David Schutter's Grey Paintings Challenge Wittgenstein and Painterly Convention
In her essay for Afterall, Josephine Halvorson delves into David Schutter's nearly monochromatic oil paintings, contesting Wittgenstein's assertion that grey and luminosity cannot exist together. Schutter's artwork has been showcased in two exhibitions in Chicago: 'Rendition' at Logan Center Gallery in 2013 and 'What Is Not Clear Is Not French' at Rhona Hoffman Gallery in 2014. His approach reinterprets historical works from Dutch and French artists, examining the essence of art objects and his dual role as both observer and creator. The piece connects Schutter to Jasper Johns and mentions his 'Regrets' exhibition at MoMA. Titles like 'AIC C 224 3' (2013) and 'GSMB W 21' (2014) divert attention from the sensory experience, while his muted greys convey their own creation.
Key facts
- David Schutter's quasi-monochromatic oil paintings are luminous and grey, challenging Wittgenstein's claim they cannot coexist.
- His work was exhibited in 'Rendition' at Logan Center Gallery (2013) and 'What Is Not Clear Is Not French' at Rhona Hoffman Gallery (2014).
- Schutter re-enacts historical paintings from Dutch and French masters (17th–19th centuries) held in Chicago, Edinburgh, Copenhagen, and Berlin.
- The essay was written by Josephine Halvorson and published by Afterall on 18 September 2014.
- Schutter's practice is compared to Jasper Johns, whose MoMA exhibition 'Regrets' references a 1964 photograph of Lucien Freud by John Deakin.
- The exhibition title quotes Antoine de Rivarol, who argued for French as Europe's lingua franca.
- Paintings like 'AIC C 224 3' (2013) and 'GSMB W 21' (2014) avoid spectacle and narrative, appearing found rather than made.
- Schutter's titles are acronyms identifying the original artwork's artist and institution.
Entities
Artists
- David Schutter
- Josephine Halvorson
- Jasper Johns
- Lucien Freud
- Francis Bacon
- John Deakin
- Antoine de Rivarol
- Watteau
- Chardin
- Corot
- Manet
- Robert Bordo
- Merlin James
- Bianca Beck
- Ludwig Wittgenstein
- Monika Szewczyk
- Christophe Cherix
- Ann Temkin
Institutions
- Afterall
- Logan Center Gallery
- University of Chicago
- Rhona Hoffman Gallery
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- Académie de Berlin
Locations
- Chicago
- Edinburgh
- Copenhagen
- Berlin
- New York
- Paris
Sources
- Afterall —