You Can't Unsee This Painting
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- Опубліковано 16 тра 2024
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This piece is called Gassed by John Singer Sargent. We’re placed outside. The sun is setting over a row of 10 soldiers holding on to each other's shoulders. A medical orderly leads them to a medical post. The ground around them is covered with other wounded soldiers. Behind them is another group of blindfolded soldiers walking toward the tent. And amidst all this chaos, there's this tiny moment of calm - a soccer game in the distance, illuminated by the glow of sunset. It’s like Sargent slipped in this little detail to remind us that for these soldiers, this is just another day.
Sargent was in his sixties when The British Government asked him to create this painting. They wanted a piece that would showcase Anglo-American cooperation in the war. So of course they asked Sargent; an American who had spent the majority of his life in England. So Sargent left for France in July 1918 with his friend Henry Tonks. But finding the right subject for the painting proved more challenging than he expected. He finally found it when he witnessed the aftermath of a German bombardment using mustard gas. But when this painting was displayed in the Royal Academy in 1919, some loved it and some hated it.
But something about this painting doesn’t add up because Sargent never wanted anything to do with the war. He considered himself an internationalist and hated the idea of creating propaganda. But he did it anyway. So what made him change his mind?
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Credits:
Frost Waltz by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Arcadia - Wonders by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
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Thank you for reminding us of the horrors of war. We in America have forgotten.
The restored painting looks so much better than the one with the yellowed varnish. The dulled colours and darker shades makes it FEEL all that more tragic
I completely agree. It totally changes the feel of the painting!
I think the entire opposite.
No. Yellow fits so much better OF COURSE
Hold on, how can someone claim that the restoration is better than the original?
@@ndiamond3405varnish yellows with age… the restoration is an attempt at restoring the original colours by removing the old varnish while keeping the original paint, it’s a huge part of conservation so they are preferring the original version in a sense. But I get the confusion just wanted to clarify a bit lol
The moment it clicked that Rose-Marie was Sargent's niece, my heart ached a little. He created an incredibly poignant piece of art not for the war effort, but for her memory. It's so fitting that he painted wounded soldiers when that's who she aimed to help.
Re those contemporary critics who didn't like the painting: I think that artists who are commissioned to depict men at war have a huge burden placed on them (same with war photographers) They are expected to show war realistically( i.e the horror), yet they are also expected to portray the nation's soldiers as heroic and noble, even in suffering. Sargeant knew this painting would be viewed by people who had lost a young son, husband brother or friend at the front, and that it would be a painful reminder for them. I think it is Ok for the war artist to be respectful of families' feelings, by preserving dignity in the images of these soldiers, and avoiding presenting them as grotesque or dehumanised - or worse, creating a cold, clinical, detached scene, in the classical Academic style. Instead Sargeant has created a work that elicits compassion and pity in the viewer. The shaping and structure is still aesthetically composed, but that doesn't take away from the result, which for me is a very moving, sad image.
This right here. You hit the nail on the head. Thank you for putting it far better than I could have. Agree 1000%
I think the painting captured the feeling of being really tired after something horrible happened but you can’t take a break from it
That was war
I agree; I think it's a relatively quiet scene that illustrates how horrific the war was, for this to feel so routine. The critics who thought the tone was "too casual," like they're coming home from a picnic, failed to comprehend that it's a situation you don't come back from. You go from horror to horror, and if you get to come home at all, it's completely changed you.
The fact that she can make extremely clever jokes with a monotone voice makes it so much more funny.
BTW road to 1M! Let's support her y'all 🤭
My great grandfather served in WWI and got gassed at the battle of Argonne, but he survived.
Wow! I'm so glad he was okay. Thank you for sharing!
Mine great great grandpa never returned 😢 we just now discovered that he was killed by a grenade.
Great great grandmama with their son unfortunately both passed away before we found this information...
Edit: He fell in the battle of Piave.
The only beef I have with this commentary is your apology for the English school boy accent. It is my opinion that you need not apologize for any of your work. So informative and entertaining, I both laugh and cry when I watch these videos. Thank you for your efforts.
You are so kind, Larry. Comments like this bring a smile to my face and really keep me going. I’m thrilled you enjoyed the video. Hope you have a lovely weekend 😊
Well said, Larry!
@@Art_Deco And I enjoyed your accent - it was spot on as an impression, and as commentary on the commentary. Well done girl !
A full scale reproduction of "Gassed" is on display at the National Museum of Health & Medicine in Silver Spring, Maryland. The men in the foreground are either life size or slightly larger than you, the observer, which immediately captures your attention. You pointed out so many details I missed when I saw it, and that make it so much more poignant. Thank you another great episode.
Only JSS could get the lighting so perfect. Also he had more talent in his pinky than the critics.
Isn't it always that way? So easy to be a critic, so hard to be an artist.
Living in London, I'm lucky enough to live relatively near to the Imperial War Museum which is where "Gassed" is kept. I saw it a few years ago, before the restoration and it is a very powerful piece of work. I think the journalist who said it doesn't go far enough had kind of missed the point of the painting.
The men depicted had been through hell, a gas attack was, by all accounts, a nightmarish experience and the fear, pain and suffering they'd been subjected to would've been extremely traumatic. Yet, here they are, survivors. Each soldier leads the one behind, one man relying on the other, their bond is still strong. Despite what has happened they are unbroken and neither is their dignity. Sure, no doubt he could have made a painting full of horror, chaos and contorted bodies but, if he had, he wouldn't have portrayed the quiet courage and dignified spirit of these men.
It's a very British painting, you won't see a better portrayal of the British "stiff upper lip" anywhere else. They form an orderly line, shuffling towards the hospital tents, despite everything, without any complaint. Orderly queues is something Britain used to be famous for. This is what "Keep Calm and Carry On" actually looks like.
Your English accent was better than Dick Van Dyke's and Keanu Reeves' attempts. Old Dicky boy is particularly notorious here in England with his horrible attempt at a Cockney accent. Do it again sometime.
Sargent found his "masses of men" for his epic. They were just not where he expected. They were at a completely different type of battlefield. The battlefield where they tried to survive and perhaps recover. I worked once for a man who had survived several gas attacks as an American Expeditionary Force soldier. Sixty years later he breathed with a wheeze. He had burn scars on his face and hands and skull. He said he was one of the very few "lucky" men who survived because his family ran a business on a private island where he could work away from the eyes of strangers and their ugly stares. No one thought to thank him for his service. they only stared at his scars. That shames me to think about. I hope we can be better people than those who only stared.
That’s war.
The sun rises; the sun sets. It cares not if the humans beneath it can see its glory.
Thank you bringing this work to life!
When I saw “Gassed” a museum guard told me about the Sargent retrospective exhibition in Boston. I sent a postcard to the Imperial War Museum to thank him. I hope someone read my postcard.
I’ll bet he saw it. Most organizations get thank yous like that so rarely that the people who see them are excited enough to share them. It might even still be on a bullet board today!
My grandfather was gassed in the Great War, he was an engineer with the American Expeditionary Force. He survived and became a motorcycle messenger for the duration, he was a gifted photographer and I have several of his works hanging in my house.
My grandfather was also a motorcycle dispatch rider during WWI. His story was riding through a forest standing on the pegs. This was against orders, but saved his life. The Germans used to string cables across the road at night to catch the riders in the throat. He was caught across the chest instead and only suffered a broken collar-bone and dislocated shoulder instead of decapitatiion.
@@irenemarcus967 Becoming a messenger may have saved my grandfather's life. He, along with a couple other soldiers, stayed to watch the company's equipment when the rest of the boys had a three day pass. During this time he trained to be a dispatch rider. When his unit returned to action they got roughed up pretty badly, fortunately for me he wasn't among them.
My elderly aunt had an uncle who had been in WWI. He had been shot in the head and was never the same again. He was put in an institution and my aunt said she would never forget, when she was around 7, the sheriff knocking on their door to tell them that he had escaped. She said it was the most terrifying night of her childhood. Apparently he was caught in the next day or two and rehospitalized. But it really made an impression on her.
I like to think that with the aged varnish, the painting is looking through a cloud of gas and war debris from far away. Then, when restored, you have no option to watch from far away, you are thrown into the middle of the fray to march along with the soldiers
It was love that changed his mind... love for someone he cared about deeply but was torn from his life by a ruthless bomb! The most peaceful man can become a warrior because of this!
Thank you so much. You've made JSS seem much more likeable and human than I thought of him before.
as a career veteran I thank you for sharing this piece and it's history. there are currently municipalities who are eliminating recognition of Memorial Day and Veterans Day from their school curriculum in the US. i objected to one such instance in (maybe) Stamford Connecticut - and received nearly 100 very objectionable responses. one person went so far as to suggest that while students were in school - they could be offered the opportunity to view the movie "Saving Private Ryan".
sorry - but thank you for sharing this tasteful lesson of art history with the world.
sincerely - your professional combat veteran
Thank you for your service. What are you talking about, though, with the “eliminating from the school curriculum?” I’m from the US, and I don’t see why or where this is happening
@@franimal86 the school board of Stanford Ct USA has decided to eliminate Veterans Day from their calendar.
This is such a delightful channel, even when many of its stories are so sad. When I hear people mock art history as a field of study, I remember what you do here and how much you've enriched my life. Thank you.
My first reaction (to the title alone), was “challenge accepted, I bet I can unsee it!” *However…* now that I understand the painting and have felt its emotional weight, it is clear that remembering these horrible things from our past, (times where people were so mistreated and abused, during wars that were miserable and horrific for all; atrocities that are still happening in our world), so that society can get them to stop, and so that we all make sure these moments aren’t repeated… that is the real challenge.
"What changed? Everything. " You got me. So true that a life can change in an instant.
I had NO IDEA Sargent depicted scenes from the Great War! (That “water bottle” would be called a canteen.) Powerful image!
I had no idea that Sargent did anything beyond portraits. Thanks for highlighting this painting!
I have been following your essays religiously but I have rarely commented.
That essay was pure poetry and captured the sadness of the war with an eloquence completely missed by the painting. Thank you.
I really like the depiction of the soldier taking the large step. I can imagine the orderly standing at the step saying "step, step" and the soldiers each anticipating that they are approaching regular stoop with 8" to 10" steps and then staggering over the two inches to be caught at the elbow by the orderly. Of course there is the lefty in blue who's going to trip everyone up because he's out of step.
You make these wonderful paintings so much more interesting because of the stories behind them.
Thank you.
I learn so much from your videos 😭
It is the simplicity of this work that makes it the most impactful. Sad and lovely at the same time.
As a child in the '50s, so many of my books, wherher fiction or -non, had someone in the family whose lungs were wrecked from mustard gas.
In 1959, I was in the first week of first grade. I watched a man with a briefcase dragging his son into the side entrance, blow up himself, his son, and nearby students and teachers. There were pieces of people in the trees.
It wasn't anythiing comparable to a war, but for a six year old, it was, and has always been, traumatic. I can't unsee any of it.
Bless Sargent's skill and compassion for this painting.
PLEASE do a video on "Spring" by Lawrence Alma-Tadema. I would like to learn more about it & it's an interesting looking painting which I have a physical copy of.
My grandfather was gassed twice in WWI and my gran had telegrams both times to say he was missing in action, which must have been harrowing. He survived though, and lived up until 1970 but he had severe headaches every day for the rest of his life. I found this painting particularly touching and the story of the young niece very much so too. I love John Singer Sargent's paintings but I wasn't aware of this one so thank you very much for bringing it to our attention. :).
Such as tragic, sad and yet wonderful story. Thank you!
I have a couple of aunts and uncles who I was close to growing up, who were almost like second parents growing up. Some who have died and whose loss I still feel to this day, even years later. This episode really got me, especially that last line.
Ex England schoolboy here. You are forgiven.
Hello from Manchester England.
Your narration is excellent, it adds greatly to the overall experience. Your channel is the only one to teach us about paintings and artists in a funny, enjoyable way.
I love this channel.
Well done. Very impactful.
An excellent history! The loss of sight to an artist is a catastrophic event, and the silence in this painting is its eulogy.
😢 This hit me right in the feels. 😭
We appreciate your dedication and commitment. Keep working hard.
What a haunting tribute to the tribulations of war. One of the most emotional paintings I have seen you cover
I’m sure other people have pointed out that older varnish or sealant layers are made with oils - particularly Linseed, which is the most commonly used oil in oil paint and varnish - that do yellow and dull over time. Many vintage or antiquity paintings have been improved with a super gentle bath and a removal of the old sealant, and a few touch ups to the original pigments, especially the fugitives that have dulled or disappeared over time. They look so good when they’re done! And they’re also done with such care that they never change the original paintings. They do bring forth the original vibrancy , but restorers are known to use the same paints that were originally used, like sourcing the cobalts the original artist had mixed into blue or violet or turquoise paints, or the same bismuth, or cadmium yellows,and sometimes instead of using known fugitive paints, they’ll do a touch up layer with a new and more permanent pigment. So same color to the eye that the original artist used, but a modern pigment with more staying power. It’s an amazing process - painting restoration - and I am always impressed when I see what a professional restorer has achieved. Huge shout out to the world’s fine art restorers! They make antiquated art so vibrant again. It’s quite a marvelous job!
Your description of the backstory to the painting is as elegant as of the painting it’s self. Great video, made me legitimately sad.
The school boy accent- 👨🍳 💋
More more more!!!
As always thanks for your insight and upload!
Art Deco, I'm subscribed for a long time but somehow your channel wandered off. Your knowledge of art, artists and their lives are tremendous. Not going to let you go again. ❤ 🤗 There is so little education on the web you are fresh air.
I love your style of story telling. Thank you.
Most people never understand the history of or the subliminal part of the artist. Others forget historical times and mental context. Thank you each and every piece of you curate visually and auditory is simple and beautiful even if the work is not. But that’s as it was meant to be.
I came here for a great painting, but the writing in the video is just so great
A moving bit of history, thank you for sharing.
I saw this live in London many, many years ago in the IWM. Left me absolutely awestruck, had to click immediately when seeing the thumb. Thanks for the video!
It is a happy day when Art Deco uploads!
I look forward to these videos!
an incredible painting with an important story; one that we should never stop telling and learning from
I feel compelled to warn you that you doing great damage to my ignorance in art appreciation. If you keep this up I may be forced to visit a museum!
Outro is "Dover" by the Westerlies if anyone is looking for it.
I can say that Sargent is my favourite painter
Me too! I love portraits.
This one really upset me. The loss and heart ache are unimaginable.
If you ever wonder why the Geneva convention exists, look into the history of how the Canadians treated the Germans after the first gas attacks. This painting depicts why the Canadians killed without remorse, took no prisoners, and were known as stormtroopers for raiding the German trenches with minimal casualties. Raiding parties carried out every plausible atrocity conceivable. Canadians say sorry often, until you fuck with them. Americans learned the hard way after the Whitehouse was burned down.
Yet again another awesome upload! Thank You again for all you do and the details you provide!🥰💙💚 Sending love your way from Nova Scotia💙🤍
Thank you! Thank you so much for tuning in!
@@Art_Deco Always!!! I love your shows and look forward to every upload!
The insights and muses of a truly gifted mind. Her ability to invoke raw emotion from viewers and interpret the thoughts and intents of some of the most misunderstood humans (artists), is astounding... and to do it with the smallest of inflections in her voice, makes her just as brilliant as the artists she covers. ❤
Two minutes ago! 😊
Your content is in a league of its own. Thanks for your amazing and informative videos! 😄
I saw this painting in person at the MFA Sargent exhibit years ago. It's overwhelming. It's a huge canvas with almost if not actually life size people. It pulls you in, like you're there. I stared at it for so long and was so moved. Sargent was an incredible artist with such an eye for people, and such incredible brushwork. By far my favorite artist.
My goodness, what a beautiful narration! And visual of all the paintings. I LOVE this channel!
Your sound design is always amazing, one of my favorite details of your videos ❤
Another excellent teaching. Putting your talent for this subject into the ads, genius. I was giggling. Thank you for awesome art history.
Wow, lady, can you ever tell a story! Thank you again.
This was so sad and lovely😢
Striking piece and story! Thanks for the historical and artists context. I loved your English boy accent 😂
I've always been a fan of JSS. Great video, thank you. Keep up the good work!
One of your best. Just amazing work. Thank you
Very informative reflection on Sargent’s “Gassed.” Rose Marie was a beautiful young woman. Such a tragedy his muse was taken at such a young age by that terrible war.
Nice storytelling.
I always look forward and enjoy all your videos. You always paint a better picture of the actual painting. Thank you for all your hard work. ❤
Thank you.
My grandfather was mustard gassed during WWI. He was hit over the head and then taken prisoner by the Germans. Never quite the same. I always wondered why if we can get countries to agree not to use chemical weapons, why can’t we take the dialogue a bit further and agree not to fight!
What a story, great work, thanks!
I adore your videos! Never stop doing them 🙏🏻🥰
Would love to watch an episode about The Spoliarium!
Your editing skills keep getting better and better. Love your channel!!!
I LOVE these videos! It makes me remember why I love the intersection of art and history so much!
thank you. I think one of your best. War can't be avoided by anyone. That is why stopping war before it starts is so important. War reaches out to find even the most innocent.
love this channel
Another great episode!
I learn so much. You are a great communicator.
War is never for the people.
Always a good day when Art Deco does a new video.
I love your beautiful videos that open my eyes to so much more in these paintings than I had ever imagined--thank you!
Through the last years, I've seen my interest in painting grow more and more. At first, I watched your videos out of mere curiosity. But you're getting so good at it, so good at giving historical, economical, geographical, political, artistic and biographic information, in such a fun and touching way, that now I know I embark in every video of yours to come changed after watching. Thank you for your amazing work and your sensitive approach towards art and human beings.
that was a really good one. thanks.
Excellent video essay. Thank you so much for all your work, and the care you take to bring each work to life for us.
Another very interesting subject - thanks for all the effort that you put into these videos. 😍👍
Thank you so much for saying that, Dave. I hope you are well :)
He was very talented .He was able to truly capture how really looked . Not many artist could do that.They all basically the same .And frankly they were very attractive .
Great video!👏👏👏
That was one of the best you've done!
I send my sympathies for your recent illness. This particular one has rendered more than a few sick for many weeks, even months. One even called it "the 100 day cough" which hung on even after the original symptoms of "allergies" or "head cold" abated.
I love all your accents 🤷🫶🤷
And your channel 🥳
Your BEST episode ever! Writing, humor, sponsor integration....Amazing! ❤
Great video. It's interesting how the varnished painting was so bright. Usually when you think of an old, varnished painting you think brownish and low-contrast. This one was so the opposite.
So interesting. Thankyou. So, so sad