Post
by perezoso » November 18th, 2004, 5:46 pm
Yes, I have heard that, but Pollock didn't study hard enough. Again, I think Pollock is WAY overrated, as is Picasso and many other modern "artists". Having perused quite a few of Benton's paintings online and in books, I think he was possibly the greatest American painter ever, and really comparable to old masters, or european greats, such as Delacroix or someone like that. His art is at least equal to Dali's or Rivera's, really surpassing it. And to be honest, I think a very great painter such as Benton puts poets and fiction writers to shame (though the painter defers in some sense to the authentic philosopher and scientist) . The same with great composers: Charles Ives is to me more profound than Wallace Stevens ever was. Apollo is Dionysius' top man: Fuck poetry, minstrelsy, and most fiction.