Rouault in Perspective: Contextual and Theoretical Study of His Art

In her book, Rouault in Perspective, Soo Yun Kang analyzes the works of Georges Rouault, focusing on the effects that Rouault's religious and personal influences had upon his art. Due to Rouault's reticence about the meaning of his work and his disapproval of any attempts at explanation, previous scholars have failed to investigate the motives behind Rouault's genius. By contrast, Soo Yun Kang gives detailed attention to the numerous literary and philosophical figures such as Joris-Karl Huysmans, L on Bloy, and Jacques Maritain who influenced Rouault early in his life, and compares his work with the Christian artistic developments that took place in the 1920s as well as the politics of this era. Rouault in Perspective will allow a new insight into the artist and his art and will be of great value to those scholars interested in the interdisciplinary study of modern art and religion.

Soo Y. Kang is Associate Professor of Art History at Chicago State University.