Wells Fargo sponsors anarchist's art show: "Pissarro's People"

[Starry Messenger]

http://peoplesworld.org/wells-fargo-sponsors-anarchist-s-art-show-pissarro-s-people/

Like a revolutionary manifesto thrown over the transom, a powerful exhibit of the politically inspired paintings by 19th century anarchist artist Camille Pissarro delivers a clear message of inspiration and solidarity to today's Occupy movement. That the special exhibit "Pissarro's People" (through January 22nd) at San Francisco's prestigious Legion of Honor Museum , is co-sponsored by a major banking villain, Wells Fargo (along with Bechtel Foundation, funded by the well-known corporate plunderer), only adds to the delight of this exceptionally well-researched revelation of the real French impressionist and his radical life.

"Pissarro's People," drew attention last summer at Clark University in western Massachusetts. The exhibit has been jointly organized by the Legion of Honor Museum and the Francine Clark Art Institute.

"It is the war of the dispossessed against the dispossessors, the war of the hungry against the fat, the war of the poor against the rich, the war of life against death," reads the text accompanying Pissarro's drawing of "Capital" - drawn more than a century ago. The image of a smug and bloated capitalist - surely the predecessor of a 21st century "bankster" - stands above a sea of "the 99%" - the ragged and hungry of 19th century France. This is on page one of the artist's seminal tome, "Turpitudes Sociales" (Social Disgraces), a collection of 28 drawings of human misery and exploitation, created in 1890, toward the end of his life (1830-1903). The back cover has a rising sun and one word - "ANARCHIE."

Shocking as it may seem, today's museumgoers are the first people in the world to see Pissarro's "Turpitudes Sociales." As the wall text states, "The album makes its public debut in this exhibition."

[Hell Hath No Fury]

1. Wow! That's here --

I will have to check it out!

[socialist_n_TN]

2. One of the things that capitalism has been able to do

best is co-opt their opponents by doing things like this. From Tshirts to coffee mugs and now art shows, they can make money or score publicity points out of the system's own antithesis. THAT is co-opting at it's finest.

This type of thing is what I've worried about the Occupy movement being co-opted by. Not the politicians, but the system itself. It's like a "Che" Tshirt.