Tuesday, December 31, 2019

La Raie



This wonderful painting of a skate by Jean Simone Chardin has been exhibited in the Louvre for the longest time. Dating to 1728, it was widely condemned for fairly obvious reasons but has always courted favor with the painters for its dramatic flair and painterly realism. The geometric composition was much admired by the Impressionists. You can easily see why Cézanne would be fascinated.

Note the composition of the cat - its foreshortened perspective is also in the shape of a diamond neatly mirroring the diamond composition of the skate. It's also provides the "drama" in this little mini-narrative.

The cat is ignoring the fish and the oysters, and its hackles are up — what is it looking at? A potential competitor for these riches?!?