SERIES OVERVIEW:
This series attempts to showcase material by artists whose work might be described as 'decadent' in its style or subject matter.
It does not intend to give anything other than the briefest of biographical overviews (though references for such are given within each entry). It instead aims to present a short selection of illustrations which are either typical of the artists work or perhaps illustrate a text or theme that falls within the remit of the series.
We welcome suggestions or contributions to this ongoing project.
If the Belgian Jean De Bosschere (1878-1953) is remembered much, if at all, nowadays it may well be for whimsical strange drawings he did for his childrens books such as 'The Curious City' 'Strange Islands' (1921). You can see a selection of the latter here.
However, Bosschere also had some associations with characters such as Ezra Pound and D. H. Lawrence and his work as a writer and illustrator also shows an interest in things occult and erotic.
Though his artworks are very tame by todays standards some of his most interesting are those he did for Flauberts 'The Temptation of St Anthony' (The Bodley Head 1924).
Of the Bosschere I have seen, these seem to be his most decadent, and is very interesting to compare his interpretations of the text to those undertaken by Mahlon Blaine (see them here) six years later.
(Page 4)
"Saint Anthony"
(Page 18)
"They crowd into a mass"
(Page 31)
"The daughters of the Hebrews who departed from the tents"
(Page 62)
"Anger"
(Page 110)
"The Devil"
(Page 128)
"A Goddess"
(Page 155)
"So long has thou been naked, so hast thou faren over all Greece"
(Page 174)
"I make the flowers to grow"
It does not intend to give anything other than the briefest of biographical overviews (though references for such are given within each entry). It instead aims to present a short selection of illustrations which are either typical of the artists work or perhaps illustrate a text or theme that falls within the remit of the series.
We welcome suggestions or contributions to this ongoing project.
JEAN DE BOSSCHERE
INTRODUCTION
However, Bosschere also had some associations with characters such as Ezra Pound and D. H. Lawrence and his work as a writer and illustrator also shows an interest in things occult and erotic.
Though his artworks are very tame by todays standards some of his most interesting are those he did for Flauberts 'The Temptation of St Anthony' (The Bodley Head 1924).
Of the Bosschere I have seen, these seem to be his most decadent, and is very interesting to compare his interpretations of the text to those undertaken by Mahlon Blaine (see them here) six years later.
A SELECTION OF DE BOSSCHERES
ILLUSTRATIONS FROM
'THE TEMPTATION OF ST. ANTHONY'
(The Bodley Head 1924)
ILLUSTRATIONS FROM
'THE TEMPTATION OF ST. ANTHONY'
(The Bodley Head 1924)
(Illustrated part of the title page)
"Saint Anthony"
"They crowd into a mass"
"The daughters of the Hebrews who departed from the tents"
"Anger"
"The Devil"
"A Goddess"
"So long has thou been naked, so hast thou faren over all Greece"
"I make the flowers to grow"
