This rectangular design brings together the center portions of the two paintings discussed in the blog, so the central figures are in line with each other. In each, the central subject is a young man with a cutlass, riding a rearing gray stallion. At left is the newer piece, “Officer of the Hussars,” 2007, by Kehinde Wiley. At right is his inspiration, “The Charging Chasseur,” 1812, by Théodore Géricault. Across the middle the headline says, “Improvisation on a Classic. Wiley and Géricault.” See linked blog post for credits.
Improvisation on a classic

Improvisation on a classic

The Artdog Image(s) of Interest

When a modern master comments on a master from an earlier era, it becomes an interesting conversation. When the masters in the equation are Kehinde Wiley and Théodore Géricault it’s about an improvisation on a classic for sure.

Today I get to feature one of my absolute favorite pieces by Kehinde Wiley, an artist I’ve been aware of, and admired increasingly, ever since I ran across one of his amazing portraits several years ago at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art. That painting was part of a traveling exhibition, I didn’t retain the name in my memory, and I haven’t been able to scare up information about it online.

This design centers on a painting, “Officer of the Hussars,” 2007, by Kehinde Wiley. On a mostly red background latticed by golden filigree vines, a young Black man, dressed in a sleeveless T-shirt, jeans, and athletic shoes sits in the saddle of a rearing, dapple gray horse. Notably, the saddle blanket is the skin of a leopard, complete with the animal’s snarling head behind the saddle, facing toward the horse’s tail. The He sweeps downward behind himself and the horse with a cutlass. Collection of the Detroit Institute of the Arts Museum.
See Credits below.

But periodically I’d run across another Wiley–and, as you can imagine (if this is your first Wiley, God bless you, now you know!), once you’ve seen Wiley’s work you don’t forget it. Recently, the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art acquired another Wiley, his painting St. Adrian. 

Improvisation on What Classic?

Wiley’s Officer of the Hussars is based on another painting. That’s why I call it an improvisation on a classic. I’ve known and loved the inspiration for years, too. It’s The Charging Chasseur, or An Officer of the Imperial Horse Guards Charging, 1812, by Théodore Géricault. 

You may remember seeing a reproduction of the artwork (the Wiley, not the Géricault), if you’ve watched the Fox TV Show Empire.

I’m a Géricault  fan, too, not only for his dramatic compositions and masterful renderings. But also because he liked exotic places and people who didn’t all look just like him. At his best, he portrayed many of those “exotic” people as individuals.

I do tend to think Wiley improved on the original with his improvisation–but you can compare, and decide for yourself.

In this rectangular design the painting “The Charging Chasseur,” 1812, by Théodore Géricault is the sole focus. The painting portrays a mustachioed young white man in his full military regalia of a tall, black fur hat with a red-tipped plume on it, a dark green long-sleeved military coat decorated with braid and tassels, a red sash belt around his hips and tall riding boots. The saddle blanket is the skin of a leopard, complete with the animal’s snarling head behind the saddle, facing in the opposite direction as the horse. He is shown in an action pose astride a rearing dapple gray horse, twisted in the saddle and delivering a downward blow with a cutlass (which mostly appears to be imperiling the horse’s tail). A short, light gray fur cape flows from his shoulders. Glimpses of a battle, partially shrouded in smoke, can be seen behind him. Collection of the Louvre, Paris.
See Credits below.

I hope you’ll see more Kehinde Wiley art from me in the months to come, if all goes well. He’s got so many wonderful paintings to share!

NOTE: While researching this post, I also discovered that former President Barack Obama shares my enthusiasm for Wiley’s artwork: he recently chose Wiley to paint his official presidential portrait. It will hang in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, alongside an Amy Sherald portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama.

IMAGE CREDITS

Many thanks to Deadline Detroit and Alan Stamm, for the photo of Wiley’s Officer of the Hussars, and to Wikipedia for the photo of Géricault‘s painting.

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