Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Infinite Art Tournament, Left Bracket Round Two: Baldung v. Bacon!

Hans Baldung
c. 1484 - 1545
German

Lost to Giacomo Balla in Round 1.
Trounced Fra Bartolommeo in Left Bracket first round elimination.






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Francis Bacon
1909-1992
British

Defeated Dutch master Hendrick Avercamp in Round 1.
Lost decisively to American naturalist John James Audubon in Round 2.





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Vote for the artist of your choice in the comments, or any other way that works for you. Commentary and links to additional work are welcome. Polls open for at least one month past posting, but likely much longer.

11 comments:

Morgan said...

Baldung moderately repulses (those babies freak me out in the second one) and Bacon is very cool (I love the walamas and the exploding cardinal). I vote Bacon survives!

pfly said...

Hmm, after some googling, followed by indecision, followed by more googling and reading, let's say Baldung.

Chuckdaddy said...

A tough call. Baldung's third picture brings up such a feeling of revulsion for me. Does that mean he should get my vote since he must be doing something right to create such an emotional reaction? And the more I look at Bacon the more amateurish his work is starting to feel to me... Still, I want Baldung and his hideous take on aging out of this tournament.

Dug said...

Bacon. He inspired Robyn Hitchcock to write a bunch of weird stuff.

mrs.5000 said...

I find Baldung's creepiness appeals to me more than Bacon's.

Nichim said...

Baldung; reminds me of Game of Thrones. Or maybe it's the other way around.

Michael5000 said...

There was recently a painting on loan to the Portland Art Museum that allowed me to ask the memorable question "Is it OK to photograph the Bacon?" Which it was, so I did, but I haven't really got past my sense that he's a one-hit wonder, even if that hit (the middle one, here) is a pretty good hit.

And then Baldung... well, he's a bit on the dour side, ain't he. But I like the color fields in the first one, plus the odd allegorical business... "buy some fruit before he beheads you, my Lady? Say, I think we have the same milliner!"

I'm going to vote for Baldung. I think.

Candida said...

Ooh, check it out! Not only does Baldung #1 take my breath a way a little bit, but I really dislike Bacon! (No offense, Bacon-lovers.)

Wildrover said...

Bacon for me - anyone who can mock the pomposity of Velazquez gets my vote.

Michael5000 said...

Wildrover: If you like mocking Velazquez, it's good to pronounce his name with the exaggerated Madrid acthent: Velathketh!

Michael5000 said...

And it's Baldung by a nose, beating Bacon 5-4 amid low voter turnout. Voting is now closed in this pairing.