Guy Pène du Bois
'The Confidence Man', 1919
This is such a great work. There is SO much drama here. I could have this painting on my wall and be content.
I’m starting to learn about Guy Pène du Bois, a New York artist who worked as an art critic and both an illustrator and painter during the first half of the 20th century.
I first came across du Bois’ work while reading about Edward Hopper, and discovered that the two were close, lifelong friends. The resemblance between their work is striking: both depict figures with a certain stiffness and detachment, but where Hopper’s characters often feel isolated within expansive spaces, du Bois gives his figures more psychological depth while compressing the space around them. His paintings feel more populated and intimate, but less spatially expansive than Hopper’s.
The Waiter - 1910
Wow. Can you see the face on the man?
Love this work.
Du Bois spent decades as an illustrator and art critic across many New York magazines. He traveled to Paris in the 1920s and spent several years working there.
The Politician - 1912
Love this. Its like someone mashed the patriotic sensibilities of Frank Capra with Vuillard and then added a bit of somber reflection on top.
Cliff’s Current Verdict:
I’m sure I’m only starting to view his work as a whole. Of the works that I have seen, I think a handful of them are phenomenal. Even though he spent his life creating artwork, I don’t feel like he pushed himself to the extent that Edward Hopper did for himself. I feel like du Bois had a vision and knew what he was after, but that he only occasionally fully executed successfully.