Catholic Art Deco!

An exhibit in France of the artworks produced in the abbey of Saint Wandrille from 1930-1950 – especially in vestments and gold- and silversmiths’ work. It was an attempt to use the Art Deco idiom in religious art – like some of the contemporary work by Hildreth Meiere in the United States. A fantastic catalogue!

 
Chalice 1940

Detail of cope, 1937

These photos are from the Abbaye Saint-Wandrille website:  http://st-wandrille.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88

From the catalogue:

The first thirty years of the twentieth century were marked by a spectacular rise in conversions among intellectuals and artists. The best known is that of Claudel but there were others who would contribute to giving a particular impetus to sacred art, such as those of Henri Charlier, Max Jacob, Pierre Reverdy, Alex Rzewuski and finally Jacques Maritain. These were caught in a dilemma between a world of unbelief and anti-Christianity with which they nevertheless maintained ties and the Roman Church, which multiplied its warnings. Paul Claudel fought for the beautiful and manifested his alarm regarding the future of a religion, which would cut itself off from the tradition and the art, upon which its rites had been founded. The question of the beauty of rite thus was full of meaning for man and the writer shared this preoccupation. According to Pie Régamey, ”his intervention in the realm of Christian art is without a doubt the most decisive which took place between the two world wars.” He stigmatized the “ugly” gestures of devotion and didn’t hesitate to write: “For those who dare to look at them, modern churches have the interest and the pathos of a burdened confession. Their ugliness is the external manifestation of all our sins and defects.” 1)

I wonder what Claudel would think now?

1) “Les Arts Liturgiques de 1920 à 1960: Contexte Intellectual et Religieux” by Bernard Bethod at 15.