Classical Myths and American Abstract Expressionism: The Case of William Baziotes

Autor

  • Mercedes Aguirre Departamento de Filología Griega, Facultad de Filologia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid (Spain)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-0319.19.08

Słowa kluczowe:

Expresionismo abstracto, Baziotes, mitos, cíclope, ojo

Abstrakt

Abstract Expressionism can be seen as a valid expression of the crisis of ‘Modern Man’ and, as a result, it assumed a central role in the cultural debate of its time. Within this crisis can be situated a new form of representing the ancient myths. William Baziotes, an artist who belongs to the New York School, becomes a modern ‘myth-maker’ who creates metaphors and symbols which refer to primitive cultures and primeval worlds. If a few of his paintings allude in their title to a particular Classical myth, others, without a specific title referring to a myth, have strong affinities with mythology. Classical myths seem to be entwined with the artist’s own personal myths, interpreted through his own language and his own symbols.

Biogram autora

Mercedes Aguirre - Departamento de Filología Griega, Facultad de Filologia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid (Spain)

Her areas of published research (in both Spanish and English) are: Greek literature, Greek mythology and iconography, and the reception of Greek mythology in the contemporary world. Among her articles and papers are those on Scylla, the Gorgons, the Erinyes, ghosts in Greece, female characters in the Odyssey, studies of particular myths and their reception in art, in artists such as Odilon Redon or Jean Tinguely. She has also authored a book on the Pre-Raphaelites, especially on their mythological paintings which focus on female characters. She has co-edited a volume on Ghosts and Restless Dead, in a historical approach since Antiquity until today. At present she is preparing a book (co-authored with Richard Buxton) on the myth of the Cyclops.

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Opublikowane

2016-12-30

Jak cytować

Aguirre, M. (2016). Classical Myths and American Abstract Expressionism: The Case of William Baziotes. Collectanea Philologica, (19), 97–104. https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-0319.19.08

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