The Kreutzer Sonata (painting)
The Kreutzer Sonata (painting) | |
---|---|
Artist | René-Xavier Prinet |
Year | 1901 |
Medium | Oil painting on canvas |
Dimensions | 116.8 cm × 104.1 cm (46.0 in × 41.0 in) |
The Kreutzer Sonata (1901) is an
It depicts a female pianist, dressed in a golden gown, who is pulled up from her stool by a male violinist, who embraces her with one hand around her waist while they kiss. It was first exhibited at Paris, Salon in 1901, and then in Munich and Stuttgart.
The painting was later used to advertise the perfume Tabu by Dana, and may possibly have been the inspiration of a scene in Raj Kapoor's 1949 film Barsaat and subsequently his R. K. logo.
Background
The Kreutzer Sonata is an
Composition
The painting measures 116.8 by 104.1 cm.[1] It depicts a female pianist dressed in a golden gown, who is pulled up from her stool by a formally dressed male violinist, who holds her with his right hand around her waist.[3] His violin is held up in his left outstretched hand, while her fingers still just about touch the piano keys.[3] She is semi-upright in his embrace as they kiss.[3] They are the focus of the painting, with the surroundings blurred or empty.[1] A candle provides some illumination.[1]
Exhibition
It was first exhibited at Paris, Salon in 1901, where it was purchased by Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria.[1] It was also exhibited at Munich and Stuttgart.[1] In 1994, it was sold at Sotheby's, New York.[1]
Adaptations and responses
For decades from 1941, the painting was reproduced to promote the perfume
According to Rahul Rawail, it may possibly have been the inspiration of a scene in Raj Kapoor's 1949 film Barsaat.[13] The scene in turn inspired the R. K. logo by M. R. Acharekar, depicting Kapoor as the violinist, with the actress Nargis in his arms, and was in use by the time of release of Kapoor's film Awaara (1951).[13][14]
Adrian Daub questioned why the violin is positioned so far out, and why is the curtain behind them missing.[2] The violinist has also been described as "dishevelled",[15] and hairy.[12]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "René François Xavier Prinet". Sotheby's.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-998177-9. Archivedfrom the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-429-88719-2. Archivedfrom the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Tabu Loyal to Picture of Passion". The New York Times. 24 November 1961. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ISBN 978-0-671-32167-3. Archivedfrom the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- ^ "Blame it on Tabu". Life Begins At... 15 June 2021. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ Carr, Donald E. (1972). The Forgotten Senses. p. 172. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- ^ a b California Highway Patrolman. California Association of Highway Patrolmen. 1960. p. 27. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ISBN 978-0-8142-0890-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7432-9252-8. Archivedfrom the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-93-88630-18-4. Archivedfrom the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ISBN 978-93-91028-34-3. Archivedfrom the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ISBN 90-5356-790-9. Archivedfrom the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
Further reading
- Karelia, Marja "Kreutzer Sonata: Expressions of Human Anguish in Music, Literature and Beyond". Simon Fraser University