Six Masterpieces of Georges Rouault from Musee National d'Art Moderne (Centre Georges Pompidou), Paris

On 19 December, 2003, in the General Staff was opened an exhibition showing six masterpieces of Georges Rouault (1871-1958) from the Musee National d’Art Moderne (Centre Georges Pompidou), Paris, supported by the Fondation Georges Rouault (Paris) and the Consulate General of France in St. Petersburg. The exhibition showcases the master’s best creations, which are counted among the highest achievements of French art in the 20th century. They present the art of Georges Rouault in space and time, expressed in various genres over the artist’s four most productive decades. The show focuses on Rouault’s unique achievement, his Christian painting, represented by two wonderful compositions The Holy Face (1933) and The Flight to Egypt (c. 1946), alongside his best self-portrait The Apprentice (1925), a grotesque representation of the latest democratic variety of demagogue The Speaker (c. 1908-10), his most tragic canvas reacting to the 2nd World War Homo homini lupus
(1944-48), and the famed Clowns (1908-10).

The Parade (c. 1907-10) with its brilliant expressive spontaneity is one of the master’s best works in the circus series.

The best of Rouault’s few portraits are his self-portraits, including the renowned Apprentice (1925).

The Holy Face (1933) is one of the most tragic images created by Rouault.

During the war, Rouault was working at one of his gloomiest compositions Homo homini lupus. The Flight to Egypt (1946) is both an evangelical scene and a landscape, where characters are portrayed against the background of nature’s sovereign beauty.

The exhibition curator is A.G. Kostenevich, Chief Research Assistant of the Hermitage Department of West European Art. The illustrated academic catalogue has been issued by Slaviya Publishers.

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