The Met's exhibition, The Face of Modern Life, offers a captivating exploration of portraiture, challenging conventional notions of what constitutes a portrait. Curated by Stephanie D'Alessandro, the show presents an eclectic array of works, spanning from German expressionist Max Beckmann's childhood scenes to Cuban artist Wifredo Lam's mystical Ídolo. This diverse collection prompts visitors to question the essence of portraiture, delving into the interplay between subject and artist, memory, and myth.
One of the exhibition's highlights is Pablo Picasso's iconic portrait of Gertrude Stein, a pivotal moment in the artist's career. Picasso's struggle to capture Stein's essence, as he famously admitted, "I can't see you any longer when I look," led to a profound exploration of resemblance. The painting, accompanied by Stein's poem, "If I Told Him," further challenges the concept of likeness, as Stein muses on the nature of a portrait, questioning the boundaries of exactness and resemblance.
Wifredo Lam's Ídolo showcases the artist's unique interpretation of Santería, a Cuban religion blending African Yoruba traditions and Catholicism. The painting depicts Oyá, a Yoruba goddess, in a state of transformation, symbolizing the interplay between human and animal. D'Alessandro notes the painting's dripping technique, suggesting the painting's creation mirrors Oyá's emergence.
The exhibition also features Francis Picabia's Elegance, a Dadaist portrait of a woman with a parasol, paired with Wallace Stevens' poetic exploration of perception. D'Alessandro emphasizes the exhibition's focus on human presence and connection, suggesting that even abstract works can function as portraits, capturing the essence of existence.
Paul Klee's May Picture and Vasily Kandinsky's Improvisation 27 (Garden of Love II) further exemplify this abstract approach to portraiture. Klee's dreamy squares and Kandinsky's sensory experience of a garden demonstrate how artists can convey emotional and sensory impressions without traditional likenesses.
D'Alessandro argues that portraiture's fundamental concerns remain timeless, despite evolving artistic techniques and philosophical ideas. It serves as a means to look beyond surface-level perceptions, delving into the depths of human existence. The exhibition's diverse works reflect the human urge to connect and understand, as EM Forster famously noted. By engaging with these portraits, viewers can uncover deeper stories and insights, transcending the boundaries of the subject and the artist.
The Face of Modern Life exhibition at The Met invites visitors to embark on a thought-provoking journey, challenging their perceptions of portraiture and the human experience. It is a testament to the enduring power of art to connect, inspire, and provoke contemplation.
