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The Painting Shop of Gersanne
The Painting Shop of Gersanne is an oil painting created in 1720 by Jean-Antoine Waldo.
Introduction
This painting “The Painting Shop of Gersanne” is a decoration that Waldo made for his friend and art dealer Gersanne’s shop at the end of 1720. It was originally a decoration for his good friend Gersanne’s shop as a gift. Or the “signature”, the painter completed it in just one week. This is the painter’s last work. In the second year after the completion of the work, Hua Duo completed his short 37-year life course.
Appreciation of works
The theme of this painting is to appeal to the painter’s intuition and imagination, and it is a wonderful portrayal of the empty soul of the aristocracy: the painting shop is full of oil paintings “masterpieces” imitated extremely delicately. From the walls, you can find masterpieces by Rubens and Van Dyck, as well as works by famous painters such as Antonio Moreau, Ruisdahl, Potter, and Van Ostad. The pretty Madame Gersanne was negotiating the price of the painting with some gentlemen.
There are two packers on the left, a lock-picker is busy with painting, and the one that a worker is putting in the box is obviously a portrait of Louis XIV. This detail is symbolic, indicating the end of the fun of the Louis XIV era. Two playboys are admiring an oval nude painting with relish.
Huaduo uses a thick pigment with the best texture, which has a richer color and a brighter picture. In addition, the painter’s expressive power of light and shade of color can be seen in this painting. The wide and long format shows the grand interior of the painting shop very concretely. Not only the layout is coordinated, but also the color and shape coordination is beyond reproach.
The painter saw the painting shop as the epitome of an aristocratic society: they sought pleasure and were well-dressed, with their soft and smooth satin dresses, facing the famous reproductions, arty. They eat all day long, trying to fill the emptiness of their hearts sensually. Obviously, the main idea here is vitriolic, but not caricatured. Precisely because it appears to be true, this painting is quite different in Rococo’s paintings.
The painting was later sold by Gersanne to the counselor of the Dali Academy. Ten years later, the painting was transferred to Frederick II. By 1760, the large painting was cut in two, and it was not restored until much later.
About the painter
Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684-1721) was the most important and influential painter of the Rococo period in France in the 18th century. He painted a lot of comedy, but also invented a strong philosophical love, and they are all set against the background. His representative works include “The Boat Ships on the Island of Citadel”, “The Hunter’s Journey” and so on.
Huaduo was born on October 10, 1684 in Valenciennes, which was originally Flanders on the border of Fabius. He was the son of a rural handicraftsman who made a living by burning bricks and kilns. He arrived in Paris in 1702, initially as an apprentice in a painting shop, copying some of the best-selling Italian and Dutch classics for uninterested employers.
Later, as an assistant in the studio of stage artist Claude Gillot (1673-1722), he developed a strong interest in theatre. Moved to Paris in 1702. The 18-year-old Huaduo came to Paris, penniless and dressed in modest clothes. He first entered the studio of Ya Mehtaye, and then became a student of the painter Gillot. He also studied with the printmaker and decorative painter Alderaan. The latter two were pioneers of the “Rococo” style. Many painting styles have a direct impact.
But his real inspiration in art was Rubens and Titian in Venice, whom he had carefully studied. In 1712, his painting skills were mature, but at the same time, he also tended to the boring life of the upper class in the content of his paintings – courtship, play, music, singing and dancing.
