Baudelaire's poem Correspondances (1857) introduced his theory that the symbol is more important than the thing symbolized. The idea of mystical correspondences had been proposed by Swedish philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772), who believed that every form in heaven corresponds to a form on earth. For Baudelaire, the the path to truth for the artist led through symbol and metaphor. 
To me, what the two works shown here share is a correspondence. The colors, the abstract rendering of familiar shapes, seemingly floating in air or water, the fan - all this may be a coincidence or synchronicity or homage (on the part of Francoise Gilot). Whatever it is, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, through its occasional Visiting Masterpieces program brought Van Gogh's The Sower from Amsterdam to display next to its own Sower by Millet this spring, in a similar move. This may be an example of the internet having an influence for the good on how we look at art.
Images:
1. Francoise Gilot - Intermezzo, 2009, Billy Lee Thompson Gallery, NYC.
2. Gustave Klimt - Lady With A Fan, 1917, National Gallery of Modern Art, Rome.
2 comments:
What a great post Jane! Love the image, Baudelaire, and the connections you are drawing--another benefit of the internet
Art, I think we are attracted to correspondences in art because they seem to offer meaning. Whether the meaning is inherent or something we endow the work with, is a debate to keep philosophers busy. You're so right about the internet.
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