Hunt Slonem

Blue Boy

2023

Hunt Slonem's artistic trajectory has always been characterized by a deep exploration of spiritual themes. His use of repetition in form—particularly with his beloved bunnies—serves ...

Hunt Slonem's artistic trajectory has always been characterized by a deep exploration of spiritual themes. His use of repetition in form—particularly with his beloved bunnies—serves ...

French Expressionist oil on wood panel view of a bull in an arena by Jean Arène. The painting is signed bottom left, is painted on an antique wood, chamfered cornered, table top that the artist has reused and is in the original Arène frame crafted by the artist. Jean Arène was a student of August Chabaud, a highly sought after French artist in Provence who in turn took his inspiration from Cezanne. A strong and engaging view of a traditional Camargue, South of France scene where a bull is in an arena and is being trained for 'Free Running'. The audience watch on in awe as the 'subalternos' in the ring avoid being caught by the bull, one of them is seen jumping over the protective wooden wall surrounding the ring. Arène has captured the scene from his own experience of visiting such events which have been such an inspiration to artist such as Goya and Picasso. He has used a limited colour palette to great effect, highlighting the audience figures and central area in greys and whites. The handling of the figures around the outside of the scene is very reminiscent of the works of Raoul Dufy. Bullfighting (from the Greek tauros, "bull" and makheia, "fight") is the way of confronting the bull, either during fights, or during sports or burlesque games such as bull training. The reality of bullfighting shows vary according to practice and country. Bullfighting practices have acquired a stable form, codified rules and real institutionalization. These include the course landaise, the Camargue race in France, the toros coleados in Venezuela and Colombia, the jaripeo in Mexico, the rodeo chileno in Chile, the race de recortadores in Portugal or El rodeo...

Hunt Slonem was born in Kittery, Maine in 1951. His fascination with exotica imprinted during his childhood in Hawaii and experience as a foreign exchange student in Managua, Nicarag...