Okay I studied history at a world class university but one of my favorite classes was also art history. I took it in community college and while I am no means an expert, the designs and ideas I saw were unforgettable. If you read
Catwoman: When In Rome by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, you would have found out that the inspiration for Sale's covers for the six issue mini (which took place between Long Halloween and Dark Victory) were inspired by Italian artist Rene Gruau. It is mentioned in the introduction that Sale took inspiration from Gruau's sketches and applied them to Catwoman.
Upon googling some images, I can see why Sale applied and used Gruau as a model. The man's work is iconic. You know that designer Christian Dior? He helped design those original sketches. Here is an example. It is called "Robe Ispahan" and it was created in 1947 (according to alapeach.com)
Oooh la la.
Anyways, I wanted to make a tribute post and see if I could match Gruau artwork with the covers for When In Rome.
Cover for Chapter Six: Saturday
Le Repos (Portrait of Berthe Morisot) by Edouard Manet (1870)
Berthe Morisot was a very fascinating figure. One of the few female painters, she was coined as one of the "three grand dames" by Gustave Geffroy. She was part of the Impressionist movement. She was accepted into the highly prestigious Salon de Paris and then joined the outcasted Impressionist artist which Cezanne, Renoir, Monet, Pisarro, Degas and Sisley. She was also the sister in law of Edouard Manet. Because of their close friendship, she was often a muse in Manet's work.
I just wanted to point out the similarities between Catwoman and Berthe Morisot, both had 'double lives' if you will, both are fond of art and both are one of three 'dames'. Also, I find it intriguing that through Manet, we find out that he created "Olympia". You have seen variations one called Venus of Urbino by Titian and the other called Sleeping Venus by Giorgone. Giorgone created one of my favorites: The Tempest.
Venus of Urbino by Titian.
Olympia by Manet
Okay, the poses are almost the same but there are some stark differences one of them being that in Titian's painting, there is a dog. Dogs are prevalent throughout art history and it should be a no brainer that they are often symbolized as loyalty. I have a pup and she won't leave me alone! She follows me to the restroom. Of course I don't let her in but she waits patiently outside. In contrast, Manet's painting has a cat. In this case, a cat is associated with prostitution. Hmmmm, very very interesting coincidence that we go from Catwoman to Gruau to Manet to prostitution. In the Middle Ages, the sounds cats made when they were mating was considered an "unholy" sound.
Also, the difference between Titian and Manet's paintings is that in Titian's, Venus looks at you in a softer gaze in contrast to Olympia. Also, it is called VENUS of Urbino so it should not come as a surprise that Venus will be naked. She is a goddess. Manet flat out painted a high class prostitute. It had no allegorical motive, it had no spiritual concern. This was just basic human desire expressed on canvas.
I plan to do a small series of Gruau's art where I pinpoint the origins and have fun talking about them.
Okay, this one was definitely inspired by one I found at a place called Noir Art which I found under Gruau.
This one reminds me of Toulouse-Lautrec, At The Moulin Rouge. It is cosmopolitan and chic. I want to see a slightly altered version with Bats/Bruce, Joker and Pengy as the three guys in front. Haha.
Tags: art, edouard manet, rene gruau, tributes
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