Charles Baudelaire

Charles Baudelaire



From The Painter of Modern Life

Baudelaire talks about how most people only admire the popular things and do not take time to appreciate things that are not as known as others. He thinks it is a shame that some of these works of art gets neglected. He also believes that it is ok for people to admire things that are from the past, but they should also admire things that are from the present. He believes that art shoud not be admire only because it is from the past. I agree with him. I love to read classics and study them, but I also love to read and view things that have been produced in my time and admire them for the content and beauty that they actually have instead of admiring them for how old they are.

He then goes on to talk about Monsieur G. He likes the characteristics in him. He likes his modesty, his originality, and his obsessions with a world of images. He also admires how he wants to be anonymous, how he does not care if people approve of him, and how he does not have an ulterior motive. Baudelaire admires how Monsieur G does not sign his pieces using his name. He believes that people should be able to tell that it is Monsieur G's  because " all his works are signed with his dazzling soul." Baudelaire believes that Monsieur G's talents are a gift. He says that he genius comes from curiosity.Baudelaire also says that genius comes from childhood recovered at will. He talks about how children sees everything in newness. That nothing is more delightful than the way children see the world. I love this. I never thought about this until I read Baudelaire but it makes perfect sense. Everything was amazing to me when I was a child. I found the silliest things beautiful. Children just see the world different than adults do. They appreciate things more and do not take as many things for granted like adults do.

Next, Baudelaire talks about modernity. He says that painters dress their subjects in clothes from the past. He said that painters generations before his time had no choice, but the painters of his day that did this were lazy. He said for a portrait to be good, it must be a whole. And to be a whole, it must have everything from the present so that everything fits together. Even the smiles and facial expression. He says that each generations has their own facial expressions and gaits. Again, I have never thought about this. But now that I do think about it, it makes sense. I look at pictures of my parents and family when they are my age and they looks so different, and it is not just the clothing. It is the actual way they look.