Maybe Nicolae Darascu is not as popular today as he deserves to be, which is a shame, for this artist was a major Romanian painter and one of the few for whom Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism could hold little secret. Born in Giurgiu, in 1883, Darascu studied at the Fine Arts National School in Bucharest, in 1902 - 1906, under GD Mirea, who helped him in discovering his own style and chosing his themes.
Later, due to his admiration for artists such as Grigorescu or Luchian, Darascu chose Paris as his next destination and left on a scholarship in 19006. There he worked in the studio of Jean Paul Laurens and later in that of Luc Olivier Merson, thus getting to know some of the young artists and masters at the Academie Julien and Academie des Belles Artes. He was already a surprisingly mature and sure artist, with a style that was very open towards new trends and techniques. Travelling in the South of France, then to Venice and later, upon his return to Romania, to Olt and Dobrogea, Darascu gathered various influences, themes and techniques, mixed several ways of painting and seeing the world, and in the end tried to "make peace" between the tradition of Romanian art and European influences.
During these years he also tried to visit as many museum and galleries as he could, both Romanian and foreign, trying to learn as well as he could. He rarely painted interior scenes or still lifes, even if these were highly popular subjects, and preffered landscapes and portraits. His landscapes, inspired often by the Danube Delta or the Black Sea region, some of his favourite places, were strongly influenced by the Impressionist manner.
He exhibited several times in Romania and France, he was close to many Neo-Impressionist artists, and if at first he was influenced by Paul Signac, it was later that he discovered Matisse. Matisse would be more than an influence, he would prove to be a model, an inspiration, which prompted Darascu to radically change his choice of colours and themes. It was at this time that Darascu was interested mainly in Venice landscapes and seaside scenes, but also he began to explore the charm and atmosphere of Bucharest, a city which he liked almost as much as Paris. In the last part of his life, despite continuing his interest into landscapes, he also produces several female nudes, of great delicacy and style.
Nicolae Darascu was also an important master for younger generations, as to a large degree he created a national school of painting and tried helping other artists. In 1917 he was one of the founders of the Arta Romanda Association. He had his largest single show in 1936, in Bucharest, where he presented 85 works. In 1936 - 19509 he taught at the Fine Arts Academy in Bucharest. He died in 1959.
2008-06-13
