American Arts Quarterly

In the current issue of American Arts Quarterly (Summer 2011), is an article by editor and publisher James F. Cooper on William-Adolphe Bouguereau.   Titled William Bouguereau:  The Last History Painter, the article explores Bouguereau's reaction to changes in the political environment of mid-nineteenth century France.  While other French artists turned to new forms of expression like Impressionism, Bouguereau made a conscious decision to stop producing history paintings, and instead focused on spiritual and religious themes in his works.  Though Bouguereau shared the same opinions about the problems facing his country as did the avant garde artists of his time, he became symbolic of the establishment in the eyes of the modernists and his reputation thereby suffered for nearly a century.  Cooper's article is short, but his re-evaluation of Bouguereau in terms of his morality, conservative religious views, and his concern over his country's imminent self-destruction, is an interesting topic.

American Arts Quarterly is a publication of The Newington-Cropsey Cultural Studies Center.  To subscribe, visit their website;  subscriptions are FREE!