Elena Rossi
Lebanese-American artist Nabil Kanso created the Faust series of paintings between 1976 and 1979, comprising over 100 paintings inspired by Goethe's 1808 play Faust Part One and Part Two. Faust is one of Kanso's many series of works that deal with contemporary, historical, and literary themes, marked by figurative imagery and spontaneous and vigorous handling of paint, often on a large scale.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of paintings in the Faust series | 100 |
| Date of creation | 1976-1979 |
| Themes | Human drama, the entanglement of relationships, sexuality, tension, pathos |
| Colours | Black, orange, red, yellow |
| Brushstrokes | Aggressive |
| Paint style | Dripping |
| Subject matter | Loosely based on Goethe's 1808 play Faust Part One and Part Two |
| Figures depicted | Faust, Mephistopheles, Margaret (Gretchen) |
| Composition | Triangular |
| Scenes | Auerbach's Cellar, Street, Garden, Cave and Well, Evening and Night, Cathedral, Walpurgis Night, Dungeon, Dreaming of Helen |
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What You'll Learn
Faust was painted between 1976 and 1979
Faust is a series of paintings loosely based on Goethe's 1808 play Faust Part One and Part Two. The paintings depict figural compositions in a sequence of scenes, exploring the intricate entanglement of human relations and the relationship between three primary figures: Faust, Mephistopheles, and Margaret (Gretchen). Faust is the old scholar who pledges his soul to the devil; Mephistopheles is the Devil's representative; and Margaret is the young woman "seduced and made unhappy by the evildoer."
The Faust paintings are characterized by intense imagery, with dripping paint, aggressive brushstrokes, and layers of black, orange, red, and yellow. The series includes works such as Auerbach's Cellar, Street, Garden, Cave and Well, Evening and Night, Cathedral, Walpurgis Night, Dungeon, and Dreaming of Helen, each exploring different aspects of the Faust story and its characters.
Nabil Kanso's work on the Faust series took place during a period of significant artistic output. Between 1974 and 1979, Kanso took studios in various locations in the Carolinas, Atlanta, and New Orleans, producing a large number of paintings. During this time, he also created the series Vietnam (1974), Lebanon (beginning in 1975), One-Minute (1978–79), the Jazz suite (1978–79), and Faust. Kanso's work during this period reflects his engagement with the conflicting Eastern and Western cultures and traditions he experienced, as well as his response to the Lebanese Civil War, which began in 1975.
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Faust is a series of over 100 paintings
Kanso's paintings are characterised by intense and vigorous imagery, with dripping paint, aggressive brushstrokes, and layers of black, orange, red, and yellow. The artist often worked on a large scale, and his paintings reflect movement and tension, addressing social, political, and war issues. Kanso's work was influenced by his Lebanese heritage and his experiences of war and conflict. He was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1940, and the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975 profoundly affected him and his art.
Kanso's Faust series is part of a broader body of work that includes other series such as Vietnam (1974), Lebanon (1975), One-Minute (1978-79), Jazz Suite (1978-79), and many others. Kanso held his first solo exhibition in 1971 at the 76th Street Gallery in New York, displaying 80 paintings and drawings. Throughout the 1970s, he exhibited his works across various locations and gained recognition for his powerful and expressive paintings.
Kanso's art is known for its ability to convey intense emotions and address important social and political issues. His work has been described as a "visual transmission of personal emotions, experiences, and visions" that engage the viewer and spark dialogue. Kanso's Faust series, with its exploration of human relationships and emotions, is a significant contribution to his oeuvre and a testament to his enduring exploration of the human condition through art.
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Faust is based on Goethe's 1808 play
Faust, the protagonist of a classic German legend, is based on the historical Johann Georg Faust (c. 1480–1540). Faust is a learned man who, despite his success, is dissatisfied with his life. This leads him to make a deal with the Devil, exchanging his soul for worldly pleasures. The story was first popularized in England by Christopher Marlowe's play, The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (c. 1592).
Over two hundred years later, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe reworked the story in a two-part tragic play, usually known in English as Faust, Part One and Faust, Part Two. Goethe's play was first published in 1808, with a revised edition released in 1828-29. Nearly all of Part One and most of Part Two are written in rhymed verse.
Faust, Part One sets out the magician Faust’s despair and his pact with Mephistopheles, a demon who helps Faust seduce Gretchen, an innocent young woman. Gretchen's life is ultimately destroyed when she gives birth to Faust's illegitimate son, whom she drowns. However, due to her innocence, Gretchen is saved and enters Heaven, while Faust is spared damnation through Gretchen's pleas with God.
In contrast to Part One, Faust, Part Two shifts its focus from Faust's soul to social phenomena such as psychology, history, and politics, as well as mystical and philosophical topics. This second part was the principal occupation of Goethe's last years, with the final version published posthumously and recognized as a great work of German literature.
Nabil Kanso's Faust series of paintings, created during 1976-79, is inspired by Goethe's dramatic interpretation of the Faust legend. Kanso's series comprises over 100 paintings that delve into the intricate entanglement of human relations and the interplay between Eastern and Western cultures and traditions.
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Faust's style: dripping paint, aggressive brushstrokes, dark and light
Faust is a series of approximately 100 paintings created between 1976 and 1979 by the Lebanese-American artist Nabil Kanso. The paintings are loosely based on Goethe's 1808 play Faust Part One and Part Two, exploring the intricate entanglement of human relations.
The Faust series is characterised by Kanso's distinctive style, marked by dripping paint, aggressive brushstrokes, and the use of dark and light colours. The artist employs a combination of black, orange, red, and yellow hues, creating agitated areas around the figures. Kanso's handling of paint is spontaneous and vigorous, reflecting movement and tension in the scenes depicted. His works often address social, political, and war issues, with the Lebanese Civil War profoundly influencing his themes surrounding violence and human suffering.
Kanso's Faust series reflects his connection to conflicting Eastern and Western cultures and traditions. The artist's exhibition displays surrounded viewers with his paintings, conveying the intensity of his subject matter. The large-scale formats of his works further enhance the impact of the portrayed scenes, heightening the atmosphere of fear and oppression.
One critic observed that Kanso's "strong colours and powerful brushstrokes blend with the subject matter: world chaos." The Faust paintings stand as a tribunal, interpreting and transmitting the voices that burst out of the canvases. Kanso's calm and quiet demeanour during the creative process contrasts with the intense and often disturbing nature of his artworks.
The Faust series, with its combination of dripping paint and aggressive brushstrokes, showcases Kanso's unique ability to express his vision of human drama and the complexities of human relationships. The use of dark and light colours adds depth and emotion to the scenes, further emphasising the intense imagery for which Kanso's work is known.
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Faust's themes: human drama, relationships, tension, sexuality
Faust, a tragic play in two parts by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, explores several themes, including human drama, relationships, tension, and sexuality. The play is set against the backdrop of the Age of Enlightenment and the Romantic period, and examines the life of Faust, a scholar who strives to push the boundaries of human experience and knowledge.
Human Drama
Faust is characterised by his dissatisfaction with the limits of human potential. He is frustrated with the vanity and uselessness of scientific, humanistic, and religious learning, which motivates him to pursue magic and infinite knowledge. This dissatisfaction leads him on a quest for personal fulfilment, marking his entire life with a sense of disappointment as he fails to achieve his goals. Faust's journey involves indulging in magic, spectacles, and women, reflecting a male-oriented and heteronormative perspective on the surface.
Relationships
The relationships in Faust are complex and often strained. Faust's relationship with Mephistopheles is a prominent one, as they engage in a wager that becomes a unifying structure for the entire work. Mephistopheles bets with God that he can lure Faust away from righteous pursuits, and this dynamic between the characters drives the plot forward. Faust's relationship with Wagner, his assistant and a more committed scholar, also highlights the contrast between their approaches to knowledge and intellectual pursuits.
Tension
The play creates tension by exploring the boundaries between good and evil. Faust, as a representative of mankind, struggles with distinguishing between the two, especially when tempted by personal sinfulness. This tension is heightened by the presence of Mephistopheles (Satan), who embodies the devilry associated with Faust's actions and desires. Faust's quest for knowledge and power blurs the lines between what is considered socially acceptable and what is deemed a sin against Biblical and social statutes.
Sexuality
Faust's sexuality and that of other characters have been the subject of analysis and interpretation. While the story appears heteronormative on the surface, with Faust's sexual attraction to women, there are queer and transgender subtexts in the relationships between characters. Faust's alleged actions, including sodomy and sexual relationships with male students, have been documented in letters by religious leaders. These accusations contribute to Faust's ostracisation from society and emphasise the didactic nature of the tale, where deviating from social and Biblical norms leads to an association with the devil.
Nabil Kanso's Faust series of paintings, created during 1976-1980, further interpret and visualise the themes and complexities of the Faust myth.
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Frequently asked questions
Faust is a series of paintings created between 1976 and 1979 by Nabil Kanso.
Faust is a series of approximately 100 paintings that draw inspiration from Goethe's 1808 play, Faust (Part One and Part Two). The paintings explore the human drama and the intricate entanglement of human relations.
The Faust paintings are characterised by intense imagery created with dripping paint, aggressive brushstrokes, and the application of several layers of black, orange, red, and yellow. The paintings reflect movement and tension, embodying the emotions of the characters rather than narrating the tale that inspired them.
