuck w/me.
    Very intrigued w/ her life and thankful for the one photo above which truly depicts her.
    I dream of oneday owning one of her paintings - what masterpieces they are!

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  7. Thank you for the images of Seraphine's work. I also learned about her from the movie. Her work is truly inspiring!

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  8. Have recently seen the film profiling her and must say it was quite moving. As an artist myself, I have often wondered about 'the line' between madness and creativity. I have been creative since a child as were my parents siblings and many relatives. Unfortunately, we also have madness in our family, some cases so severe, they resulted in suicide. I'm afraid I may end up like Seraphine someday.

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  9. Saw this movie today, very interesting and masterfully made., this why I am here. Story about artist's soul. Loved it.

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  10. Magnifique l'histoire de cette femme. Merci

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