The Versatile Master Artist-Chapter 67 - 59: Mirror

"My comment on all his works is just one word—nonsensical, pretentious."

Anna mercilessly criticized Van Doorn’s artistic style.

"Many people believe that Van Doorn is influenced by anti-authority, anti-consumer Dadaism and surrealism, and is an outstanding avant-garde experimental artist and advocate for environmentalism."

Anna turned her head, looking at the camera with ridicule in her eyes towards such claims.

"I believe—so-called avant-garde must overthrow something; so-called experiment must pioneer something."

"But I see nothing in this painting. It’s just a carnival of meaningless lines, lacking soul and beauty. He’s merely pathologically repeating the inspirational compositions of his predecessors, taking it as a shortcut to fame."

"Of course, someone could prattle on here for one or two hours about the philosophical emotions contained in this painting, or the fate of humanity. Firstly, I strongly disagree with entirely substituting metaphysical things for the most basic aesthetic foundation. Secondly, an art and fashion entrepreneur who travels globally to attend fashion weeks in a Gulfstream jet, whose works supposedly promote anti-consumerism and environmentalism."

"There’s something I’ve wanted to say for a long time."

Anna stared at the camera, as if questioning Derong Fan Doorn who might or might not be watching the video.

"Mr. Van Doorn, are you telling some kind of cold joke to painting enthusiasts around the world?"

She sneered.

...

"This young lady is indeed courageous, using such a sharp tone to criticize a renowned predecessor artist. I’m not as bold as her."

Koizumi Katsuko placed her hand on her chest, clenched her fist, and waved it lightly.

Anyone can speak hypocritical lies, but not everyone has the courage to speak the truth.

Van Doorn is well-connected in both the art and fashion circles.

There are quite a few art critics who dislike or even hate him, but very few have the courage to publicly criticize him like this.

Everyone has their own aesthetic opinions, but to so unreservedly criticize a master just to defend one’s own aesthetic views...

She glanced casually at the comment section and saw that several groups of viewers, holding different opinions of Van Doorn, had already started arguing.

Koizumi Katsuko could fully imagine that once this video completely fermented, fans of Van Doorn would undoubtedly surge in to attack this exceptionally young judge like a tide.

"There’s no need to be so blunt; dislike him if you do, but it’s not worth making enemies."

Professor Yajima shook his head, tapping the table with his knuckles.

"Katsuko, Gangchang, you ought to be a bit more tactful when you encounter similar situations in the future; being too sharp can easily offend people."

"Too young, not wise at all, this is utterly a foolish choice," Koshiba Tarou also shook his head in confusion.

He felt that since the girl in the wheelchair recognized Van Doorn’s painting, if she had even a slight understanding of social etiquette, she should at least have placed his painting second in this selection.

Van Doorn might not mind being outdone by the legendary Jean Arnou.

But to be eliminated in fourth place, what is that about?

If defeated by Ray Louis, it could still be classified as a matter of artistic style.

But anyone who can do elementary school arithmetic knows that among the remaining works, one is by an internet illustrator.

Being eliminated by some random nobodies.

This is practically slapping Van Doorn, the great artist, in the face.

This was just a competition hosted by an internet celebrity, with no interests at stake.

Is it worth taking so seriously?

...

Anna wrote a big number "6" on the cardboard.

"Six points. I give him a six because the lines and color in this painting are really well handled. God gave Derong Fan Doorn remarkable talent, yet he only uses it as a shortcut to wealth and fame. I really, really, really hate that, and unless he changes his painting habits, he’ll only get a six from me."

Thomas took a marker, hesitated for a moment, and wrote an "8" on the cardboard.

He is a person with high emotional intelligence, being here to take videos, not to make enemies.

An "8" is a score that’s not perfect, but not too unattractive either, allowing anyone to gracefully accept it.

The fan brother, perhaps influenced by Anna’s evaluation of Van Doorn, or simply unable to appreciate his highly abstract artistic style, only gave a five.

The bearded insurance safety officer, on the other hand, gave a perfect score of 10.

"Twenty-nine points, this score is nearly twice that of our current second-ranking score. If the remaining four paintings cannot receive unanimous praise from all of us, then this painting still has a chance to win first place in this competition."

"Miss Elina, you may continue to choose your top three artists in terms of artistic level."

Thomas gestured to Anna, signaling her to continue.

Anna continued to hold a walnut wood frame in her hand.

But this time, when she flipped the frame around, she didn’t hand it directly to Thomas; instead, she held it up to the camera.

It was a colored pencil drawing.

"Is this Louise’s work?"

Professor Yajima squinted, carefully examining the illustration displayed on the screen.

"Hmm, indeed a realistic colored pencil drawing. Hmm... the pencil work looks remarkably precise, and the composition of the character is intensely faithful. Such photograph-like muscular effects have genuinely reached an advanced level."

"The judge girl was right. If it were up to me, given this genre, I also think it’s a more excellent illustration than the previous abstract piece." Yakai Gangchang nodded vigorously.

No wonder Lady Louis had so much confidence in herself.

Van Doorn’s style is such that those who like it really like it, and those who dislike it really dislike it.

But this realistic colored pencil drawing is excellent, appreciated by both the young and the old, by the refined and the popular alike.

The comment section no longer argued, instead presenting a unanimous state of admiration.

"Amazing, this painting looks just like a photograph."

"Indeed, if you didn’t tell me this is a hand-drawn work, I would have thought it’s an image. Is this truly drawn with a pencil?"

"I study art, and let me tell you, this is a colored pencil drawing. The teacher said, if a painter draws diligently enough and the technique is excellent enough, then the final result can resemble a photograph closely. This drawing is simply fantastic."

"I agree, isn’t this better than the previous eye-dazzling painting? I can hardly imagine that it’s only in third place, so how excellent must the first and second places be?"

Many people still think of colored pencils as toys for children to doodle with.

They hardly ever see master-level colored pencil drawings, and they don’t understand the level of detail a colored pencil drawing, with sufficiently meticulous brushwork, can achieve.

At this point, upon seeing this absolutely exquisite realistic colored pencil drawing, they felt like they were witnessing magic.

"Take a moment, please remember the look of this painting."

Anna didn’t hand the frame to Thomas as she did before.

She held the frame in her hand, facing the camera of one side’s photographer.

After waiting for a few seconds.

She actually reached out towards the table again, picking up the frame on the far left, which she had just opened and examined carefully with a magnifying glass.

Many had been curious about the level to which the illustration that could melt the ice-cold look on Anna’s face had to reach.

They always thought this noticeably differently treated work by Anna would be left till the end.

But surprisingly, she picked up the illustration at this moment and turned it over as well.

"Just to say in advance, this is the work I like the most among these seven illustrations, but I think it’s more appropriate for everyone to see it now."

Anna raised the frame and turned it over.

"What is this?"

Uncle Sakai’s entire body shuddered, his pupils contracting suddenly.

The wife, the Sakai siblings, Koshiba Tarou, and even the translator all straightened up immediately.

They couldn’t believe what they saw.

It was an illustration almost identical to the pencil drawing Anna had previously held.

The two frames placed together were like mirrors reflecting each other.