Stay in the Loop
BSR publishes on a weekly schedule, with an email newsletter every Wednesday and Thursday morning. There’s no paywall, and subscribing is always free.
Zhukov and Gury at F.A.N.
Beyond Renoir:
Contrasting landscape styles at F.A.N.
ANDREW MANGRAVITE
F.A.N. Gallery offers an interesting display of contrasting landscape styles. The main space is devoted to a return appearance by Serge Zhukov, whose show consists of both landscapes and figure studies, while the gallery’s second floor space (a climb, but well worth it) hosts a series of small landscapes by Al Gury.
Zhukov’s landscapes drip mood— his Sunset in New Hope is an especially bravura example of a moody landscape. But works like First Snow and Bucks County Sunset, although quieter in tone, still work their way into your mind’s eye, insinuating themselves with their creamy surfaces and the occasional startling bit like the setting sun painting a snow bank orange. Reflecting Light, though in theory a floral piece, demonstrates Zhukov’s low-key bravura lighting effects with the water in a glass bowl glowing from within.
By contrast, Zhukov’s figure studies are quieter, more workmanlike affairs, rendered in earthy tones. Short Period Between Performances is the centerpiece of this group, a study of five young female dancers in various postures of repose.
I’ve written about Al Gury’s landscapes before (see my review of May 8, 2006). I still admire their old-fashioned look. This time Gury is exhibiting six small oils, all depicting a stand of trees as seen in various seasons and at different times of day. They are very much meat-and-potatoes nature studies, serving both as “documents” (in Atget’s sense of the word) and decorations, and that is perhaps their charm.
Contrasting landscape styles at F.A.N.
ANDREW MANGRAVITE
F.A.N. Gallery offers an interesting display of contrasting landscape styles. The main space is devoted to a return appearance by Serge Zhukov, whose show consists of both landscapes and figure studies, while the gallery’s second floor space (a climb, but well worth it) hosts a series of small landscapes by Al Gury.
Zhukov’s landscapes drip mood— his Sunset in New Hope is an especially bravura example of a moody landscape. But works like First Snow and Bucks County Sunset, although quieter in tone, still work their way into your mind’s eye, insinuating themselves with their creamy surfaces and the occasional startling bit like the setting sun painting a snow bank orange. Reflecting Light, though in theory a floral piece, demonstrates Zhukov’s low-key bravura lighting effects with the water in a glass bowl glowing from within.
By contrast, Zhukov’s figure studies are quieter, more workmanlike affairs, rendered in earthy tones. Short Period Between Performances is the centerpiece of this group, a study of five young female dancers in various postures of repose.
I’ve written about Al Gury’s landscapes before (see my review of May 8, 2006). I still admire their old-fashioned look. This time Gury is exhibiting six small oils, all depicting a stand of trees as seen in various seasons and at different times of day. They are very much meat-and-potatoes nature studies, serving both as “documents” (in Atget’s sense of the word) and decorations, and that is perhaps their charm.
Sign up for our newsletter
All of the week's new articles, all in one place. Sign up for the free weekly BSR newsletters, and don't miss a conversation.
