法蘭克．維斯頓．班森繪畫中的東方藝術元素研究

Abstract

本研究主要探討美國19世紀印象派畫家法蘭克．維斯頓．班森（賓森）（Frank Weston Benson, 1862-1952）其畫作受到東方藝術元素的影響和層面，如何藉由東方藝術元素的諸多特質，呈現美國人對於「東方藝術」的定義與想像。以此觀點為論文初衷，筆者以東方藝術中的「虛實」「黑白」為論述對象，將論文聚焦於過去藝評家與藝術史家在談論東西藝術交流時，較少關注的「虛實」「黑白」之議題，藉由Benson的墨水畫作探討東西方美學觀點與構圖原則，並且也證明了中美貿易促進了藝術的交流。 第一章探討中美貿易初探、美國中國熱、Benson與東方藝術的初步接觸，希望藉此建立起東西藝術的脈絡，強調與東方貿易的交流引發美國19世紀的殖民地復興風格（Colonial Revival Style）現象之深刻鏈結。二、三、四章則分別以印象派對美國繪畫的影響、Benson作品分析與風格定位、Benson在美國藝壇中的定位為三大主軸，來整合出筆者對美國19世紀的東西藝術交流的觀察，第三章將重心放在比較Benson和惠斯勒這兩位藝術家的作品。他們兩人的作品皆以東方藝術為主軸，各自展開出個人特色的具東方藝術元素的創作。 縱觀美國藝術史，Benson被歸納為「波士頓學院畫派」的畫家，同時也是美國印象派十人團體「The Ten」成員之一，參加這些團體讓Benson在藝壇上立足並且名聲遠播，因此本文也廣泛探討Benson所屬的團體以及起因，藉由在藝術史上對Benson隸屬的團體的定位也發掘出Benson繪畫價值。Benson的一生中作品數量頗多，且善用不同材料進行創作，Benson利用具有東方藝術元素的畫作優勢在團體中引人注目，Benson墨水畫中的野禽系列令人發出讚嘆，讓同時期的畫家望塵莫及，本研究最後以Benson獨特的墨水畫探討出西方藝術家如何內化東方藝術元素，融合東西方藝術進行創作和安排，看見Benson的畫作便可以印證東西藝術的交流讓西方藝術家得到創作的靈感和啟發，也藉由Benson的畫作讓美國人看見東方藝術美學。

The main focus of this research is the elements and aspects influenced by Eastern art in the works of Frank Weston Benson (1862-1952), who is one of the America impressionists in 19th century, and how does these oriental artistic characteristics help him to express the definition and imagination of Eastern art from the perspective of Americans’. Based on this incipient intention, the subject of my discourse will be the concepts of “virtual/ reality” and “black/white”, which both lack attention from art critics and art historians when they are discussing the exchange between western and eastern art. Moreover, the argument can also be proven that the trade between China and America had promoted the exchange of art by the aesthetic perspective and principles of composition in Benson’s ink paintings. The first chapter explores the early history of trade between China and America, the fever of Chinese culture in American, and the initial contacts between Benson and Eastern art. From these perspectives, this research tries to construct the context of both Eastern and Western art and emphasizes on the phenomenon of the emergence of Colonial Revival Style excited by the trade with the eastern world in the 19th century. Chapter two, three and four respectively look into different points, which are the influence from Impressionism on American painting, the analysis of Benson’s works and style, and the position of Benson in American art. These chapters will be organized to present my observation of the exchange between Eastern and Western arts. Besides, by comparison of the works of Benson and Whistler, I am also going to point out how they developed individual styles with mutual characteristic of using elements of Eastern art. Making an overall observation of history of American art, Benson is categorized as “Boston School”and also a member in a group of American impressionism “The Ten”. Since participating in these groups enables Benson to obtain extensive fame in the art world, this research also explores the origins of these groups Benson belongs, which can be a determined factor for explaining the values of Benson’s paintings. Benson left a large number of works and was good at using different mediums. Using eastern artistic elements becomes his advantage in his group, and the ink wash series of wild fowl are so praiseworthy that other artists of this period of time all felt hard to achieve his accomplishments. This research ends with an exploration of Benson’s unique ink wash works, especially on the ways Western artists absorb Eastern artistic elements into their own spirits and the creative process of arranging both Eastern and Western arts. From Benson’s paintings, the truth that exchange between Eastern and Western arts can inspire Western artists will be confirmed; moreover, his paintings can bring Americans the opportunities of witnessing the aesthetic of Eastern art.