ASTERISK: Istilo ng sining Belgium

F.C. Garcia, Istilo ng sining Belgium, The Varsitarian, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines, Vol. LXXXIII, No. 3, 6 August 2005, p. 13

The Varsitarian on Belgian Art Styles

Istilo ng sining Belgium, tinalakay sa exhibit
Ni F. C. Garcia

PARA sa pagdiriwang ng ika-175 taon ng kalayaan ng bansang Belgium, nagbigay ng lectures sa art appreciation ang Royal Belgian Embassy ukol sa kontribusyon ng kanilang bansa sa sining biswal.
Nagsimula sa Belgian Residence ang traveling lectures na ito bago makarating sa University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, at UST.
Sa masusing pagtalakay ni Mariano Akerman, isang eksperto sa sining mula sa Argentina, nabigyang pansin ang mga katangian ng makatotohanan at likhang-isip na istilong lumilitaw sa mga gawang-sining ng mga Belgian na pintor.
Para sa bahagi na ginanap sa Unibersidad, na may paksang “Masterpieces of Belgian Art from Van Eyck to Magritte,” inumpisahan ito sa mimesis o ang makatotohanang paglalarawan sa pamamagitan ng mabusising detalye, matitingkad na kulay, at mabuting komposisyon ang mga kasangkapan. Ginawang halimbawa nito ang “Girl with the Ducks” (c.1883) ni Emile Claus kung saan makikita sa painting ang isang batang babae na nagpapakain ng mga alagang bibe.
Sa pamamagitan ng tempera (mga makulay na pulbos na hinalo sa itlog), nabigyang buhay ng magkakapatid na Paul, Hermann, at Jean Limbourg ang isang tila-kalendaryong obra na “The Rich Hours.” Mapapansin ang maliliit na detalyeng matiyagang iginuhit ng mga pintor, tulad ng mga ginintuang fleur-de-lis sa mga kasuotan ng mga karakter.
Si Jan Van Eyck, isang maestro sa sining sa Belgium, ang kauna-unahang pintor na gumamit ng pamamaraan ng oil sa mimesis. Naging magandang halimbawa ng paghiram ng imahe ng tao sa isang gawang-sining ang altarpiece na ginawa niya para sa simbahan ng Ghent kung saan mapapansin ang kaibahan ng maputlang balat ni Adan sa kaniyang maitim at kulot na buhok.
Sa kabilang banda, tinalakay din ni Akerman ang phantasia, ang imahinatibong paglalarawan ng mga ideya at konsepto ng pintor sa pamamagitan ng malikhaing presentasyon ng realidad.
Kilala sa larangang ito si James Ensor, na nahilig sa pagpipinta ng mga larawang may kinalaman sa sosyo-pulitikal na aspeto ng isang pamayanan. Mapapansin sa kanyang mga ipininta ang mga kalansay na ginagampanan ang mga gawain ng nabubuhay na tao.
Isang malungkot na obra ang kanyang “Skeletons attempting to warm themselves” (c.1889) dahil ang mga kalansay na ito ay lumalapit sa isang tsimineang walang apoy. Sinasabing sumasalamin ito sa kondisyon ng mahihirap na mamayan sa Belgium.
Magkasalungat man na istilo ang mimesis at phantasia, naging matagumpay ang mga pintor na Belgian sa pag-iisa nito. Dito pumasok ang istilong surrealist. Naging matunog ang mga pangalan nina Léon Spillaert at Paul Delvaux, na parehong tubong Belgium, sa kilusang ito.
Sikat din sa istilong ito si René Magritte, isang magic realist noong panahon ng World War II. Naging simbolo ng isang magulo at nasalantang Europa ang kanyang “Taste of Tears” (c.1948) kung saan may isang halaman na may dahong kalapati na umiiyak.
Naging malaking bahagi ng sining Belgian ang simbolismo. Isang representasyon ng kasakiman ang “Saturn” (c.1635) ni maestro Peter Paul Rubens. Naging basehan nito ang mitolohiya ng diyos na si Saturn, na kumain sa kanyang mga anak upang masiguro ang kanyang kapangyarihan.
Isa ring pintor si Akerman, at nakapag-eksibit na siya sa mga bansang Argentina, Japan, at Pilipinas.
Iba’t iba man ang istilo, nanatili pa ring isang pagpapahayag ng mga ideya at damdamin ang sining—maging panlipunan, pulitikal, o personal man. Hindi hadlang ang lahi sa pagkaroon ng pagkakakilanlan, sapagka’t napatunayan ito ng sining na Belgian.

A translation:
Art styles of Belgium explored along presentation
By FC Garcia

FOR celebration of the 175th year of independence of Belgium as a country, the Royal Belgian Embassy offered a series of art appreciation lectures about the contribution of that country to the visual arts. A first one began at the Belgian residence before the lectures travelled to the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, and Universoty of Santo Tomas.
During the UST lecture, by Mariano Akerman, an art expert from Argentina, students discovered the features of realism and the imagination that characterize many of the styles developed by famous Belgian artists.
Akerman's lecture, entitled "Masterpieces of Belgian Art from Van Eyck to Magritte," began with the exploration of the idea of mimesis and its artistic expression involving realistic descriptions of great detail, intense colors and remarkable compositional layouts. A significant examples of this was the "Girl with the Ducks" (c.1883) by Emile Claus, showing a young woman feeding her pet ducks.
With tempera (colorful powder mixed with egg), the brothers Paul, Hermann and Jean Limbourg created a calendar masterpiece known as "The Rich Hours," an illuminated manuscript full of little details the artists patiently illustrated, e.g., golden fleurs-de-lis in the garments of the characters.
Jan Van Eyck, a master of art in Belgium, was the first artist that fully developed the technique of oil painting. He also devoted his work to mimesis. With "Adam" he depicts the image of the first man and includes him in his altarpiece for the church of Ghent, stressing the difference between pale skin and dark curly hair.
Akerman also discussed the notion of phantasia and the art of the imaginary. Known in the field as James Ensor, who was inclined to painting images relating to the socio-political aspects of the Belgian society. Noted are his painted skeletons performing as if they were living persons.
A sad masterpiece is "Skeletons attempting to warm themselves" (c.1889), as these figures can be seen close to a stove with no fire. The image is a reflection on the condition of the poorest Belgian citizens.
A dialogue takes place between mimesis and phantasia, particularly with the surrealist style. Been distinctive of this movement are Léon Spillaert and Paul Delvaux, both native Belgium. And this style also made famous René Magritte, a magic realist painter who working during World War II painted a symbol of the confused and displaced Europe today known as "The Taste of Tears" (c.1948). The image shows a dove-plant.
Important to Belgian art is symbolism. Selfishness finds expression in "Saturn" (c.1635) by master Peter Paul Rubens. According to classical mythology, the god Saturn ate his children to ensure himself eternal power.
Akerman is a lecturer and also a painter. He exhibits his art in Argentina, Japan, and the Philippines. Differences in style can express diversity of ideas and emotions. They make art to be a social, political, or personal matter. Style is identity. It also validates Belgian art.