144. Odalisque [1925-1930]

A noteworthy watercolorist, Max Arnold stands out as one of the representatives of this genre in the country. He will study in Iași, with Gheorghe Popovici and Octav Băncilă, and will be a classmate with artists such as Adam Bălțatu, Aurel Băeșu, Mihai Onofrei or Nutzi Acontz. In the period 1922-1923, he embarks on a study trip to Germany, where he comes into contact with expressionism. He then goes to Rome, to the Higher Institute of Arts, where he meets his compatriots Sabin Popp and Lucian Grigorescu. His many travels abroad will translate into a long series of landscapes in his creations. London, Venice, Munich, Dresden; France and Spain, with their ports and the Breton coast; and even Palestine and Egypt. Inspired by the oriental scent of the latter, Max Arnold will create a series of works that will result in an exhibition at the Hasefer hall. He will take influences from Matisse, Dufy and Marquet, but the fascination of the East will continue to transpire in his works. With his move to Bucharest, he will join the already formed groups of artists and will exhibit alongside them. The present opera, a testimony of the oriental mystery, appears in a vintage image immortalized in the artist's studio, with his wife, Rozina. The previously mentioned photograph is reproduced in the catalog "M. W. Arnold", compiled by Georgeta Peleanu in 1970. The nuances of blue, which follow in the chain of veils that cover the odalisque reveal to us, along with the typical ceramic vessel, a small part of the Eastern universe.

References

OPRESCU, George, "M.W. Arnold", Meridiane Publishing House, Bucharest, 1967.

Dimensions

width 49.5 cm, height 39.5 cm

Description

watercolor on paper, signed lower right, in pencil, "m.w. arnold"

Research information

The work appears in a vintage image from the artist's workshop, alongside Arnold's wife, Rozina. The aforementioned photograph is reproduced in the catalog "M. W. Arnold", Georgeta Peleanu, 1970.

Dating

1925-1930

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