#Art History Paul Guillaume

by Sylphide de Daranyi (no photo)

Finish: 07.12.2023
Title: Paul Guillaume
Genre: non-fiction (285 pg)
Language: French
Rating: F+

Good news: I learned so much about several painters (1880s-1920s) and the art movements they were associated with: fauve, cubisme, “les Nabis”, intimism, rayonism etc.

Bad news: I did not learn it from this book! I think it would have been easier to make a list of painters
and just read Wikipedia. Extra: on Wiki you have some beautiful images of the paintings.

Personal: After a few pages about P. Guillaume and his rise as one of the most important art dealers on Paris in late 19th C and early 20th C…the book was full on pages about art showings, galleries, who is selling what. The book collapsed like a cold soufflé after page 100.

I kept up my interest thanks to Wikipedia. But the most irriatating part was Ms. Daranyi’s insistance on mentioning the prices paid for paintings by Gauillume’s clients.
Who cares?

In the conclusion we discover the diabolical machinations of Mrs. Juliette Guillaume. She was a ruthless social climber, wrapped poor Paul around her little finger leaving 2 dead bodies in her wake! Now that is the making of a great book.

Last thought:  This book was shortlisted for the André Malraux Prize 2023…but  IMO had no chance of  winning. The research is a mile wide and an inch deep…loaded with (at times) superfluous information that makes it weary reading.