J. M. W. Turner Arrives at the Dallas Museum of Art
Posted on 13 February 2008 by Daniel Dessinger
I cannot overemphasize the importance or significance of this. J. M. W. Turner is one of my top three favorite painters of all time. When I studied European art history for a semester in Copenhagen, it was Turner who caught my eye first and held it the longest.
What is it about his art that makes me pause to enjoy? It's the way all definite shape and hard edges are lost in fog. You have to perceive what is there because the fog plays with the light and causes color to spread in a very realistic way. In his painting of the train, for instance, I am reminded of the truly human response that comes from staring straight into the foggy mix and desperately trying to pick out the hazy shapes coming closer.
Fog is one of the most romantic and intimate weather anomalies. It brings with it a sense of closeness, as though the sky had condensed and formed a roof just over your head. Sound changes, giving off the deceptive appearance of walls nearby. You can have a very private conversation amidst the fog.
Of course, Turner's work doesn't encompass human interaction but rather architecture, nature, industry, and war. His works definitely have a distant, cold feel to them. My ramblings about the appeal and nature of fog just stem from my appreciation and overactive imagination.
Turner's works will be on display at the Dallas Museum of Art beginning this weekend. You can observe it in person and form your own opinions any time between now and May when the exhibit closes. Any Turner fanatics out there? Let me hear from you.
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February 14th, 2008 at 10:28 am
I’m already captivated. I’ll have to make sure I go see the exhibit, and I love your description of fog!
February 14th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
It is curious that you found Turner in Copenhagen (albeit he once visited that city). Unfortunately Dallas’ gain is London’s loss, and Turner’s wish for a permanent gallery in London remains unfulfilled.