Eugene Galien-Laloue

I've been reading Hans Bacher's fabulous blog, One1More2Time3, for at least a year now. His mix of animation art and unusual artists makes it one of my favorite blogs to visit mostly because I always find something to inspire me. I've been introduced to tons of great new artists and find daily inspiration in some of the most beautiful backgrounds to ever grace an animated cartoon. I'm constantly amazed at how much work went into the early cartoons and how much that tends to be missing from the more current ones.

Recently Hans showed some images from one of his favorite artists and the man has quickly become one of my favorite artists as well. Eugene Galien-Laloue (1854-1941) was not a name I'd heard before but his work has been sought by collectors for years. He was an impressionist painter living during the turn of the century in Paris, a time known as Belle Epoque. His work focuses mostly on typical Parisian street scenes and are beautiful in their use of color and detail. Galien-Laloue was a mostly gouache painter, which I find even more fascinating. Not a lot of artists use gouache regularly since it tends to be less enduring. But I find that is offers much richer colors than most of the watercolors or oils even. It is Galien-Laloue's use of color and focus on architecture that drew me to his work.

Most of the work I've seen of his focuses on the winter and fall seasons. But he was not a plein-air (outdoor) painter. It is believed that he took photographs or used postcards as inspiration for much of his work while his painting was done in the studio. I am fascinated with his use of lighting to create such warm and welcoming environments. I find myself wanting to be drawn into the paintings and walk the streets of Paris at that time. The focus on architecture is not unique for that time but I find it intriguing. Parisian architecture, particularly turn of the century, has always been some of my favorite styles of architecture. And Galien-Laloue renders the buildings with so much detail. The people in the foreground may be blurred but the buildings in the backgrounds are as crisp as if I were standing on the street. This gives a great impression of movement and bustle. Add in the colors and I'm completely in love. I know that I currently could not afford any of his work but that's something to look out for in the future. I would love to find a piece of my own. So beautiful.

Unexpected Puppets

I'm always amazed how the internet leads you deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole. I find a blog that leads me to another blog which leads me to another. And each step I find more beautiful and interesting things. Although perhaps I should leave some bread crumbs to find my way out.

I have a number of art blogs that I read but one of my recent favorites is Drawn: The Illustration and Cartooning Blog. This multi-author blog showcases a ton of interesting artists and some incredible video, illustration, and sometimes downright strange art. A bit ago that blog pointed out a different blog which I went to and now I'm hooked on. One1more2time3's blog is written by Hans Bacher, a major film art designer who has worked for companies like Disney, Amblin, and his own MadTParty studio. His blog is filled with the background artwork from all my favorite Disney films along with some of his own images and his favorite artists. I'm already planning to pick up his book Dream Worlds about his time working with Disney.

It is through his blog that I found out about Jiri Trnka. Trnka was a Czech book illustrator who become a film maker. But not just any type of film. Trnka specialized in stop-motion puppet films. His beautiful works include an amazing version of Midsummer Nights Dream (image below), The Czech Years, The Cybernetic Grandmother, and The Hand. These puppet films were unique in that Trnka did not really create them for children. Films like The Hand were a very dark look at the effects of totalitarian governments on free expression and art. Midsummer Nights Dream, no matter what some people say, is not a children's story.

Since first learning about Trnka, I have been reading what I can about him. Referred to as the Walt Disney of the East, Trnka was loved for his work but found it difficult to sell some of his films. Many of his films were banned in his own country and abroad. Trnka was creating these films in the late 40s, 50s and 60s in a Communist country. His puppet work was initially loved by the masses but carefully controlled by the regime. His movie The Hand, which was his last, was banned shortly after its release.

I've been hunting out his films, some of which can be found on the internet. I've linked to them where possible. I also found a beautiful stop motion paper film called the Merry Circus which is incredible. While most of them are not in English the visuals make up for that. These films truly show how beautiful puppets can be. And as is the case with so many of his films how poignant.

Image from The Hand.

Jiri Trnka