Leon Golub Exhibit, Hall Art Foundation, Vermont

I love the Hall Art DFoundation space, but I also like the way they do a comprehensive presentation of an artist's work. Leon Golub was married to a cousin of my mother-in-law's and if I had to sum it up, he was a painter of men, and as his career advanced, a painter of violent men in the act of fighting or more commonly beating up or subjugating other men. He did not focus on the good in men. This exhibit spanned his career from 1947-2003, and some of his early works, this one os Abe Lincoln included, were much lighter in tone but did not stray from a life long theme of depicting powerrful men. He also had a series of portraits of famous dictators, many known for their ruthlessness. Here is what the exhibit had to say about him: "Leon Golub believed that art must have an observable connection to real world events to have relevance for the viewer. Since the 1940’s, he created paintings that are psychological, emotive and deliberately up front – as topical today as when they were first made. Working in a distinctive figural style influenced by classical and primitive art, photography, print and broadcast media, Golub depicts scenes of private and public conflict to investigate the frequent and complicated ways in which power is abused. His works challenge the stereotypical polarities of victim and aggressor, while balancing an investigation of modern-day political problems with timeless and universal human issues."