Curated by Kenneth E. Silver, the New York University professor who has written the best book on the French part of the story, Esprit de Corps: The Art of the Parisian Avant - Garde and the First World War, 1914 — 1925 (1989), «Chaos and Classicism» presents us with a return to the classical nude and so to figurative painting and sculpture; a revival of ancient themes that extends to film, fashion, and the decorative arts; an attempt to reconcile (artforum.com)
Mr. Ray, who is known for his mysterious figural sculptures that «circle ancient themes and conventions,» as Roberta Smith wrote in a review, was finishing his painstaking work last month on new versions of a 2017 piece, «Mountain Lion Attacking a Dog,» for the exhibition at Matthew Marks Gallery in Chelsea, through June 16. (nytimes.com)
While in Italy, both Golub and Spero were profoundly influenced by the figurative works of Etruscan and Roman art, whose narratives addressed ancient themes of power and violence. (en.wikipedia.org)