ENGLISH ARTISITS
从美术观点谈感情的表现
From an artistic perspective, let's discuss the expression of emotions.
现代美术最重视的是构图与感情表现。构图正如中国画六法中的布局一样,而“表现”这两个字的含义就不容易理解了。因为它既没有界限,又没有什么特殊的条件,可以硬把它立下一个定义来。它是抽象的,却永远建立在至高的艺术领域之中,存在于伟大的作品里。这又是多么的使许多艺术家迷惑,向往而追求啊!
布局可以说是表现的手段,通过画家的个性、情绪、目的 …… 把自然的形式歪曲,倒置或夸张,而精确地表现出美术的精髓,更奥妙地使之表达出诗情画意来。因此,当我们处理美术技法之前,我们更要进一步的了解感情表现的精义了!
美术上的表现与文学上的表现意义不同。例如一位小说家的著作,虽然也是通过表现的手法,深刻地表达出人物的个性,使读者很快地直觉到这个人的品性,但这只是文学上的并非美术上的意义。
美术上所谓的表现,是相当于音乐概念的表现。它不是描写,叙述或分析——它所要求的是美感,是精神的而非知能的!
例如在米克兰基罗Michelangelo的许多伟大的作品里,我们可以从每一座雕像的动律,形式甚至每一根线条的运用,都能接受到一种典雅庄重、亲切柔和的感觉;那柔软的的手,结实的肌肉,悬垂的头部,甚至衣服上的每一条折痕,都能充分地表现出一种极丰富的情感。这种强有力的感情,把那坚硬的大理石,完全融解于音乐的旋律之中,虽然是一幕悲剧的描绘,但是在雕像的全体中却充满了优美的诗情画意!
这优美的诗意、崇高的概念,壮美的形象、旷达的态度、充沛的精力、柔和亲切的感情表现,完全是由画家的内心产生出来的,并不是从那个模特儿的身上可以抄袭来的。这是米克兰基罗的创作,是米克兰基罗的伟大人格与内心的情绪所完成的。这就是感情的表现!
又如在林勃兰Rembrandt的作品中,我们也可以觉察到这种表现的品质。如果有人问:“为什么林勃兰会这么伟大?是什么条件造成他在画坛上的不朽地位?”我可以直接地答复说:“是他那伟大庄严的绘画风格!”他的肖像并不是从外形的酷似出发,而是通过内心状态来表现的。他所画的与他心里所想的完全一致,那就是“真”的感情表现,正如英国的锡尼Sir Philip Sidney所说的:“从自己的心中爬剔而出。”
林勃兰的庄肃严谨的品质,灌注在他每一笔的笔触上,忠实地表现他自己的思想,他决不满足雇主的庸俗要求,而改变自己的艺术创作态度,所以就形成林勃兰作品的独特风格,造就了他在艺坛上的不朽地位。尤其是他那肖像画,可以说完全是内心的绘画,有着林勃兰不必签押的特征。因此有许多关于这位大师的绘画批评的记载都这么说:“林勃兰是一位伟大的画家,他不但能描画他的模特儿的面型与相貌,甚至还能画出他们思想的活动以及内在的心理。”这虽然是善意的批评,但是却完全是胡诌的!
当我们看到林勃兰的画幅时,我们的注意力将完全被画中人物的性格所占据了,吸引了。只要看过林勃兰的作品超过两次的人们,就可以不必费神去观看画上的签名,就可以直截地指出林勃兰的作品来。诚然地,当我们看到这些画幅时,我们对所有的主题是殆无感觉的,因为所有的绘画似乎都坚持地重复着一个字,它们再次的嚷着:“林勃兰!林勃兰!”
这位画家所描绘出来的面孔是多么的美丽!多么的神秘!多么的熟悉啊!不过你不要受蒙骗,你就是找遍了全世界的每一个角落,也难以同时找出那么多美丽的、真实的、熟习的有如林勃兰画上的人物。事实上在林勃兰生存的那个时代,在他生活的小圈子里,也并没有那么多善良完美的人物。我们要知道,这些完美,庄严的脸相,并非来自模特儿的本身,而是由画家本身的深挚的友爱与同情才产生出来的。只有林勃兰才能产生这样完美的人物造型——因为这种感情的表现,是由于画家的慈悲胸怀,与善良的个性,以及内心的情绪所流露出来的,并非由于主题事物的感应。因为他并非抄袭临摹,而是创造啊!
我们为了要达到表现的目的,可以随意改变一个鼻子的造型,也可以把一双眼睛的色彩加浓或减淡,或把眉毛的原有形状,改变成一条富有诗意的线条。这种自由地歪曲形式,无非是为了要加强整张画面的结构,藉完妥的布局来达到我们在绘画上的感情表现的目的。
每一位独特的画家,都有着他们不同的性格表现,就好像以上我们所引以为例的米克兰基罗和林勃兰一样,虽然在他们的作品中,都有卓越、完美、庄重或优雅的表现,但是在感情上却有着他们的差异点。
例如在格里科(El Greco)的画幅中,他所表现的感情是直截而大胆的。这种感情很有力地统治了整个的画面,他毫不犹豫的把形式歪曲,那二十倍脸那么长的身体,坚强有力的手足,像铁板一样坚硬的衣服,都是充分地利用布局的手法来达到他那超人风格的表现!
总之,在米克兰基罗的作品中,是以完美有感情的线条,柔和亲切的感觉、强大豪迈的作风,和富有诗意的布局来表现感情的象征。
在林勃兰的肖像画中,却有着一种不可思议的关怀与同情的熟习感,一种庄严的神气,慈悲善良的胸怀。充分地表现了他对人间之善的向往。格里科则以一种强度的力量,大无畏的精神组合成画面,这种力量像暴风力一样,扫掠过整幅的绘画。他的创作,全是有着热烈情绪及强大的魄力表现。所以主题事物在绘画上不过是附随的条件,在美术品中能有丰富的感情表现,画家才能算是有了至上的造就!
我们已知道美术上的布局与表现,完全是由画家本身产生出来的,此二者必须融合为一体,才能使绘画有价值。感情的表现包含了所有的一切因素,诸如:情绪,兴趣,感情,诗意,特色,个性,庄严,意会,同情,强度,力量,华美,……等全包括在感情表现的辞句中。有了它,绘画上才有生命与活力!
一件美术品的创作历程,是始于情感而终于情感的,虽然情感的“质”“量”因人,地,时而不一致,尤其是生命热情的特殊表现,又为各个美术家所独有。不过,一切的美术品都是以情感为内在的神髓,越是伟大的作品,它所有含蓄的感情就越丰富,感动人的力量也就越深刻。所以一个有志于美术的工作者,必须在日常生活中不断的修养熏陶,他必须有真实的感情,完美的理想,并且还要精心刻意于“善”的追求,只有这样才能使他的艺术品有高超独特的风格,才能充分地表现出画家的生命 与感情,才能达到最高的艺术境界!
Modern art places great emphasis on composition and emotional expression. Composition, much like the layout in the Six Principles of Chinese Painting, serves as a means of expression. However, the meaning of "expression" is not easily understood because it lacks boundaries and specific conditions. It exists in the abstract, perpetually within the realm of high art, present in great works. This confusion and longing for understanding have led many artists to pursue it eagerly.
Composition can be seen as a means of expression, allowing artists to distort, invert, or exaggerate natural forms while accurately capturing the essence of art, expressing it more subtly and poetically. Therefore, before delving into artistic techniques, it's crucial to further understand the essence of emotional expression.
The concept of expression in art differs from that in literature. For instance, while a novelist's work may deeply express a character's personality through literary techniques, allowing readers to intuitively grasp their nature, this is purely literary and not artistic expression.
In art, expression is akin to the concept of expression in music. It is not about description, narration, or analysis — it demands aesthetic appreciation, a spiritual rather than intellectual understanding.
For example, in many of Michelangelo's great works, we can perceive a sense of elegance, solemnity, and warmth in every aspect, from the dynamics of each sculpture to the use of form and even every line. The softness of the hands, the strength of the muscles, the drooping heads, and even every fold in the clothing vividly convey a rich range of emotions. This powerful emotion imbues the hard marble with the fluidity of musical melody. Despite depicting scenes of tragedy, the sculptures exude a graceful poetic charm throughout the entirety of their form.
In many of Michelangelo's great works, we can perceive a sense of elegance, solemnity, and warmth in every aspect, from the dynamics of each sculpture to the use of form and even every line. The softness of the hands, the strength of the muscles, the drooping heads, and even every fold in the clothing vividly convey a rich range of emotions. This powerful emotion imbues the hard marble with the fluidity of musical melody. Despite depicting scenes of tragedy, the sculptures exude a graceful poetic charm throughout the entirety of their form.
This graceful poetic essence, noble concepts, magnificent imagery, expansive attitudes, abundant energy, and gentle warmth of emotional expression all stem from the painter's innermost being and cannot be copied from the model. This is Michelangelo's creation, accomplished through his great personality and inner emotions. This is the expression of emotion!
Similarly, in Rembrandt's works, we can also perceive this quality of expression. If someone asks, "Why is Rembrandt so great? What conditions have led to his immortal status in the world of painting?" I can directly respond, "It is his great and solemn painting style!" His portraits do not start from mere external resemblance but rather express inner states. What he paints is completely in line with what he thinks, which is the true expression of emotion, as Sir Philip Sidney of England said, "Climbing out of one's own heart."
Rembrandt's solemn and rigorous qualities are infused into every stroke of his brush, faithfully representing his own thoughts. He never satisfies the vulgar demands of employers and changes his artistic attitude. Therefore, he has formed a unique style of Rembrandt's work, leading to his immortal status in the art world. Especially in his portraits, which can be said to be purely from the heart, bearing Rembrandt's unmistakable characteristics without the need for a signature. Therefore, many records of painting critiques about this master say, "Rembrandt is a great painter. He can not only depict the facial features and appearances of his models but also portray their thoughts and inner psychology." Although this is a kind critique, it is completely unfounded!
When we look at Rembrandt's paintings, our attention will be completely occupied by the characters' personalities depicted in the paintings. People who have seen Rembrandt's works more than twice can easily identify them without having to scrutinize the signature on the painting. Indeed, when we see these paintings, we are almost indifferent to the subject matter, as all the paintings seem to insistently repeat one word, shouting out, "Rembrandt! Rembrandt!"
The faces depicted by this painter are so beautiful! So mysterious! So familiar! But don't be deceived; even if you search every corner of the world, it would be difficult to find so many beautiful, real, and familiar faces like those portrayed by Rembrandt. In fact, during Rembrandt's lifetime, within his small circle, there were not so many kind and perfect individuals. We must understand that these perfect, dignified faces do not come from the models themselves but are created by the painter's profound love and sympathy. Only Rembrandt can produce such perfect characterizations because the expression of this emotion stems from the painter's compassionate heart, kind personality, and inner emotions, not from the subjects themselves. He does not copy but creates!
In order to achieve the goal of expression, we can freely change the shape of a nose, intensify or soften the color of a pair of eyes, or transform the original shape of eyebrows into a poetic line. This freedom to distort form is simply to strengthen the overall structure of the composition, using a well-thought-out layout to achieve our purpose of emotional expression in painting.
Every unique painter has their own distinct character expressions, much like the examples of Michelangelo and Rembrandt mentioned above. Although both exhibit outstanding, perfect, solemn, or elegant expressions in their works, there are differences in their emotional expressions.
For example, in the works of El Greco, the emotions portrayed are direct and bold. This emotion forcefully dominates the entire composition; he unhesitatingly distorts forms, elongating faces twenty times longer, rendering strong and powerful limbs, and clothing as hard as iron plates, all fully utilizing the techniques of composition to achieve his superhuman style of expression!
In conclusion, in Michelangelo's works, emotional symbolism is portrayed through perfect, emotive lines, gentle and warm feelings, a strong and bold style, and a poetic layout.
In Rembrandt's portrait paintings, there is an incredible sense of care and sympathy, a solemn aura, and a compassionate heart. This fully demonstrates his longing for the goodness of humanity. El Greco, on the other hand, combines intensity and fearlessness to create a painting that is like a powerful storm sweeping over the entire composition. His creations are characterized by passionate emotions and powerful expressions. Therefore, the subject matter is merely incidental in painting; it is the rich emotional expression in artworks that truly signifies the artist's supreme achievement!
We already know that the composition and expression in art are entirely generated by the artist themselves. These two aspects must be integrated to give value to the painting. Emotional expression encompasses all factors such as mood, interest, sentiment, poetry, character, personality, solemnity, understanding, sympathy, intensity, power, and beauty, among others. With emotional expression, paintings come to life and exude vitality!
The creative process of an artwork begins and ends with emotion, although the quality and quantity of emotion vary from person to person, place to place, and time to time. Particularly unique expressions of life's passion are exclusive to individual artists. However, all artworks are imbued with emotion as their inner essence. The greater the work, the richer its subtle emotions, and the more profound its power to move people. Therefore, anyone aspiring to be an artist must continually cultivate themselves in daily life. They must possess genuine emotions, perfect ideals, and diligently pursue goodness. Only then can their artworks have a superior and unique style, fully reflecting the artist's life and emotions, and reaching the highest artistic realm!