Henri Fontaine Latour is one of the most difficult artists to define by art historians and critics, he does not belong to any genre, but has his own distinctive style and unique artistic language in painting. His art traveled among various genres, and his name is mentioned in Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism and even the Barbizon School. Finally, the researchers defined the doorless Latour as one of the important figures who recorded the development of French art in the late 19th century, a bridge between the Romantics and the avant-garde.
Latour, "Cheers to Delacroix"
The reason why Latour is a bridge between the Romantics and the avant-garde stems from his most talked-about intimate relationship with the Impressionists, which has led some to classify him as an Impressionist art circle. Latour was able to enter the cultural circle of the Impressionists only because of his close friendship with Eduard Manet. The two met while Latour was studying in the studio of the realist master Courbet, when Latour often went to the Louvre to copy and study the works of his predecessors, where he met Manet.
Latour's Portrait of Edward Manet
At that time, Manet was controversial and criticized for his work "Lunch on the Grass" in the Salon in France, but he had become the spiritual leader and core figure of the young and up-and-coming art group at that time. Latour was deeply attracted by Manet's bold innovations in art, and was also impressed by Manet's lofty position in the emerging art circle at that time, and he also became one of Manet's many fans, and through Manet met many painters, especially Impressionists. During this time, Manet also made the closest confidant of his life through Latour, the only female painter among the founders of Impressionism, and finally Became his sister-in-law, Morrisso.
Latour's Budinon Studio
Latour maintained good relations with many of the Impressionists, as evidenced by his Painting of the Budinon Studio, whose figures were later known as the "Budinon Ensemble". He was close to the Painters of the Impressionists, but he never deviated from the traditional art of painting, but he also borrowed some of the painting styles of Impressionism, learned the avant-garde expression of Impressionism in the use of color, and also borrowed the flexible and rich artistic style of Impressionism in the means of expression, and he combined it with his own painting language to form his own unique artistic expression.
Latour's "Swimmer"
Latour did not become a leader of an artistic genre like his friend Manet, nor did he deviate from classicism to become an "outrageous" artistic pioneer. But he was happy to learn new ways of artistic expression from the young painters of the Impressionists, nor did he reject the new nudes of modern artists to replace the beautiful fairies of classicism. He has always adhered to his understanding and expression of the art of painting, and his eclecticism is his attitude towards all artistic styles and genres, presenting his understanding of beauty in a personal way.
Latour's "After the Bath"
Latour is highly acclaimed for his portraits and still lifes, of which still life painting is his best, he is particularly fond of still life flowers, in the 12 years of events from 1884 to 1896, not even painted other subjects, is recognized as the "holy hand" depicting flowers.
Still life works by Latour
Latour's still life paintings are in line with the simple and realistic style of the Dutch school, and he uses the still lifes common in daily life as the object of depiction - a few bouquets of flowers, a few ordinary fruits and elegant tableware. In the composition of paintings, the shaping of objects and the expression of colors, the artistic style and expression of classicism are maintained, so that the silent objects show a moving beauty. This beauty is subtle and introverted, so that every viewer is deeply immersed in it, and the aftertaste is endless.
【Conclusion】
Latour purified and honed his personal technique between reality and imagination, and instead of going with the flow to chase the distinctive style of "modern" art, he created his own "modern" classicism— a romantic, realistic classical style. Latour's gentle and slightly eclectic artistic style did not attract attention in that era of avant-garde ideas, and it was not until the 1960s that Latour returned to the public eye.
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