Exhibition Sean Keating: Contemporary Contexts, Crawford Gallery, Cork

This exhibition was shown in a current climate of economic hardship and emigration, drawing close similarities with social circumstances at the time. Sean Keating made his own later work, post  War of Independence, which was often critical of the governing classes.
The purpose of the exhibition was to re-examine Sean Keating's  longstanding reputation as a political reactionary with strong nationalist beliefs, and attempts to challenge this. It tries to convey that he was infact an astute history painter, during a turbulent time in national politics.   Almost always present was his concern for narrative, which was often subversive and controversial. Much of his work was intended to document the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War which followed. His work, portraying heroic illustrations of hard working people of the Arran Islands or of defiant men and women during troubled times, full of symbolism,   yet also depicting disillusionment. 
Some would say his paintings gave an idealized view of Ireland. Typical examples of these are 'Men of the South' 1921-22. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Keating,_Men_of_the_South.jpg
This shows a subversive theme depicting men of bravado and defiance, in contrast with another painted in 1924 'On the Run, War of Independence'  show three isolated looking fighters, The atmosphere is one of boredom, apart from the centre figure who looks brooding and pensive  -  unsurprisingly, he could have had a lot on his mind, not to mention  that he is probably on the lookout, while the other two take a break. Unfortunately I have been unable to locate an image of this painting online, so cannot include a link to it.

'An Allegory'  It is intended to be a metaphor related to the madness of the Irish Civil War. The adult figures seem to be in isolation from one another. In the background is an abandoned looking 18th century house, this could be a metaphor for the state of the country.  The men digging the grave are disconnected, one, with his cap pushed back on the head, is wearing a uniform of the Free State National Army. The other in more casual dress of the opposing side, the Irregular Army. A mother and child are symbolic of the damage and suffering of innocents. Though some of the figures are static, the scene seems to be full of energy. Obviously the moving figures make a big contribution but even if I put my hand over that part of the scene, it doesn't lose it completely. I think it's because the other figures and the texture on the tree trunk have an energy of their own, as they are so sensitively depicted, they appear to be almost moving themselves. 
http://www.crawfordartgallery.ie/Sean_Keating_Resource_Pack.html
For several decades, Keating continued to make work reflecting his disillusionment and frustration at the socio-political and economic conditions of the times. 

'Strikers' 1958 and a contemporary Michael Kane's 'Political Speech, Chief Excecutive' 1959, critiques such as 'Ulysses in Connemara' 1947 and 'Economic Pressure and a Bold Peasant being Destroyed' 1948 are particularly  sad indictments of the socio-economic conditions which had only worsened since the foundation of the State. In contrast to the more hopeful themes of his earlier depictions of life in the Arran Islands, his annoyance is evident here at the situation which brought about so much emigration from the West of Ireland.
This theme has great significance today against a background once again of economic hardship and emigration throughout Ireland.
All of Keatings works were displayed in  a contemporary setting and many of the largest paintings situated in a huge lofty rectangular room with old brick walls. The traditionalist nature of the paintings and the ornate frames around them didn't seem to me to sit comfortably with the surroundings. Yet, the large shape and size of the space set them of to good advantage. I couldn't fault the lighting. 
What I noticed about the way Keating paints was how he has portrayed the  figures with great accuracy, while at the same time the brush marks are often quite noticeable, and are very free and fluid. In this way he manages to convey a great depth of feeling, brought about by the characters and their environment. They are full of life and movement.

This collection  was shown in the context of the work of some of his contemporaries, many of whose work  is abstract and highlights the very different approach to respond to the same issues at one time or another.

The Second World War provoked different ways of expression. Two of several works on display are described here: Ralph Cusack's response to the socio economic conditions of the time are depicted in 'The Way of the World' 1945 - a ruined structure, dead trees and an empty boat floating on the water under a dark glowing red/blue angry sky.giving off an all pervading sense of post apocalyptic surreal world, ghostly and empty looking. 
http://imma.gallery-access.com/intl/en/tour.php?a_id=274

Norah McGuiness 'Rivers to the Sea'. 
Very colourful  semi-abstract composition consisting of  contrasting blues and oranges. There is a lone worker in the field and a small cottage behind. Mountains fields and water are split into geometric shapes, with the zig zag of a blue river running through the centre. It would have been a familiar Irish rural scene, with a new twist and is reminiscent of stained glass. Unfortunately I haven't been able to obtain an image of this painting.