Three enigmatic artists: Rennie Mackintosh, Chagall and Picasso

In these 3 sessions art historian, Frank Vigon, will deliver lectures on three enigmatic and prolific artists of the late 19th Century and early-mid 20th Century.
​In Sesson 1 Frank will visit the work of Charles Rennie MacKintosh (1868-1928), the Scottish architect, designer, water colourist and artist who led the Glasgow style by fusing Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts, and Celtic Revival into Modernism. There will be a focus on his unique style: the contrast between short tight angles and floral inspired motifs with subtle curves such as the Mackintosh rose motif.
​Session 2 will look at the long life and varied career of Marc Chagall (1887-1985). Chagall was born in Vitebsk (today’s Belarus) into Jewish ancestry, at a time of great upheaval in Russia. These Jewish roots never left Chagall and were reflected in his individualistic style. He is known for his poetic figurative style which blends Eastern European movements with Cubism, Fauvism and Surrealism. He is famous for his use of colours and believed that ‘colours are a living, integral part of the picture, never passively flat or banal like an afterthought.’
​Our final session will study Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), the Spanish painter and sculptor who spent most of his life in France. He is one of the most influential and well-known artists of the 20th century with his career spanning over 75 years. During that time Picasso’s work was divided into various periods such as Analytic Cubism (1909-1912) and Synthetic Cubism (1912-1919). Frank needs a whole course on Picasso to discuss this enigmatic man but, hopefully, in one session he will attempt to give us a flavour of why he is so influential to 20th century art.
3 sessions, Tuesdays 24/11, 1/12, 8/12 2026, 2-4 pm.