Joseph Koerner's new book, "Art in a State of Siege," explores how art reflects societal turbulence, analyzing works by Bosch, Beckmann, and Kentridge. Initially viewing Bosch as a traditional medieval artist, Koerner's insights reveal a deeper connection between his art and contemporary political crises. The book illustrates how these pieces resonate with historical figures during times of unrest and highlights the transformative role of art in understanding current challenges. Inspired by personal experiences and historical turmoil such as the Holocaust, Koerner examines the notion of 'the enemy' in art and society today.
"Now, one almost feels like one is looking to Bosch for what we are supposed to do under our own emergency situation. Instead of being way back in the past, he seems to have become a cipher for the present and an omen for the future."
"Art in a State of Siege seeks to capture that feeling of looking at works of art as 'omens' by examining three images: Bosch's 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', Max Beckmann's 'Self-Portrait in Tuxedo', and a drawing by William Kentridge of a victim of state violence."
"Koerner writes about the political situations that inspired these works, and how they captivated historical figures from the Spanish King Philip II to Nazi jurist Carl Schmitt."
"The phrase 'art in a state of siege' was coined by Kentridge in 1986 at a moment in South African history when the white apartheid government decided the unrest that they perceived themselves to be facing was of such magnitude that they had to suspend the rule of law indefinitely."
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