Monumental Intolerance
Jean Baffier, a Nationalist Sculptor in Fin-de-Siecle France
Published on 1. September 2000
Book
Hardback
376 pages
978-0-271-01965-9 (ISBN)
Description
Little known today, Jean Baffier (1851-1920) was never far from the headlines during his own lifetime. Born into a poor peasant family, he became a self-taught sculptor whose work ranged from decorative objects to portrayals of peasant life and public monuments. But Baffier would probably not have received wide public attention if he had not also become a folklorist, a promoter of regional culture, and a militant nationalist with beliefs so violent that he attempted a political assassination.
Monumental Intolerance explores the full gamut of Baffier's activities and shows that he was pursuing a vast scheme of national purification and rebirth. Neil McWilliam's discussion of the historical issues surrounding Baffier opens an extraordinary perspective on the culture wars and political struggles of a turbulent period in French history.
This book will interest the art-historical community and historians of fin-de-siecle France.
Monumental Intolerance explores the full gamut of Baffier's activities and shows that he was pursuing a vast scheme of national purification and rebirth. Neil McWilliam's discussion of the historical issues surrounding Baffier opens an extraordinary perspective on the culture wars and political struggles of a turbulent period in French history.
This book will interest the art-historical community and historians of fin-de-siecle France.
Reviews / Votes
"Superb study of art and lost causes"-Thomas Laqueur London Review of Books "As a historical study of an artist, rather than a purely art historical study, Monumental Intolerance makes an extremely important contribution to our knowledge of both art and politics during the Third Republic. McWilliam convincingly demonstrates how and why the career of Jean Baffier is of signal importance. This richly detailed and impeccably researched volume additional gives a view into Third Republic cultural politics that is as compelling as it is dispiriting. For McWilliam has documented the mechanics of ressentiment-resentment-which fostered the consolidation of right-wing factions in opposition to the secularism, internationalism and democrative aspirations espoused by the French left."
-Abigail Solomon-Godeau Art in America "A fascinating exploration of an almost wholly forgotten figure. . . . This is categorically not a conventional life-and-works approach to its subject, but rather an exercise in historical recovery."
-Apollo
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
University Park
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Illustrations
97 Halftones, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 279 mm
Width: 216 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
1474 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-271-01965-9 (9780271019659)
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Schweitzer Classification