When did painting mature?

[Peggy Baumgaertner]

On the Goodart forum there is currently a discussion going on about the fact that clients don't want deep characterizations or genuine emotion depicted in the portraits they will hang over their sofa. Is this lack of emotion, this surface prettiness that we see so much of in current realism, a function of what clients are asking for, do you think?

Interesting question.

I would say, no. I would say that the clients are not giving any thought to the ... intensity, let's say....of the work, and asking for something "pretty". I think they hire an artist, and the artist gives them pretty.

I have never had a client ask me for something less strong, or emotional in my portraits. They hire me because they like my work, and my work is strong and emotional.

In referring to the Kramskoi portraits, there are some (woodsman series, mermaids, "Irreconcilable Grief") which would be difficult to hang over ones mantle, but they were painted for museums, not for a private home. Kramskoi's commissioned portrait work was much less invasive, but nonetheless engaging.

As time goes on, and I have less of it, I am much more interested in painting for a future generation than to match the living room wall.

A little aside comes to mind. When I worked for the agencies, the client was buying a painting. When I commission work for myself, the client is buying an artist. I have much more room to create a work of art to my specifications in the latter scenario.