Gouache, 1966
Source: "Le Musee des Supplices," Roland Villeneuve, 1968
This appears to be a very early piece from artist Roland Cat's oeuvre, because everywhere else I find a reference to him, it looks like he's best-known for fantastical landscapes. I'm definitely digging the kinky figurative landscape represented here.
The book in which I found this particular painting is one of my beloved possessions--a leather-bound French tome whose title loosely translates to "The Torture Museum," it's like one of those good old Time-Life Education books on the occult cranked up to ELEVEN. Do I read French? Nope. But I am extraordinarily fluent in the international language of Weird Art.
7 comments:
Wow, what an AWESOME painting, Empress! I keep finding more and more art that I would be proud to have as a full-back tattoo...I need more backs. ;)
I really see this painting as kind of a fairy tale, I mean, look at Little Elizabeth, dancing on the soft, cushiony floor--she looks so *happy*! ;) And with that set of pliers in her hand, she obviously has hours of fun ahead of her.
No school like the old school, indeed. :)
Looks almost William Blake-like. Excellent find!
On the painting's evidence, it looks like the Bathory system works. Too bad she left no manual, though that shouldn't stop someone from imagining it.
...or trying it.
Something about the pose reminds me of the composition of a crucial scene in COUNTESS DRACULA. I wonder if it was all influential . . .
Vicar, that would indeed make a say-something backpiece! Also, it would be a helpful litmus test while courting--love me, love my Erzbet ;)
Thanks, CRwM! Your Blake observation is right on. Artists like this are who I point to when folks say watercolors and gouache are "just for sketching."
Samuel and Igloo Keeper--maybe you could collaborate on that manual. It's an idea!
Headless, this is an interesting similarity. Also, it inspires me to re-watch the sexy excellence of that film, which is doubly-great ;)
Like any story that is told, is nothing but a legend. The poor countess was envied for being beautiful and rich ... nice reason to kill someone and still make it a monster, tsc, tsc. It's so ridiculous!!
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