The Clark presents a century of the French avant-garde in art and film
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA - The Clark Art Institute presents an exhibition on mid-19th-century French artists who looked beyond realistic subject matter. Their work encompasses the Gothic nostalgia of architectural photography, the social critique embedded in allegorical illustrations, and the literary connections with fantastical art. “Shadow Visionaries: French Artists Against the Current, 1840–70,” is on view from Saturday, December 20, through Sunday, March 8, in the Clark Center lower level.
Many artists working outside of painting embraced imagination, dreams, and allegory in mid-19th century France. Figures such as Victor Hugo, Charles Meryon, Rodolphe Bresdin, and a roster of early photographers offered an alternate vision. These “shadow visionaries” recognized the potential of prints and photographs to construct a spiritual consciousness in the art of the period.
The exhibition features some 95 prints, drawings, and photographs drawn from the Clark’s collection, along with important loans from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Art Institute of Chicago; the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Yale University Art Gallery; and Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris.
The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue, with essays by Anne Leonard, Geoffrey Batchen, and Valerie Sueur-Hermel. Shadow Visionaries provides an extraordinary look at a popular yet understudied era of French art.
A number of events are scheduled in conjunction with the exhibit.
There will be an opening lecture on Saturday, January 10, at 11 am, in the Manton Research Center auditorium.
This event is free. The “Shadow Visionaries” film series will be screened on the following Thursdays: January 22 and 29, and February 5 and 12, at 6 pm, in the Manton Research Center auditorium.The film series will feature 20th century French films that explore fantastical allegories and crumbling, ruined cityscapes.
On January 22, “The Fall of the House of Usher,” will be shown. It is adapted from Edgar Allan Poe’s book of the same name. The screening is accompanied by a newly composed score by Paul de Jong and Matthew Gold, performed live. Run time: 1 hour, 3 minutes. Tickets are $10 for nonmembers, $8 for members, $7 for college students, and $5 for children 17 and under
“La Belle et la Bête,” (Beauty and the Beast) will be shown on January 29. Director Jean Cocteau’s 1946 version of this classic has become an icon of cinematic wonder. Run time: 1 hour, 36 minutes. There is no admission charge.
Chris Marker’s “La Jetée” (1962) will be screened on February 5. It is one of the most influential, radical science-fiction films ever made, a tale of time travel told in still images. Run time: 28 minutes. There is no admission charge.
The 1995 film “The City of Lost Children,” will be shown on February 12. A child smiles delightedly in his toy-filled room as Santa emerges from the chimney, but joy turns to terror as the bearded visitor is followed by more of the same. This foray into the fantastique is the perfect introduction to an inventive blend of dream, fairytale, and myth. Run time: 1 hour, 52 minutes. There is no admission charge.
On Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14, at 5:30 pm, the Clark presents “Dinner and a Show: Shadow Visionaries.” Join curator Anne Leonard for a special introduction to Shadow Visionaries, followed by a three-course meal inspired by 19th-century France.The dinner and the show combine art history, food, and fun. The Clark Center galleries will be open from 5:30 to 6:30 pm; dinner begins at 6:30 pm.
Tickets are $115 for nonmembers, $95 for members, and includes a three-course meal and paired wines. There will be a cash bar available.
A full slate of public programs is planned throughout the run of the exhibition; details are available at clarkart.edu/events. Accessible seating is available for all events.
