Nocturnal Creativity: Artists' Secrets | Perspective

Painting at night is difficult and problematic, so why have so many great artists taken on the challenge? Waldemar Januszczak celebrates the nocturnal art of Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Velazquez, Hopper and Magritte as he explores art's edgy relationship with the night and tries to discover why the dark adds so much extra drama and mystery to art.
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From "Art of the Night"
Content licensed from ZCZ Films to Little Dot Studios.
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[@kennylong7281]

These are the greatest culture videos on youtube. Thank you so much Waldemar Januszczak!

[@johnmuir1729]

100% in love with Waldemar Januszczack. MORE PLEASE!

[@andybaldman]

He’s so damn good at what he does. Thank you, Waldemar.

[@susievarnado2142]

Totally agreed

[@moonstoneway2694]

You’re really good at this, you know! Better than any other art history class, book or film I’ve ever come across. Thank you so much.

[@rookhoatzin]

You might check out "Sister Wendy's story of painting". informative and so oddly interesting. She was a real nun, really knew her paintings, her story is worth checking out also.

[@TheFrogballz]

Agree

[@seanh4841]

@@rookhoatzin I was just going to say the same thing

[@danielboard9510]

@@rookhoatzin Yeah, but its just so fucking boring and doesn't really say anything!

[@John-xk2sd]

@@rookhoatzin sister Wendy is a legend

[@borge2014]

Thank goodness Waldemar is back!

[@eamonr7151]

Thank you 🙏

[@Chris-um3se]

Completely Brilliant....especially the comparison between the Moon as a Romantic entity or embodying Lunacy.

[@douglasbronzie1324]

Could listen to you all day...every day!.....Thank You!

[@fiorenzaattanasio4796]

Thank you… I love your videos… Thank you❤️🇨🇦

[@nathanlyons8601]

I cannot possibly like this enough!

[@john211murphy]

Another Gem Waldemar. Thanks.

[@desperatelyseekingrealnews]

Great video, great series, thanks.

[@leegrenier6241]

Thank you Thank you so much for doing this!!!

[@StephiSensei26]

Just seeing Waldemar's face, presenting the program, makes me smile. Brilliant Waldemar, Brilliant! The Spooky Surrealist Freudian Hotel was the best. (The Train Photography section was amazing). Spooky Rocking Chair, nice touch! But then, pretty much everything you present has a nice touch. Thank you so much! You've done it again!

[@user-rd8id1xk3t]

A new Waldemar is the best thing to happen to me this week! He's the very best! 🐤🔥

[@IronFist.]

What would you give to accompany Mr. Januszczak while he's filming one of his programmes? The man is an endless fountain of knowledge. Thank you, as always, for all your hard work.

[@shirleykathan-sayess5764]

I am forever thinking I wish we were friends. If we were, I would just let him talk about anything he wanted and I’d just listen.

[@rodwallace6237]

Making films is as much tedium as anything. Setting up shots, lighting, camera, sound and then it start to rain. Hours to set up a sequence that might last 30 seconds. Even with just Waldemar and Matt, they are perfectionists and he once talked how it took all day to photograph Las Meninas. Catch a Falling Star. Earwig.

[@danielboard9510]

@@shirleykathan-sayess5764 The problem with just listening is, you forget to think.

[@paigetomkinson1137]

@@rodwallace6237 I've hung around with the filming of tv commercials, same kind of thing. I'd still hang out on set if Waldemar was there, talking about art. 🙂

[@yubantwo2086]

​@danielboard9510 Oddly enough, when I read that comment about imagining being friends with Waldemar and just listening struck me as a wasted opportunity, even an imagine one. Listening evokes questions, answers to which would surely be enlightening and exciting. I spent the first two years at university undecided and torn between art and music. I'd been advised to take classes in oil painting to complete my portfolio, which I'd prepared without the guidance of a current instructor. To my naiive dismay, this resulted in rejection I'd been assured was only a temporary setback. Devastated, I regrouped, applied to a university and was accepted to study music. The unexpected challenge was that applied art classes were offered at the same time of day as required music courses. That, however, led me to art history, which became a passion. I ended up becoming an opera singer, living and working all over the US & Europe. Still friends with my university art history professor and 2 classmates, Waldemar J. brings illumination and the thrill of the road not taken vividly back to life and then elevates my interest & curiosity to new heights unimagined.

[@carstengrullich3542]

you, Sir, are marvellous. Love your program

[@jaydubya3698]

Waldemar, with his distinct waddling about like a goose on a mission to find his cornmeal, never fails to please. Thank you sir for another great video. AFLAC!!!!

[@wombatlittle1]

Waldy waddling !

[@KarmaKontrolTvRadio]

🌹🌟Waldemar Januszcak= Forget me not of the Angels 🌟🎀/♥ing your programs !! ♥ing Perspective!! 🎨🕯🪔

[@jnhinton]

The sign of a great story is when the ending is both a complete surprise and makes perfect sense - it's hard to do both. He begins the documentary with the Sun Tunnels artwork in Utah and how they frame sunrise and sunset, and then at the end ties this so well to the mystery of Monet's Impression Sunrise...so impressive. Bravo Waldemar!

[@truemattyz]

omg chills.. i love painting at night.. so much ..

[@s.v.2796]

If like to add that as a child of the west i grew up with steam trains. The long sound of their horn at night permeates your dreams, your conscience. I miss hearing it. It helped develop my imagination, love of reading and art.

[@ChristopherJWalton]

Brilliant

[@denniswalsh8476]

Great. Loved the music too.

[@nirupmaanand2315]

Absolutely beautiful! Thanks again

[@Tmanaz480]

Ooh. I thought I'd seen all of this series, but I found one I missed.

[@mistydawnoliver6717]

This is my favorite of his art videos

[@kalaysia77]

I have inked on all of Waldemar's videos.... he is a true genius of this medium!

[@ingridhead6574]

Brilliant … I never want it to end xx

[@philryan3540]

Re: your comments on Freud's fix on wallpaper, I recall that Oscar Wilde on his deathbed said something to the effect that, "Either this wallpaper has to go, or I do..."

[@equicar]

This the best art class online.. Thanks you

[@queenvashtiful]

Another incredible piece of art from Waldy. He is the best.

[@WhyX11]

Amazing vid! I love your work, Waldemar :)

[@margaretfarquhar5624]

Thank you for stimulating my old old painters brain,struggling to focus on my love Of ART. 🙏

[@chegeny]

Love watching these old BBC Four documentaries from a decade ago. They are nicely organised and presented.

[@2openhere]

This whole program was a piece of Art, I saw the colour palets of Remington and Russell and lighting of Roger Deakins. It amazes me how many of those shots triggered memories. That part where you mentioned that cave art was by necessity done in the dark from imagination, was particularly insightful because sometimes as a modern human you take imagination as a given.

[@gailbracy3813]

I want to say this is my most favorite yet, but I just can't choose! Thank you! This was beautiful! (And the Mojave at night has its own mysteries doesn't it?)

[@rodwallace6237]

I'm a sure I saw the Sun Tunnels in a separate doc he did about American outdoor art. It kinda looked like a clips show, with some additional night time footage. But I don't care. Can't get enough of Waldemar. Glad to see Perspective picked-up these docs. I can't find the reference, probably some random YT but a commenter said Starry Night was a Protestant version of the Sistine Chapel. String Waldemar's art history documentaries in the right order and you have Civilisation 2.0.

[@jeffreyarnold627]

I've been trying to track this one down for a few years now! Thank you so much!

[@timrutter5025]

Every one of Waldemar's programmes is a wealth of knowlege...marvelous thank you.

[@kimkeran6196]

Don't stop Waldemar, you were born for this:) could you do still life as well?

[@huahindan]

Thank you for this

[@magnacary]

i just love the way you talk Waldemar

[@jaymo8206]

I love art. And I love how Waldemar showcases art artists movements etc on his program. Better than any art class ever.

[@andybaldman]

I love that he revisits sun tunnels. They were great in the other film about American art.

[@43painter]

A wònderful episode of the Perspective series !! Very inspirational ! Thanks for sharing.

[@jenniferregan8855]

I’m so glad there’s a new documentary. I’ve watched the other 40 about a dozen times each

[@doggedout]

When watching one of your old videos, where you talk about Nighthawks, I started wondering about what happened to the paintings from Rod Serling's great series "Night Gallery". Seeing Nighthawk evokes the same feeling. Turns out nobody knows, they were purchased by various people and scattered about. They were all obviously loosely based on Night Cafe, Nighthawks ect... Some of them were quite good. One of the pilot episodes had Roddy McDowell as a greedy grandson who kills his grandfather. The butler creates a series of paintings where the grandfather climbs out of the family plot and pounds on the spooky mansion door. Art as a murder weapon.

[@nicks931]

Great comment. I remember those shows too. Thanks for dredging up fun memories!

[@St.Linguini_of_Pesto]

I can recall watching some of the reruns as a kid. Twilight Zone was (and still is) my #1 favorite series, since I was 6. I'd watch Lost In Space, Star Trek the (original!) followed by the Zone. It would be fun to look up what paintings those were in the opening of Night Gallery, and where they ended up. Thanks for giving me an idea for something to fill my time.

[@nicks931]

@@St.Linguini_of_Pesto Me too! How about Tales from the Dark Side? Dr. Smith was and is a creepy dude!

[@mariemorgan7759]

I watched all the Night Gallery episodes as a kid, always fascinated me and created my love of art!

[@artheaded1]

"A handy corpse as your light source" LOL! Love how Waldemar combines art, history and humanity!

[@688landerson]

excellent. Inspiring, actually. original presentation.

[@MickAngelhere]

Those train photos were epic, some of the paintings disturbing and others beautiful all in all this was one amazing documentary 👍👍Absolutely fascinating as always👍

[@albertodelagarza9163]

Mr. Januszczaki, what a magnificent work you have done with this video!! It is so good! Thank you, thank you very much.

[@shirleykathan-sayess5764]

I love your videos. But in this one, I was struck that not only are they about art, they are art in themselves. Bravo you!!! ❤️ Shirley

[@vladcimpeanu]

Can't wait to find the time to savour this one!

[@asharmstrong6730]

Excellent documentary, as one would expect. It's just a shame about the frequency of the ads.

[@NightsMuse]

Loved this-the idea of following the night in art was fantastic.

[@danielboard9510]

Surely all art is following the night. It is the expression of the light, and the fear of death. After all when there is no light. you fear death.

[@unklejon4690]

Not necessarily when there is no light you might already be dead - just saying

[@garyesposito192]

So wonderfully done and insightful, Bravo!

[@danielboard9510]

You were doing well and then you said: Bravo.

[@adamweilergurarye5422]

Thank you for the wonderful lecture

[@arievanderveken5095]

Where are you Waldemar? We need more of your brilliant education!!

[@Dipfinder123]

Astonishingly well done!

[@paigetomkinson1137]

I 💜 Waldemar!

[@thespeedoflife1068]

I like to imagine that if I knew which colors I was working with I could still paint, not just in the dark but blind if need be. Thank you so much for inspiring us with your love and passion for art!

[@dmqb9311]

I have a youtube playlist called "Waldemar is the MAN".

[@themysteriousdomainmoviepalace]

Trains always seem important. Wonderful documenrary! And geeat to see Waldermar!

[@sharonmaedisney5587]

Amazing! He is so witty!

[@thehairyhominid9972]

If you haven't seen his documentary on Petra being the true Mecca, holy crap it's mind blowing. This guy makes the best documentaries I've ever watched.

[@TheFrogballz]

This is awesome and I'm starting to see more of his content popped up already watched everything they had available on KZbin.. this man has made me into an art fan.

[@cbabick]

I love this guy!

[@mosart7025]

And we can't forget that great Anglo-American poet P.G. Wodehouse, "Stars are God's daisy chains."

[@michielwaturet5811]

Beautiful, wonderful presentation. Great idea. Learned a lot. Thanks!!

[@paulebberson4884]

Waldemar raises documentary to an art form. So many great links, fantastic research.

[@yumikoarakawa437]

Still the best art documentary presentor! 🎉🎉🎉

[@chm825]

You are one of a kind. So informative, so intelligent, so funny at times and so able to relate the artist's work to the times and politics. Now, at 78, I understand the importance of impressionism and also the incredible life and art of Van Gogh and always know that I am not wasting any time seing your videos and listening to you, sometimes many times over again, so that I really understand the different art periods and what initiated thm. I took art history as part of my degree program in 1987, but little did I know and understand until decades later with your 5 star presentations. Thank you for your genius.

[@carolfranklin758]

This comment was so well put! At 82 I have to say despite an art history degree from a very fine college I have learned so much from these videos! Really profound insights which reverberate thruout our culture. Thank you! For these extraordinary videos.

[@AS-qg1xu]

I always love your enthusiasm and passion Waldemar! It really draws us in and makes everything so entertaining! I wish my amazing aunt had not passed away a few years ago. She really liked art history and if she was still alive I would have recommended your channel to her.

[@mariemorgan7759]

Love these art documentaries! Thanks so much! Makes you see all the art presented in a different way.⭐

[@thomaseley8386]

truly, listening to waldemar talk about art is a life changing experience

[@evanglentuttle]

Just stopping by to give the sound editing department some kudos. 👏🏼👏🏼

[@deliafunk9810]

Waldemar , you are just wonderful! Bring it to life!

[@karanaki_3256]

I love how we’re all in love with Waldemar more than the art 😭😭😭 Love you Waldemar ❤️

[@MISFITaddict]

So happy to have found fresh new Waldemar Januszczak documentary source 🙌

[@vicentepineda1860]

The wonder of art and artistic imagination. Thanks for uploading this very interesting presentation.

[@TheTristanmarcus]

As always an excellent documentary, and makes a good start at looking at 'nocturnal' art - some glaring ommissions though: Kuindzi and his famously luminous moon paintings, and, of course, James Whistler's famous and infamous Nocturnes. But, as always, enjoyable to watch 😎

[@mountainside26]

I love to learn about the connections of inspiration between various artists, writers, architecture, painters, religion and nature. It’s fascinating.

[@MichelleECortazar]

Big fan of Waldemar! Does he has videos about the Middle Ages manuscripts? if not, would be possible to consuder making something with that theme? thanks for all this amazing videos.

[@MichelleECortazar]

Thanks! Ill look forward to that one!

[@pamwarhurst2519]

I’m a huge fan. Demystifies, informs and makes me smile. Love all his films.

[@lyria8469]

Entertaining, thought-provoking and, as always, brilliant!

[@andreacraik9757]

Thank you.... Sunrise

[@richardlinks8575]

Another major documentary!

[@maccesandholm]

Brilliant, thank you WJ for this.

[@davidd6171]

Thank you, Waldemar and Perspective for this fantastic video. It mirrored my feelings tonight as I watched it. I was feeling sad and lonely. This video made me somehow feel better and a little happier.

[@AS-qg1xu]

🌸

[@paigetomkinson1137]

Me, too. But tonight. Thirty minutes past VE Day 2022.

[@markbellollc2991]

You could combine a trip here with a view of shrinking Salt Lake City for a meditation on our place in nature. These videos are priceless.

[@barbaraleonard8379]

Love this guy . I don't always agree with him but I am so very happy to listen and learn.

[@SP_3333]

Absolutely fantastically beautiful, yet dark-in-the-best way presentation Sir Januszczak. THE WORLD NEEDS MORE OF THIS! I hope that you can make more like this Waldemar. This was really mind blowing, at least for me. Thank you.

[@gregortrzaska2768]

A great watch, thank you very much for a magnificent work in all the videos/episodes!

[@wildcat8917]

I believe you could present a documentary about soap dishes that I would find compelling. Bravo !!

[@joebrann4612]

Waldemar is just the best, I wished he had 1000 more shows on the impressionist, and the Bible, I personally think he is a Christian. God bless you W!!!!

[@John-xk2sd]

He's an athiest like most Brits

[@Chris-um3se]

Hats off to Waldemar and whoever Wrote the intro to "The Art of the Night".

[@linsayspence7070]

I love these documentaries

[@charlesfrederick2]

Waldemar, you are a genius....you are able to solve problems because of your curiosity and the lengths you go to in order to find answers. We feel we've had a free course par excellence in art history. Thank you!

[@honeysucklecat]

A curved window like the one in Nighthawks can’t be cheap. If it was a real place, it should be easy enough to find in the Village. I always thought it was in Philadelphia because of the Phillies sign. Could be in Maine? Portland?

[@susanmercurio1060]

Another Waldemar trip into art! Hooray! Ergot is where LSD comes from.