My study of the life and times of Johann Sebastian Bach was initially through his music, and like many others, I grew up with Bach, discovering and playing the great composer’s work.
J.S Bach – a titanic figure in the history of music, who bridged the gap between modality and harmony, between the terrestrial and the transcendental. His legacy stands as perhaps the greatest composer of the baroque era, with a substantial creative output of over a thousand pieces of music, spanning over four decades.
However rich his oeuvre, there remains a sizable gap pictorially, and J.S Bach – Musikleben aims to fill some of the historically significant periods in the life and times of the Bach clan.
In early 2020, the first artworks in a series emerged as my study with stringed instruments was put on hiatus. To fill this gap, I began researching J.S Bach through several literary, musical, and pictorial sources. During this time, I created several pencil drawings after the 1746 oil painting of Bach by Elias Gottlob Haussmann, which led quickly to the first oil paintings in the series.
This body of work is a naturalistic visual representation. I have incorporated allegory as a compositional device, most notably in the paintings and prints. Since its inception, J.S Bach – Musikleben has amassed a large number of works in several mediums.
This collection thus far comprises 29 oil paintings, 15 watercolours, 12 linocuts, 16 drypoints, 25 ceramics, and well over 1,500 drawings. The project has an indefinite date of completion.
– Evelyn Alvarez
Preview the catalogue here
The Bach Method for Guitar – Linoprint. Edition of 30.