Thursday, August 1, 2013

The Infinite Art Tournament Second-Round Elimination: GRUDGE MATCH: Champaigne v. Chagall!


Two weeks ago today, we witnessed The First Ever IAT Grudge Match!! Today, we are gathered here together to get into this thing called The Second Ever IAT Grudge Match!!  And you might be thinking, "hmm, are Grudge Matches going to start falling hard and heavy now?"  The answer is, I don't think so.  They'll be most common in the Second Round Elimination matches, though, and we've been working through a lot of those lately.

Today's contestants come from a region of the bracket that was just rotten with big-name artists! Philipe de Champaigne had to beat De Chirico to get to this match, and Marc Chagall had to be beaten by Cezanne and beat Christo and, well, Philippe de Champaigne.  For this match The Grudge Match Rule gives Chagall the equivalent of a 1/2 point head start: if an equal number of votes are cast for each artist, Chagall will advance on the strength of his First-Round victory.  (Whoever wins, incidentally, will continue to face tough competition: Joseph Cornell is waiting for a Third Round opponent.)

Leaving the tournament: Giorgio De Chirico (1-2-0; 18 cumulative votes for, 21 against) and Christo (1-2-0; 16-22).



Philippe de Champaigne
1602 - 1674
Flemish; worked in France.





Marc Chagall 1887 - 1985 Russian-born; worked in France






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.

17 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Oooh, nasty matchup here. I'm going with Phillippe de Champaigne today, because I really do like the three views of the Cardinal, and am enjoying the delicious shivers produced by the tulip and skull. And while Chagall is excellent of course, today I'm less in the mood for imaginary dreamscapes and more taken by the uncompromising message of YOU ARE GOING TO DIE.

Christine M. said...

Phillippe de Champaigne

Chckdaddy said...

Go Chagall!

Morgan said...

Last time I voted for Champaigne. It looks like my tastes haven't changed! And I am loving that skull. Champaigne for me, please.

Chance said...

This is a toughie. I'm a sucker for a well-painted skull, and you can't beat three identical cardinals. But I also like Chagall's trippy color explosions.

I'm going with Phillippe de Champaigne.

Ben said...

It's tough to vote against Chagall, but I'm going to have to in this case. The technical prowess of Champaigne win him my vote today.

mrs.5000 said...

OK, I just can't imagine modernism without Chagall (next to Klee) at the gentle end of the spectrum--his lyrical scenes and vibrant palette, his willingness to reinvent rather than sever ties to religion, history, the observed world. He totally has my vote.

Michael5000 said...

Chance is in the house! Long time no see!

pfly said...

Chagall! Chagall! Chagall! (does that count as three votes?)

Nichim said...

Chagal! I feel like this is no contest today.

lamanyana said...

Chagal!

Candida said...

Let's see. Am I voting for the painter or the painting? Oh, screw it. Chagall. And I'm delighted this vote made me go check out his stained glass.

Maria Ontiveros said...

Wow, wow, wow. This one is really hard. I love Chagall but Champaign's skull is really calling to me.
I think I"m going with the skull!
Rinda

Michael5000 said...

This calls for Champaigne!

Anonymous said...

Chagall has such a good imagination, using his Russian- Jewish background to make beautiful pictures.

Sue

Michael5000 said...

Here's a postcard vote for Champagne.

Michael5000 said...

In what has to be seen as a major upset, Champaigne piled up 8 votes to Chagall's 7. THAT'S WHY WE PLAY THE GRUDGE MATCHES! Champaigne marches on to another tough match; Chagall heads off to the locker room in stunned disbelief.