西鹣东鰈——欧洲文化之都艺术精品明在温开展

展览前言

文/沈中杰

法国古典主义的原型是拉丁古典主义。庞贝、赫尔库蓝姆城新出现了大量考古结果，整个欧洲文化界流行起模仿古代希腊、古罗马的艺术风气。这种模仿进入到了美学和道德领域。德国学者温克尔曼的著作《古代艺术史》为新古典主义提供了理论基础。他把古希腊艺术当作最完美的艺术模式，把“高贵的单纯和静穆的伟大”的古典风格奉为艺术的最高境界，引起了⼈们对古典主义的兴趣。这个艺术思潮反对巴洛克和洛可可艺术，希望重振古希腊、古罗马艺术，我们称之为新古典主义。

新古典主义注重古典艺术形式的完整、雕刻般的造型，追求典雅、庄重、和谐，同时在绘画上坚持严格的素描关系和明朗的轮廓，极力减弱色彩要素。人性对于这种“古典完美”的追求，我们现在可以理解，每个时代都有属于其时代的“古典主义”。

从传统的古典主义一直到与之相对应的浪漫主义和现实主义，法国不仅引领了19世纪整个欧洲的政治思想解放运动，而且在艺术领域掀起新兴思潮和运动，如新古典主义、形式主义、印象主义、象征主义等，也对欧洲其他国家产生了重要影响。

温州博物馆“西鹣东鲽——欧洲文化之都艺术精品展”展出的是以法国19世纪为主的重要艺术精品，包括雕塑、油画、古典家具，其中罗丹、卡尔波、兰多斯基等大师的作品让我们切身感受到了艺术的力量。通过展览活动，梳理欧洲的艺术发展史，在欣赏艺术大师作品的同时，可以从一个侧面了解西方文化的脉络。我们虽然不在艺术家的时代现场，但是依然可以聆听历史回音。

“西鹣东鲽”不仅仅是“世界珍稀之物”的简单解释，更多的是期待这样一次中法两国间的文化交流对话，加强了解，增进友谊。如“鲽”之比目连枝，如“鹣”之比翼齐飞。

French classicism is derived from Latin classicism that once thrived in ancient Rome. The discoveries at Herculaneum and Pompeii inspired European artists to reimagine Greco-Roman antiquity, including the aesthetics and moral values. German archaeologist Johann Joachim Winckelmann’s Geschichte der Kunst des Alterthums, 1764 (History of the Art of Antiquity) was the theoretical basis for neoclassicism. He regarded ancient Greek art as the perfect artistic model, and the classical style of “edle Einfalt und stille Grösse” (noble simplicity and quiet grandeur) as the highest pursuit of art, galvanizing public attention to classicism. This art movement ran against the styles of Baroque and Rococo, and aimed to revive ancient Greek and Roman art, hence the name neoclassicism. 

Neoclassicism maintains the style of classical art with emphasis on elegance, solemnity and harmony. Neoclassic painting is characterized by the austere linear design, clarity of form and sober colors. Such pursuit of “classical perfection” has now been understood by many as every generation has its own “classicism”. 

From classicism, romanticism to realism, France has always been the pioneer. The country took the lead in European political and emancipation movements in the 19th century, and, moreover, was the trendsetter in the art field during the period. All emerged in France, neoclassicism, formalism, impressionism and symbolism exerted profound influence on other European countries. 

What Wenzhou Museum’s West Meets East – European Fine Art Exhibition display are indeed French artworks of the 19th century, ranging from sculptures, oil paintings to classical furniture. We shall feel the power of art in our close contact with the works of Auguste Rodin, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Paul Maximilien Landowski and other great artists. The exhibition will be an opportunity for us to walk through the history of European art and Western culture. We cannot meet the artists face to face, but the echoes of history will still be heard. 

West Meets East – European Fine Art Exhibition is more than “a collection of rarely-seen artworks in the world”. It marks a cultural exchange event to enhance mutual understandings and friendship between China and France. On high, our two countries shall be birds, flying side by side; on earth, two trees with branches twined from spring to spring.