Posts

Non-Western Art: Mexican Modernism

Image
  Modernism Art in Mexico has several different styles, but all fit into one era of art. The era started after the Mexican Revolution to help brighten the moods of those in Mexico. The Era lasted from 1920-1950.  Although Mexican Modernism is split into several artistic styles, the movement attempted to create a new national identity in Mexico after the Revolution through original art that reflected Mexican cultures and traditions. Mexican artists wanted to distance themselves from European influence and, in turn, made a style that shows the transformations of Mexico after the 1920s. Still Life,   1942,  Juan Soriano Still Life  by Juan Soriano was made in 1942 in  Mexico. The painting is very satisfying with the color palette chosen. The shading makes the blanket look rustled, adding character to the overall picture. Still, Life uses flowers and fruit on the table. I love how the brush strokes add texture to the back wall. The shading on the leaves to make them appear 3D is incredible
3 comments
Read more

Post Modern Era: Diversity

Image
  Postmodernism refers to the art produced starting around 1980 to the present day. Postmodern art was a reaction to ideas and values found in modernist artworks, including idealism and a belief in progress. The art produced in the post-modern era contained complex layers of meaning and took more non-traditional approaches. In particular, diversity was a common theme in this artistic era.  The theme of diversity is prominently seen through gender, race, materials, and artistic styles. Historically, the White male dominated the Western art world, but the post-modern age ushered in artists from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. After 1960, women and those from various ethnic backgrounds began to have a more prominent voice in the Western art world and produced awe-inspiring works of art. The piece I have chosen below shows the diversity in the art world today because the styles below all have a sense of uniqueness that brings beauty.  Expansion by Paige Bradley Accent by Paige Br
7 comments
Read more

Early Modern Era: The Great Depression

Image
  In 1929 the Great Depression took over America when Wall Street investors traded around 16 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange. The 16 million shares were sold over a single day on October 29th, causing billions of dollars to vanish. The economic growth and prosperity of the Roaring 20s had disagreed, and 25% of Americans became unemployed. The artwork produced during this time reflected the loss of hope and heartbreak during the worst economic downturn in the country's history.  Photo of Robley D. Stevens, 1931. Robley Stevens stands on the streets of Baltimore, Maryland, wanting to sell himself to keep from starving to death. The sign tied around himself states, "I AM FOR SALE. I must have work or starve." The photographer of the work is unknown. When the photo was taken in August of 1931, the unemployment rate in the United States was 15.9%. Stevens had fallen victim to the circumstances of the Great Depression. The background shows a crowd of people as he
3 comments
Read more

The Romantic Era

Image
Realism: Caspar Friedrich created his notable work,  Wanderer above the Sea of Fog,  in  1818  and is thought to have been painted in Dresden, Germany. One can see the man standing on the rocks overlooking the cloud-filled landscape, relying on his cane. Friedrich created this piece to react to Enlightenment ideals like logic and order. He desired to create a work that focused on the broad subject of nature and the figure encountering an unknown world before him. The color scheme is gentler and muted, contributing to the piece's overall dooming feel . The texture in the wispy clouds and fog adds to the rejection of the idealized nature. The mist serves as a symbol of the unknown because it conceals what is below it. These three distinct artistic elements add the necessary depth to work.  I am not drawn to the   Wanderer above the Sea of the Fog.   I prefer       Gustave Courbet rejected the classical and theatrical styles taught in the French Academy. Courbet’s art “insisted on the
5 comments
Read more

The Classical Era: Morals

Image
The Classical Era was a time of fierce movements that transformed the outcome of the future and changed the moral beliefs of those living through it. In the 18th century, revolutions, politics, and sovereign nations took over everyone's minds.  These events altered the historical timeline, and the art from this period experienced dramatic changes in meaning as the events led to spirations in morality in the 18th century.  Jean-Honoré Fragonard was a highly respected Rococo painter who painted the above piece titled  The Pursuit. The Pursuit , one of four paintings of a series titled  The Progress of Love , was commissioned by Madame du Barry (Louis XV’s mistress) between 1771 and 1773. Madame Barry wanted this series painted to decorate her private salon. Fragonard depicts a romance scene as a young boy leaning towards a girl, giving her a rose. There seem to be two chaperones who are holding her back from falling. In the background is a sculpture of two cupids. The figures and t
3 comments
Read more

Baroque Art: The Three Graces

Image
       The Three Graces was one of Peter Paul Rubens's last paintings before he passed away in 1640. The painting was made on a wood canvas with oil paint and was done between 1630-1635. This piece was believed to be made for Rubens's personal collection because it was found along with his other belongings when he died. The painting was later bought by King Philip IV of Spain in 1666, and then The Three graces were hung up in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain.      One thing I noticed while searching through hundreds of pieces of art from the baroque art period is that most paintings have a dark undertone to them. I don't connect with darker elements, so finding a piece that fit this assignment's requirements took a lot of work. Although challenging, the search was successful because The Three Graces  has so many layers and was fun to analyze.      Peter Paul Rubens uses color in his oil painting to help make everything look more realistic and to create a form in his
2 comments
Read more

The Renaissance: The Birth of Venus

Image
Sandro Botticelli,  The Birth of Venus  (c. 1484–1486).  Tempera  on canvas. 172.5 cm × 278.9 cm (67.9 in × 109.6 in).  Uffizi , Florence The Birth of Venus , by the artist Alessandro Botticelli during the Italian Renaissance, depicts the moment when, having emerged from the sea in a shell, Venus lands at Paphos in Cyprus. Zephyrus and the breeze Aura blows her towards the shore, while a Hora of Spring stands on dry land to wrap a cloak covered with spring flowers around Venus to cover her nudity. Venus is depicted with smooth, delicate skin and golden curls. The modeling and flesh color give her the appearance of a statue, a highly regarded medium in Florence at the time. The painting depicts she is born to the world as the goddess of beauty, and we witness this act of creation through this painting. As she lifts a foot to step off her shell, the winds shower her with roses. According to mythology, the rose flowered for the first time when Venus was born, while the orange blossom on t
4 comments
Read more