Charismatic Yong Joon - Manet Series IV

Hi Hi dear sisters ..... I am having some major computer problem, so I'll try to post before it crashes on me soon, sob sob :( Once again, thanks gosijo for your wonderful translation which gives us a different dimension to appreciate Manet's scripts and our Yong Joon.

In this chapter, I attempt to explore Manet’s still life painting and its relevance to our prince’s favourite passion, the art of photography :

Manet dedicated one-fifth of his drawings, no less than 80 of them, to still life paintings. He believed still life, more than any other genre, tried the painter’s ability to convey the appearance of subject in its purest form. The artist’s mastery of the arrangement of subjects, angle of vision, illumination and precision are of crucial importance. The creativity of still life is two-fold : first expressed in the arrangement of the subjects, second during the course of painting. Manet regarded still life painting as the epitome of an ‘art built upon another art’.





In modern times, this creative process is rediscovered in the art of photography whereby the artist would consider the same four aspects : arrangement, angle, illumination and precision. We heard numerous accounts from renowned photographers and art directors of how Yong Joon can transcend like a dream, a miracle through camera lenses. For us family who appreciates his acute sense of aesthetics and quest for perfection, these compliments are not magnification but a recognition of his metamorphosis. While outwardly appearing relaxed and acting leisurely to complement the impression of each shoot, his work attitude is strictly intense and professional. Our prince would meticulously examine each picture for its precision and aesthetic quality to his high standard. We are blessed with the end-product of that scrutiny as his radiance is beautifully captured under designed illumination and each picture becomes a self-contained perfection.





For Manet, the charm and style of apparel were hardly superficial matters. His notion of dressing was in many layers - implying external appearance, style of behaviour and speech reflected one’s awareness of artistic and literary tendencies, as well as philosophical, social and political concerns. His remarks ‘Il faut etre de son temps’ - meaning ‘it’s necessary to be of its time’, conveyed a tone of his modernism. If Manet were a photographer in present day’s 21st century, he could well be inducted into our prince’s favourite photographers circle, among the likes of Kim Tae Hwan and the late Henri Cartier-Bresson. This set of drawings illustrates Manet’s consciousness of the relationship of inanimate objects to the delights of human life, further substantiated by our prince as a style icon :



et elle déménage. Je suis même étonné de ne pas avoir eu de ses nouvelles. J’ai peur de vous fatiguer de mes lettres. Vous me le disez n’est-ce pas.
(gosijo's translation : and she is moving. In fact, I am surprised I have not received any news from her. I worry you will tire from my letters. You will let me know, won’t you?
gosijo's thoughts : Joonie being very gentlemanly, here, but still a bit tongue-in-cheek smile – How comes that other woman has dared not to send news? And does he really expect his present correspondent will tire of receiving his letter? Is he fishing for a compliment??)




Bellevue Jeudi
___ si vous voulez chère Madame mais jeune ___ celle-là, et qui me permet de passer très agréablement mon temps. Je me porte de mieux en mieux (…)
(gosijo's translation : Thursday
___ if you so wish, dear Lady, but that is simply a young ____, and one that allows me to spend my time very pleasantly. My health is steadily improving (…)
gosijo's thoughts : Aha! It seems this Lady is somewhat older and has mocked our Joonie for doing something only young people do. He looks rather unconcerned and seems to imply that spending his time pleasantly improves his health!)




Bellevue,
J’attends Chère Demoiselle une relation _____ par vous – on vous a vu vous promener ____ - avec qui ? ____ feu d’artifice _______ de ___ jardin ____ dit-on dans les journaux. Mettez-moi un peu au courant ____ _____ (…)
(gosijo's translation : I expect, my dear young Lady, a (full) account from you – you were seen strolling ____ - With whom? ____ fireworks ____ _____ garden ____, it says in the newspapers. Fill me in (on the details) ____ _____ (…)
gosijo's thoughts : Joonie is playing at being Hyeong with his words, here, but his devastating looks let us know he has ulterior motives. How dare this young lady stroll with what can only be another man??? ‘Hyeong’ wants to know!!)




Bellevue
14 juillet 1880,
Vive l’armistice, E. Manet
Je ne vous écrirai plus vous ne me répondez jamais
(gosijo's translation :
July 14th, 1880
Happy Armistice Day! E. Manet
I will no longer write as you never answer
gosijo's thoughts : Ooooh, and I always thought this picture showed Joonie feeling a delicious cooling breeze caress his serene features. But no! He is pretending to be supremely unconcerned by his correspondent’s neglect. The note gives no direct clue as to the gender of the intended recipient but Joonie’s look makes that abundantly clear, ahem!!)


References :

1. Impressionism, Belinda Thomson and Michael Howard, Bison Books Corp. 1988
2. Impressionism Art, Leisure & Parisian Society, Robert L.Herbert, Yale University Press, New Haven & London. 1988
3. Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, James N. Wood, The Art Institute of Chicago. 2000
4. Manet The Still-Life Paintings, George Mauner, The American Federation of Arts. 2000