Sun, Nov 22, 1992
Montpanasse Revisited is a ten-part series that chronicles the art scene in Paris from the 1890s through to World War II. Montparnasse was the artists' quarter with a thriving cafe society. This program looks at the impact on the art community of the controversial building of the Eiffel Tower for the World Exhibition, the arrival of Cubism, Russian artist Ossip Zadkine, art dealer Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler, and Sonia Delaunay share their impressions.
Sun, Nov 29, 1992
In Artists at War the memories of the Montparnasse revelry and prosperity contrast with the writing from the front, reflecting the carnage of war. Poet-artist Jean Cocteau describes his education under Picasso, Stravinsky, and Satie, as well as the rivalries in their artistic community. Other witnesses of the time speak of the renewed spirit of artistic rebellion during the war, the enthusiastic reception of Dadaist art in New York and the arrival of Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and Ezra Pound in Montparnasse.
Sun, Dec 6, 1992
Who was Modigliani? Montparnasse cafes drew artists, musicians and writers from all over the world to the bohemian atmosphere of the day. They gathered each day and evening to share ideas and passions and the painter Amadeo Modigliani, was one of the participants. His daughter and the sculptor Chana Orloff reflect on the life of this great artist.
Sun, Dec 13, 1992
Songs and Sentiments. Montparnasse was the epicenter of the bohemian art scene in the 1930's. The Bobino Theatre was a popular haunt of this community and this program encompasses recordings of some of the singers who performed there and recollections with some of the Montparnasse artists.
Sun, Dec 20, 1992
A Life in the Day of Man Ray. The visionary Man Ray came to Paris with his friend Marcel Duchamp and became a proponent of the surrealist and Dada movements. He created works on canvas, photography and sculpture and it was Man Ray's intent was to shock the viewer into a new way of seeing art. The film contains a 1961 interview with the great artist talking about his life in Montparnasse and his affiliation with the artists Salvador Dali and Max Ernst.
Sun, Dec 27, 1992
Ghosts at the Banquet. Montparnasse an area with crumbling buildings, cheap rent, and many cafes drew artists, musicians and writers from all over the world. Part of the art scene was the Bal Masque where those living on the cutting edge explored the outer limits of society. British actress Diana Rigg reflects on this era of bohemian life in Paris.
Sun, Jan 3, 1993
Les Six-The Composers. This program explores a group of disparate musical composers who were dubbed "Les Six" by the critic Henri Collet. Each member of the six was iconoclastic, rebelling against the popular romantic and impressionistic music of the day. They were influenced by Jean Cocteau and composed everything from ballets to concertos using elements from Jazz and Brazilian music. The composers included Georges Auric, Louis Durey, Arthur Honneger, Darius Milhaud, Francis Poulenc and Germaine Tailleferre.
Sun, Jan 10, 1993
Soutine the obsessed. The Russian born Chaim Soutine was one of the artists who lived in Montparnasse and frequented the cafe scene at the time. Soutine was known for his artistic intensity, his expressionistic use of brush strokes, color and the sometimes disturbing content of his paintings. This program explores the life and psychology of the man, his paintings and the celebrated works of his Choirboys pictures.
Sun, Jan 17, 1993
Face to face with Giacometti. This program explores the paintings and sculpture of Alberto Giacometti in close-up. The production is based on a series of 1960s films in which director Jean-Marie Drot interviewed important surviving figures from the earlier era. Highlights include archive footage, color reproductions of the artworks and modern analysis.
Sun, Jan 24, 1993
The Man behind Picasso, Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler. This program profiles the single man who made the Cubists important. A German-born French art dealer, Kahnweiler is best-known for his early espousal of Cubism and his long association with Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. Kahnweiler, after training in finance in Germany relocated to Paris, where he launched a small gallery. He became interested and supportive of the work of several young artists and exclusively represented Georges Braque, Juan Gris and Pablo Picasso. The program features interview footage with Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler himself who died in Paris in 1979.