BBC Newsnight: Pandemic told through Art

April 8 2020

 

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

BBC's Newsnight ran an interesting interview with the art historian and broadcaster James Fox last night. The subject was discussing art works that we turn to during such troubling times. Fox picked pictures by Barbara Hepworth, Andrew Wyeth and George Frederic Watts.

I've been thinking about which three consoling paintings I might have picked. Those in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries might have gone for a more melancholic Vanitas still life, which brings to mind the transcience of all worldly things. However, I'm not sure this would suit modern tastes, where death is pushed away as much as possible.

Maybe readers of AHN have some good suggestions?

 

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