The Most Beautiful Painting in the World: the process as a narrative in Tàpies

Abstract

The work of the artist Antoni Tàpies has been widely studied from different disciplines, including his analytical and syncretic vision. This article tries to analyze one of its aesthetic keys: in particular, the conceptualization of its idea process, using the synthesis that appears in the graphic story The Most Beautiful Panting in the World published by Ralph Herrmanns in 1970, in which Tàpies is represented as a character-artist. The friendship that emerges between Tàpies and Herrmanns allows the creative freedom of the latter, who, as an exceptional interpreter, is capable of capturing Tàpies' thought in the tale. The study of this graphic story also allows us to advance in the study of some educational variables that can intervene in the teaching-learning processes of the arts, such as the artist's relationship with the educational intention that appears as a moral in the story-tale. In this moral of a fable, as a conclusion or educational synthesis, Tàpies tries to express his aesthetic thinking about the creative process, represented in his artistic work.[es] El cuadro más bonito del mundo: el proceso como narrativa en Tàpies Resumen. La obra del artista Antoni Tàpies ha sido ampliamente estudiada desde diferentes disciplinas, incluida su visión analítica y sincrética. Este artículo trata de analizar una de sus claves estéticas: en concreto, la conceptualización de su idea de proceso, utilizando la síntesis que aparece en el cuento gráfico El cudro más bonito del mundo publicado por Ralph Herrmanns en 1970, en el que el propio Tàpies aparece representado como personaje-artista. La amistad que surge entre Tàpies y Herrmanns permite la libertad creativa de este último, quien, con carácter de intérprete excepcional, es capaz de plasmar el pensamiento de Tàpies en el cuento. El estudio de este relato gráfico permite además avanzar en el conocimiento de algunas variables educativas que pueden intervenir en los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje de las artes, como la relación del artista con la intención educativa que aparece a modo de moraleja en dicho relato-cuento. En esta moraleja, a modo de conclusión o síntesis educativa, Tàpies trata de expresar su pensamiento estético acerca del proceso creativo, representado en su obra artística. Palabras clave: Educación estética; Tàpies; narrativas; educación de la mirada; proceso.Sumario: 1. Introduction. 2. Methodology and sources. 3. A book about the process of a painting. 4. Life's integration in Tàpies' art. 5. The artistic process according to the "photo-story" of Herrmanns. 6. The process seen by Herrmanns and loved by Tàpies: Tàpies as a character in a story. 7. The process as a concept and method of artistic education. 8. The beginning of the process: the aesthetic education of the look and sensitivity. 9. Conclusions. References.