In 1940, there was an interesting conversation between Picasso and Monet. As the German Army approached Paris, Monet was shocked to learn that they had already reached Reims.
"But what about our generals?" asked Monet. "What are they doing."
Picasso's response: "Well, there you have it, my friend. It's the Ecole des Beaux-Arts"
...ie, formalists who had learned one set of rules and were not interested in deviations from same.
It was a very astute remark, and it fits very well with the observations of Andre Beaufre, who before the invasion had been a young captain on the French General Staff. Although he had initially been thrilled to be placed among this elevated circle...
"I saw very quickly that our seniors were primarily concerned with forms of drafting. Every memorandum had to be perfect, written in a concise, impersonal style, and conforming to a logical and faultless plan–but so abstract that it had to be read several times before one could find out what it was about…”I have the honour to inform you that I have decided…I envisage…I attach some importance to the fact that…” Actually no one decided more than the barest minimum, and what indeed was decided was pretty trivial.”
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In 1940, there was an interesting conversation between Picasso and Monet. As the German Army approached Paris, Monet was shocked to learn that they had already reached Reims.
"But what about our generals?" asked Monet. "What are they doing."
Picasso's response: "Well, there you have it, my friend. It's the Ecole des Beaux-Arts"
...ie, formalists who had learned one set of rules and were not interested in deviations from same.
It was a very astute remark, and it fits very well with the observations of Andre Beaufre, who before the invasion had been a young captain on the French General Staff. Although he had initially been thrilled to be placed among this elevated circle...
"I saw very quickly that our seniors were primarily concerned with forms of drafting. Every memorandum had to be perfect, written in a concise, impersonal style, and conforming to a logical and faultless plan–but so abstract that it had to be read several times before one could find out what it was about…”I have the honour to inform you that I have decided…I envisage…I attach some importance to the fact that…” Actually no one decided more than the barest minimum, and what indeed was decided was pretty trivial.”
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