Objectivism and the Future of Art

Sandra Shaw
Objectivist Summer Conference 2008
Newport Beach, California

Course Outline

Lecture 1

1. Introduction: art collapsed in the Modern Age, but it is now reviving.

2. The Nature and Purpose of Art:

Art embodies metaphysical values.
Art concretizes the conceptual, so it provides perceptual access to the conceptual.
The creation and experience of art are based on cognition and values.

3. The Fall of the Arts I—the18th Century:

Art of the Enlightenment grows emotionalistic under the influence of skepticism.
Kant denies human cognition and value.
The art world still advances until it is influenced by Kant.

Lecture 2

1. The Fall of the Arts II—the 19th and 20th Centuries:

19th-century artists relinquish values and cognition—they embrace Naturalism
and, ultimately, Nihilism.

2. The Art World’s Response to the “New Arts”:

Dismissal, protest, and the argument from tradition do not defeat Kant.

Lecture 3

1. Post-Kantian nihilism dominates the art world today, yet realistic art is reviving.

2. The collapse of the intellectuals has enabled artists to revive pre-modern methods—for now.

3. Realistic arts today are naturalistic, irrational, or value-oriented—all are intellectually adrift.

4. Objectivism offers the alternative to today’s intellectual drift: a positive philosophy that rationally
validates cognition and values.

5. Today’s value-oriented arts are vulnerable and need Objectivism to endure and grow.
Objectivism and the Future of Art Sandra Shaw

Slide List

Lecture 1:

1. “Anna,” oil, 36x48", by Jacob Collins (American, b. 1964), 2006. Location: NA.
http://www.jacobcollinspaintings.com/images/anna01.jpg

2. “Dora Maar au Chat,” oil, 51x38", by Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), c. 1941. Location: NA.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c3/Dora_Maar_Au_Chat.jpg

3. “Adam,” detail from the Sistine Ceiling, fresco by Michelangelo Buonarroti (Italian, 1475–1564),
c. 1508-12. Location: Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Rome.
http://departments.risd.edu/Depts/arth/web/Creation%20of%20Adam.jpg

4. “Venus of Willendorf,” stone, h: 4.4", Paleolithic, c. 30,000-20,000 B.C. Location: Museum of

Natural History, Vienna.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Venus_von_Willendorf_01.jpg

5. Menkaure trinity, green slate, h: 37.25", Dynasty IV, Old Kingdom, 2,680-2,565 B.C. Location:
Egyptian Museum, Cairo.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Menkaura.jpg

6. “The Madonna of the Harpies,” oil, 5.8x6.8", by Andrea del Sarto (Italian, 1486–1531), 1517.
Location: Uffizi, Florence.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/87/Madonna_of_the_Harpies.jpg/518px-Madonna_of_the_Harpies.jpg

7. “The David,” marble, h: under 17', by Michelangelo Buonarroti (Italian, 1475–1564), 1502–4.
Location: The Accademia, Florence.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Michelangelos_David.jpg

8. “The David,” detail.

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/michelangelo-sculptures-13.jpg

9. “Kneeling Youth,” marble, h: 30.75", by George Minne (Belgian, 1866–1941), 1898. Location:
Museum of Art History, Vienna.
http://www.artnet.com/artwork/425386737/322/george-minne-kneeling-youth.html

10. “The David” and “Kneeling Youth”.

http://www.artinfo.com/media/image/46998/minnekneelingyouth.jpg

11. “Winged Victory,” (aka “Nike” of Samothrace), marble, h: c. 8', Hellenistic Greek, 3rd cent. BC.
Location: Louvre, Paris.
http://www.theoi.com/image/S29.2Nike.jpg

12. “The Astronomer,” oil, 19.4x17.75", by Johannes Vermeer (Dutch, 1632–1675), 1668. Location:
Louvre, Paris.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/JohannesVermeer-TheAstronomer(1668).jpg

13. “The Reader,” oil, 32.3x25.6", by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (French, 1732-1806), c. 1770–2.
Location: National Gallery, Washington, DC.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Fragonard%2C_The_Reader.jpg

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Objectivism and the Future of Art Sandra Shaw

14. Ceiling fresco, Saint Johannes-Nepomuk (Asamkirche), Munich, by the Asam brothers (German, fl.
1725–50), 1733–46.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Asamkirche_M%C3%BCnchen_ceiling.jpg

15. Interior, church of the Virgin, Birnau, Germany, by Joseph Anton Feuchtmayr (German, 1696–
1770), 1748–50.
http://cerf.volant.historic.free.fr/pages/reportages/constance/birnau/birnau0078.jpg

16. “Pilgrimage to San Isidro’s Fountain,” oil, 55.1x172.4", by Francisco Goya (Spanish, 1746–
1828), c. 1820. Location: Museo del Prado, Madrid.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/La_romer%C3%ADa_de_San_Isidro.jpg

17. “Saturn Devouring His Son,” oil, 57.5x32.5", by Francisco Goya (Spanish, 1746–1828), 1819.
Location: Museo del Prado, Madrid.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Saturno_devorando_a_sus_hijos.jpg

18. Blank

19. “Leaving the Bath,” oil, 69.25x43.75", by Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (Spanish, 1863–1923), 1908.
Location: The Hispanic Society, New York City.
http://www.artcom.com/Museums/nv/af/Chrysler%20Museum%20of%20Art%20Sorolla.jpg

20. “Hip Hip Hooray! Artists Celebrating at Skagen,” oil, size: NA, by Peder Severin KrØyer
(Norwegian, 1851–1909), 1888. Location: Göteborgs Konstmuseum, Gothenburg, Sweden.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/PS_Kr%C3%B8yer_-_Hip_hip_hurra%21_Kunstnerfest_p%C3%A5_Skagen_1888.jpg

21. “Carolus-Duran,” oil, 46x37", by John Singer Sargent (American, 1856–1925), 1879. Location:
Clark Art Institue, Williamstown, MA.
http://jssgallery.org/paintings/Carolus-Duran/Carolus-Duran.htm

22. “Mother Teaching Child,” marble, 40.75", by Sir Alfred Gilbert (British, 1854–1934), c. 1881–3.
Location: Tate, London.
http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?cgroupid=999999961&workid=5171&searchid=12375&tabview=image

23. “The Painter’s Honeymoon,” oil, 33x30.2", by Frederic Leighton (British, 1830–1896), c. 1863–4.
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Leighton_The_Painter-s_Honeymoon_1864.jpg

24. “Admiration,” oil, 58x78", by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (French, 1825–1905), 1897.

Location: San Antonio Museum of Art, Texas.
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/b/bouguereau/bouguereau_admiration.jpg

25. “The Prodigal Son,” bronze, h: 55", by Auguste Rodin (French,1840–1917), c. 1885–7. Location:
Musée Rodin, Paris.
http://rodin-web.org/works/pix/prodigal_son_cantor_big.jpg

26. “Large Clenched Hand with Figure,” bronze, h: 17.5", by Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917),
late 1890s–1907. Location: Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=image;hex=M73_108_21.JPG

27. “Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?” oil, 54.75x147.5”, by Paul
Gauguin (French, 1848–1903), 1897. Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Woher_kommen_wir_Wer_sind_wir_Wohin_gehen_wir.jpg

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Objectivism and the Future of Art Sandra Shaw

Lecture 2:

1. “The Stone-Breakers,” oil, 5'5"x7'10", by Gustave Courbet (French, 1819–1877), c. 1849.

Location: destroyed 1945.
http://www.public.asu.edu/~jacquies/Courbet8.jpg

2. “Mowing,” oil, 37.5x27", by Newell Convers Wyeth (American, 1882–1945), 1907. Location:
Private Collection.
http://www.msa.md.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc5300/sc5339/000060/000000/000001/restricted/ecp-10-240/profilography/wyeth01.jpg

3. “The Stone-Breakers,” oil, 5'5"x7'10", by Gustave Courbet (French, 1819–1877), c. 1849.

Location: destroyed 1945.
http://www.public.asu.edu/~jacquies/Courbet8.jpg

4. “The Omnibus,” oil, 49.6x34.6", by Anders Leonhard Zorn (Swedish, 1860–1920), c. 1892.
Location: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston.
http://www.gardnermuseum.org/collection/images/zorn_p3e1.jpg

5. “L’Absinthe,” oil, 36.2x30", by Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917), c. 1876. Location: Musée
d’Orsay, Paris.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Absinthe.jpg

6. “Shoes,” oil, 18x21.75", by Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, 1853–1890), 1888. Location: Metropolitan
Museum of Art, New York.
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/masterscans/van-gogh-shoes-mid.jpg

7 & 8. Painting by Paul Bilhaud (French, fl. late-19th c.), 1882. Location: NA
http://www.nyu.edu/greyart/exhibits/counter/assets/images/negros.jpg

9. “Family Picture,” oil, 26x39.75" by Max Beckmann (German, 1884–1950), 1920. Location:
Museum of Modern Art, New York.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NyQOoI1YqXQ/Sg7cdlfRhaI/AAAAAAAAAPI/3N1Um1oqVWI/s1600-h/family-726615.jpg

10. Photograph of the building of the Statue of Liberty, Paris, 1886.

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/MCG/LF49~Statue-of-Liberty-in-Paris-1886-Posters.jpg

11. “Large Bathers,” oil, 82x98", by Paul Cézanne (French, 1839–1906), c. 1898–1906. Location:
Philadelphia Museum of Art.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Paul_C%C3%A9zanne_047.jpg

12. “Blue Nude” (aka “Memory of Biskra”), oil, 36.25x55", by Henri Matisse (French, 1869–1954),
1907. Location: Baltimore Museum of Art.
http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/a/images/armory_matis.bluenu.lg.jpg

13. “An Eclogue” (“A Poem”), oil, 48x60.5", by Kenyon Cox (American, 1856–1919), 1890.
Location: National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian, Washington, DC.
http://www.istanbulsanatevi.com/galeri/images/iri/4812.jpg

14. “Evening,” marble, size: NA, by Frederick Wellington Ruckstull (American, 1853–1942), 1887
and 1891. Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_Of_Art/images/ap/images/20.125.L.jpg

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Objectivism and the Future of Art Sandra Shaw

15. “ Hound of Heaven I,” oil, size: NA, by Robert Hale Ives Gammell (American, 1893–1981),
before 1956. Location: NA.
http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/95/f6/2a59228348a085d53014f010._AA233_.L.jpg

16. “Portrait of Cpl. William Metcalf, VC. Metcalf,” oil, size: NA, by Kenneth Forbes (Canadian,
1892–1980), 1918. Location: Canadian War Museum, Ottawa.
http://www.legionmagazine.com/features/warart/img/mar%2797warPortrait.jpg

17.  Blank

18. Photograph of Daniel Chester French (American, 1850–1931) working in his Chesterwood
studio, 1924.
http://memory.loc.gov/master/pnp/cph/3a40000/3a44000/3a44800/3a44827u.tif

19. Photograph of unveiling of the “Chicago Picasso,” Daley Plaza, August, 1967.
http://www.aneuroa.org/chicago/images/1967.jpg

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Objectivism and the Future of Art Sandra Shaw

Lecture 3

1. Photograph of unveiling of the Chicago Picasso, Daley Plaza, August, 1967.

http://www.aneuroa.org/chicago/images/1967.jpg

2. “Chansons de printemps” (“Songs of Spring”), oil, 58.5x39.25" by William-Adolphe Bouguereau

(French, 1825–1905), 1889. Location: NA.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/William-Adolphe_Bouguereau_-_Chansons_de_printemps.jpg

3. “Green Car Crash” (aka “Green Burning Car I”), silkscreen, 90x80" by Andy Warhol (American,
1928–1987), 1963. Location: NA.
http://www.car-accidents.com/2007-crash-pics/green-car-crash-warhol.gif

4. Photograph from “Miami Basel” art show.

http://nymag.com/images/2/daily/entertainment/07/12/10_artbasel_lg.jpg

5. Blank

6. “747,” photograph, size: NA, by Chris Burden (American, b. 1946), 1973. Location: Museum of
Contemporary Photography, Chicago.
http://www.mocp.org/exhibitions/uploads/BurdenEx.jpg

7. “Freedom from Want,” oil, 45.75x35.5" by Norman Rockwell (American, 1894–1978), 1943.
Location: Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, MA.
http://www.curtispublishing.com/images/Rockwell/FreeWant%20%203643.jpg

8. “Model with Swan Decoy on Ladder,” oil, 50x34", by Philip Pearlstein (American, b. 1924),
2002. Location: NA.
http://www.artcritical.com/DavidCohen/sun_images_january/Pear-decoy.jpg

9. “Rose’s Bathroom,” graphite, size: NA, by Michael Grimaldi (American, contemporary),

Contemporary. Location: NA.
http://www.rammiami.com/images/artists/michaelgrimaldi/1.jpg

10. “Self-Portrait (with Plaids),” charcoal, 54x40", by Susan Hauptman (American, contemporary),
2004. Location: NA.
http://www.forumgallery.com/product/exhibit_68_1.jpg

11. “Portrait of Stephen,” oil, size: NA, by Michael Sell (American, contemporary), Contemporary.
Location: NA.
http://www.rammiami.com/images/artists/michaelsell/1.jpg

12. “D,” oil, 62.5x98.5", by Steven Assael (American, b. 1957), 1998. Location: NA.
http://www.stevenassael.com/i/p_assael_painting-07.html

13. “Lap,” oil, 60x60", by James Byrne (American, contemporary), 2003. Location: NA.
http://www.forumgallery.com/product/artist_87_6.jpg

14. Blank

15. “Second Birth,” oil, 83x86", by Odd Nerdrum (Norwegian, b. 1944), 2004. Location: NA.
http://www.nerdrum.com/works/icons/second_birth.jpg

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Objectivism and the Future of Art Sandra Shaw

16. “Scratching in the Dirt: Wisdom Series,” oil, 71x61.5", by Lisa Bartolozzi (American,
contemporary), 2007. Location: NA.
http://www.forumgallery.com/product/exhibit_204_1.jpg

17. “Cockaigne,” oil, 112x153", by Vincent Desiderio (American, contemporary), 1993–2003.

Location: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Washington, DC.
http://hirshhorn.si.edu/dynamic/collection_images/full/04.19.jpg

18. “Please Leave When It Is Wise To,” oil (size: NA), by Cristina Vergano (American,
contemporary), 2006. Location: NA.
http://www.cristinavergano.net/FOS/FOS8.png

19. “IWannabeaballarina,” oil, size: NA, by Mikel Glass (American, contemporary), Contemporary.
Location: NA.
http://www.rammiami.com/images/artists/mikelglass/1.jpg

20. Blank

21. “Nureyev,” bronze, over life-size, by Richard MacDonald (American, contemporary),

Contemporary. Location: NA.
http://www.divart.com/Nureyev.jpg

22. “Figs,” medium and size: NA, by Jeffrey Ripple (American, b.1962), 1999. Location: NA.
http://nccsc.net//asset/original_filename/1101/07-01_01LARGE.jpg

23. “Long Golden Day,” oil, size: NA, by Alice Dalton Brown (American, contemporary),
Contemporary. Location: NA.
http://www.arttocanvas.com/images/prints/bm-d1150.jpg

24. “Expectations,” watercolor, 37x23", by Paul McCormack (American, b. 1962), 2007. Location: NA.
http://www.paulwmccormack.com/images/expect.jpeg

25. “Vinalhaven Sunset,” oil, 36x70", by Jacob Collins (American, b. 1964), 2008. Location: NA.
http://www.jacobcollinspaintings.com/images/vinalhavensunset01.jpg

26. “Spring Night,” oil, 23x30", by Peter E. Poskas (American, b. 1969), 2007. Location: NA.
http://www.hirschlandadler.com/MEDIA/04026.jpg

27. “Penelope,” oil, 40x48", by David Ligare (American, b. 1945), 1980. Location: NA.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Ligare_Penelope.jpg

28. “Three Stages of Youth,” oil, 55x27", by Huang Zhong Yang (Chinese-Canadian, b. 1949), 2000.
Location: NA.
http://www.lochgallery.com/images/stories/artwork/l/zhong_yang_huang/yang_thestagesofyouth.jpg

29. “Reclining Figure,” oil, size: NA, by Jeremy Lipking (American, b. 1975), 2004. Location: NA.
http://www.lipking.com/gallery/Gallery_Room_1/Reclining%20Nude%20Figure_46x54.jpg

30. “Anna,” oil, size: 36x48”, by Jacob Collins (American, b. 1964), 2006. Location: NA.
http://www.jacobcollinspaintings.com/images/anna01.jpg

31. “The David” marble, under 17', by Michelangelo Buonarroti (Italian, 1475–1564), 1502–4.
Location: The Accademia, Florence.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Michelangelos_David.jpg
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Objectivism and the Future of Art Sandra Shaw

References

Behler, Ernst, ed., Immanuel Kant Philosophical Writings, New York: Continuum,1986.

Forbes, Kenneth, Great Art to the Grotesque, Toronto: Pitt Publishing Co., Ltd., 1972.

Gammell, R. H. Ives, Twilight of Painting: An Analysis of Recent Trends to Serve in a Period of

Reconstruction, New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1946.

Goldwater, Robert, ed., Artists on Art: from the XIV to the XX Century, New York: Pantheon Books, 1972.
(First published 1945)

Hartford, Huntington, Art or Anarchy? How the Extremists and Exploiters Have Reduced the Fine Arts to
Chaos and Commercialism, NY: Doubleday & Co., 1964.

Herter Kendall, Christine, Defense of Art: A painter’s views on how to talk sensibly about art, New York:
W. W. Norton & company, 1982, (1938).

Hofstadter, Albert, ed., Philosophies of Art & Beauty: Selected Readings in Aesthetics from Plato to
Heidegger, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1964.

Kammen, Michael, Visual Shock: A History of Art Controversies in American Culture, New York: Alfred
A. Knopf, 2006.

Morgan, Wayne H., Keepers of Culture: The Art-Thought of Kenyon Cox, Royal Cortissoz, and Frank
Jewett Mather, Jr., Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1989.

Peikoff, Leonard, Objectivistm: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand, New York: Dutton, 1991.

Rand, Ayn, The Romantic Manifesto, New York: Signet, 1971.

Ruckstull, F. W., Great Works of Art and What Makes Them Great, New York: Garden City Publishing Co., 1925.

Spalding, Julian, The Eclipse of Art: Tackling the Crisis in Art Today, New York: Prestel, 2003.

Steiner, Wendy, Venus in Exile: The Rejection of Beauty in 20th-Century Art, New York: The Free Press, 2001.

Sures, Mary Ann, “Metaphysics in Marble,” The Objectivist, v. 8, Feb. 1969.

Turner, Frederick, The Culture of Hope: A New Birth of the Classical Spirit, New York: The Free Press, 1995.

Wolfe, Tom, The Painted Word, New York: Bantam Books, 1976. (First published 1975)

Other Sources:

Cooper, James, F., ed., “American Arts Quarterly,” Hastings-On-Hudson: The Newington-Cropsey
Cultural Studies Center.

Edwards, Paul., ed. Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 8 v., New York: Macmillan, 1967.

Osborne, Harold, ed., The Oxford Companion to Art, Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1970.