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Week 10: Chapters 29 & 30

In Chapter 29 and 30, Adams covers new eras of artwork including minimalism, pop art, and abstract. According to Adams on page 518, abstract artwork emerged from a combination of Regionalism, Social Realism, and a large quantity of talented European artists moving to New York (Adams 518). I noticed that a lot of abstract artwork is defined with nameless shapes and seemingly “unfinished work.”  I saw this most clearly in Ablers’s series of paintings called “Homage to the Square.” As described by Adams, Ablers uses texture and medium to create his work, rather than detail and characters (519). Despite the simplicity of his piece, “Study for Homage to the Square,” Albers contrasts lines with different textures in the red square he painted. It should also be noted that his main goal for this project was to investigate light and color perception. As quoted by the artist himself, “Art should not represent, but present” (519). I think Albers speaks for many of the abstract artists of this time with the belief that there artwork was not created to mirror items and describe their thoughts, but rather to explore simplicities and leave details ominous. 

The second painting that caught my eye in this chapter was Willem de Kooning’s “Woman and Bicycle.” Kooning’s painting showed a crazed woman in the midst of rough and violent brushstrokes. Adams described the painting as, “an attack on the idealized Classical image of female beauty,” and comments that the woman’s body is massive and overtaking before it melts into uninformed brushstrokes (525). I think Adams is trying to tell readers that the artwork not only provokes viewers through it’s physical appearance, but it also dismantles the idealized woman in previous techniques seen in the Renaissance period. I like this piece because of it’s demand to be looked at, and it’s ability to normalize imperfection. It left a vague disturbance and interested from the expression of the woman depicted. To me, this painting has so much character and emotion that it draws the viewer to it even if it is frightening.

Moving in to the late 1950s and 60s, many artists began to reject abstract artwork using real objects and items found in everyday life. I found this interesting because of how quickly the techniques changed from drastic downplay to American objects. My favorite Pop-Art piece was created by Wayne Thiebaud entitled, “Thirteen Books.” In this oil on panel painting, Thiebaud painted a stack thirteen colorful books with blurred title names. I liked this painting because the meaning behind it was really interesting, and I would not have noticed it at first glance. According to Adams, the books are closed and blurred because they are meant to suggest “hidden, secret content.” She also describes the books as floating on a white plane, and his use of shadow to create sources of light and absorption (Adams 539). At first glance, the books look inviting due to their colors, but I can now also see the mystery incorporated into the painting and it connects me to the feeling of reading a book. I really enjoy reading, and I think Thiebaud captured how reading can be an adventure for anyone, but one must first open the book or it will forever hold it’s mysteries. 

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I agree with you on your description of Surrealism, and I saw a lot of this type of artwork in the video, “I Could Do That.” As you mentioned, I believe that Surrealism adds different interpretations and even provocative viewpoints similar to the revolutionary time period. 

I also enjoyed reading about your analysis on Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture. I thought it was so interesting when I read about how he incorporated more of the landscape into the home than the home itself. When I toured the home a couple years ago it seemed like the house just melted into the scenery and waterfall beneath it. 

Chapter 27 & 28 + Video

While reading chapters 27 and 28, there was a large variety of artwork/styles, along with a large change in the western and international ways of life. Cubism was one of the first styles that were featured in chapter 27. Cubism encompasses work that portrays a simultaneous view, along with multiple vantage points (Adams, 481). Geometric exploration was the main force that cubism focused on. Following cubism and growing from this style, collages began to grow. 

Collages used many elements from cubism, but “involved disassembling aspects of the environment” (Adams, 483). Different shapes and elements were put together to create a piece of work, that could be recognizable to the viewer. Similarly, surrealism used the same multiple vantage points, but also had symbolism involved. Surrealism raised many discussions because the work was left up for the viewer and painters own interpretation. Work during this period was moving towards futurism and creating unique pieces that do not look like other works that have been created before. 

The most important turning point in art, especially for America, was the Armory Show. This show was in 1913 and displayed much avant-garde art, which had works and styles that many American’s had not perceived before. The Harlem Renaissance was also during this time period, which would alter the way art was produced in African American society. Overall, I was really surprised that not much of the styles mentioned in this chapter had been displayed in America yet. It always seems like America was ahead on various things in life, however, from the textbook, it seems like the US was lagging behind other countries. 

One of the most interesting parts of the information read in this chapter was Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture. His work was something that was new and not really done before. He tried to “integrate architecture with the natural landscape” (Adams, 494). I think that it is great to incorporate nature into artwork, as I love nature! Likewise, in Madison, he also has done other work, not just the ones mentioned in Chicago. I have seen his work almost daily, so it was interesting to read about his work in an artistic context, instead of just a city/building way.  

Moving onto chapter 28, there was a large list of styles that were mentioned. Likewise, the following styles had been created with the other ones in mind but also developed due to World War I (Adams, 500). Dada was a movement that focused on “a creative process designed to minimize the overlay of tradition and conscious control” (Adams, 502). From this surrealism arose. Surrealism had a lot of symbolism in it, but also did not show true reality. In my opinion, after the surrealistic style arose, it seemed like artwork became more thought-provoking and was more unique. The work was stuff that had never been created before or even thought of previously.

Overall, from chapter 27 and 28, the artwork and styles featured presented many ideas and different ways of going about making and viewing it. Related, in the video I Could Do That, there was similar art that showed similarities to the ones in the chapters. One work in the chapters was Jean Arp’s, Collage Arranged According to the Laws of Chance. It was just some shapes in grays and blues, with a simple background. Although this seemed like a simple piece of art, there was skill put into it and had a deeper meaning behind it. Likewise, in the video, the speaker mentions that a lot more work goes into the art then we think there is. Also, if we really were to say that I could do that, we should think twice because often we would not be able to recreate the work that they had accomplished.

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Blog Post Week 9: “I Could Do That” Video + Ch. 27&28

In our readings, we cover a fast-paced and revolutionary time in Chapter’s 27 and 28. Large amounts of the artwork I noticed was abstract, alluring, and filled with detailed brushwork and vibrant colors. 

I believe the best representation of artwork at this time was the piece on page 497 entitled, “Composition.” The artist, Vassily Kandinsky, used oil on canvas media and created what is described as, “measured, constructed, and dominated by dynamic diagonal planes” (498). Kandinsky painted abstract shapes with multiple colors and lines that cut through the painting. I think the simple yet detailed structure of the painting is exactly aligned with the artwork at this time. 

Some of the architecture covered, like Frank Lloyd Wright, was also very interesting to read about. I enjoyed learning more about “Falling Water,” because I have visited and toured that home a couple years ago. I noticed his style is very similar to the paintings in the book as well, as it is abstract and seemingly blends into the landscape (495).

While I was watching the “I Could Do That” video created by PBS Digital Studios, I took away a few main points that I think reconstructed my thinking on abstract and modern artwork. 

The first thing I noticed in the video was how the speaker described the “simple” artwork actually has a lot more detail and workmanship than people realize. In Cy Twombly’s, “School of FontaineBleau” I noticed she was right. According to the video, many people see this piece of artwork as childish and seemingly the same as a bunch of children’s scribbles. However, I looked this piece up so I could examine the detail better and compare it to the speaker’s words: “the quality and character of his linework is astounding.” Personally, I noticed that each of his scribbles had character and a mood. Some of the lines were angry and demanding attention, while some accents of color were subdue and quiet. I loved the dynamic of this painting, and I believe his use of different media adds more complexity than “a kid’s scribbles.” Secondly, I noticed Twombly was able to make his painting come to life with such small amounts of color. It can be interpreted as a different scene to each person; to me, it looks like a landscape or a sky before a storm. 

The second thing that really stood out to me in this video was the quote, “It’s not that you could do it, it’s that he wants you to, your invited to, and that’s part of the work.” I think this explanation really captures a lot of artwork seen in the 20th C, and gives a sense of mystery and rebellion against previous technical artwork. I love that contemporary art shows off simple objects and the beauty found in simplicity. It makes viewers like myself think and connect to the artwork. With this in mind, I think of 20th C artwork like a skeleton, the form is simply a hollowed structure, and the viewer has the power to fill in the mass of the piece with their own thoughts and experiences just as the artist is able to fill it with their interpretation. I noticed this theme when the video touched on industrialization, and it’s large impact on artwork. Many artists at this time began to think radically about media and question what is really considered art. I think this mindset is in part due to the innovations that came with mass products coming out that made life faster and easier. I like to think of art as a reflection of the artists’ lives, so it would make sense that art began to become more simple and innovative as new products came out in the same way. I like the idea that artwork reflects the time because it is so interesting to watch it grow and repeat as history does. I’m excited to see new generations of artwork and if they still incorporate the form as a way to express individual views. 

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I really like your analysis on “The Old Guitarist.” I think it’s interesting how you connected the feeling of somberness to the blue tones in Picasso’s paintings. I also noticed how because the old man in the painting is emaciated, it connected to the poverty and unequal distribution of wealth. At first, I only thought about how Picasso’s feelings related to the piece, but your analysis led me to other connections; the large group of misrepresented lower class people of the 20th C. 

chapters 25&26

Chapter 25 talks about the age of post-impressionism. During this time artists were drawn to bright colors and distinctive brushstrokes. One of the most famous artists discussed in this chapter who emulate the post-impressionism style is Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh’s painting ’ Bedroom of Aries’ shows an empty room with two portraits on the wall and some furniture. It is said that this painting was meant to represent Van Gogh’s efforts to have a relationship with another person which he ultimately failed at doing. In this painting the bold colors are meant to represent this desire that he did not achieve.  The lines are sharp and the brushstrokes are prominent which is an excellent representation of the post-impressionist style. His uber famous ‘Starry Night’ and self portrait also emulate this style. The 'Starry Night’ was said to have been a “reflection of a disturbed mind” because of the fact that he painted it while he was in a mental asylum. This is a tid bit of information that I was unaware of. I did not know that he spent time in an institution, nor that his most famous piece was created while he was there.

This chapter also touched on Symbolism. Artists in the symbolist movement were drawn to mythical and imaginative material. This style is said to be poetic, disturbed and perverse.

Chapter 26 was all about the early twentieth century. One part of this time was Picasso and his “Blue Period” which featured a mood of somberness and poverty. His painting 'The Old Guitarist’ is painted in a blue huge and shows an old gentleman who is slumped forward with his guitar. His clothes are torn and tattered and his body is skinny and frail. I like the representation of Picasso’s Blue Period because it shows a different perspective than earlier pieces. It is not based around wealth or political power but the struggle and realism of a large portion of the population. Another artist featured in this chapter that caught my eye was Kathe Kollwitz. Her painting 'Whetting the Scythe’  is a dark representation of a rough looking older lady with wrinkly hands focusing on her task. The book states that Kollwitz liked to focus on the struggles, emotional and material, of the working class.

As I stated above, I enjoy the paintings and artists that focus on the everyday life and struggles of the average person. A lot of art, although beautiful and imaginative, focuses on wealth and power that most people could only dream of. For these reasons I find this type of art much more relatable.

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Blog Post Week 8: Ch. 25+26

The late 19th C Post-Impressionist artists focused heavily on bright colors and clear cut artwork. According to our book, a lot of artists used imagery from scenes they witnessed to create their inspiration. In Chapter 25, I was very intrigued by Georges Seurat’s painting, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, 1884–86. The first thing I noticed was the paintings color and grainy texture. Although the picture of a “Sunday afternoon” was clear, there was a sketched appearance that I really liked. The painting shows a hilltop with people sitting out and enjoying a walk or picnics. When I visited the Dubuque Museum of Art last week, I noticed a lot of the paintings they had from Post-Impressionist France were also oil-on-canvas paintings. Making this connection helped me visualize the artwork we analyze in the book better because I was able to interpret it myself in person. I think this played a part in my interest for this piece. I also really enjoyed how you can almost feel the peace and leisure of the characters in this painting, and the simplicity of the scene. However, looking further into it’s description on page 456, Jatte used small colorful dots and built them up to create the scene, and “grainy” texture I first noticed. It’s fascinating that tiny detailed brushwork can come together to make what I interpreted as a simple painting. It made me realize that nothing in artwork is really as simple as it looks. 

The second painting I was drawn to was Vincent Van Gogh’s Bedroom at Arles, 1889. Again, this is another oil-on-canvas painting which made me connect another style to this time period. Van Gogh was the artist I used in my first blog post as my favorite painting, mostly due to the classic and beautiful paintings he creates. In this painting, I saw the bright colors and long sweeping details that are prevalent in the work I see by him. When I first viewed this painting, it seemed happy and full of life, even with the absence of central characters. However, after reading the description on page 457, I realized that the piece is a lot more isolated than I originally thought. The room is empty except for the artist’s clothing that hangs in the back of the bedroom. I feel this symbolizes his absence, but still indicates he owns the room. Secondly, there are two of almost each item in the room, but each is separated by space. For example, there are two portraits hanging, two pillows, and two chairs. Our book describes this as  Van Gogh’s, “efforts to achieve a fulfilling relationship with another person and his failure to do so” (457). This is extremely powerful to me, and I think because the scene is painted in a bedroom, it brings all the more vulnerability and personality to the painting yet keeping a distance; similar to a failing relationship. 

Chapter 26 covered Expressionism during a time of rapid change in technology, politics, and the social structure of the 20th C. I believe the most fitting painting that represents this change is Pablo Picasso’s The Old Guitarist, 1903. It was created during Picasso’s “Blue Period,” in which he used the color blue to symbolize the melancholy moods and deep feelings he possessed (468). The painting depicts a man crunched down playing the guitar with a somber look on his face. The entire painting is blue, and the old man looks tired and extremely skinny. Here, I think Picasso is trying to symbolize his emotions or what he believes his feelings look like: run down and ragged. It is interesting to me to see these feelings come to life in a human form. 

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I have very similar ideas to yours regarding the meaning of Realism and Impressionist style. In Paris, society was beginning to stray away from the perfect image of what life should be like and exploring the true reality of the world. I believe these ideals sprouted from it’s recent political and social changes. Similar to your beliefs in Courbet’s mindset, I also think that art should be specific to the artist’s interpretation of their media. I think it’s really cool you use your own interests like the ocean to paint. It reminds to of Impressionist style, as a lot of artwork uses the outdoors and specific experiences to make a piece. 

Week 7, Ch 23 &24

I find it appropriate that realism is the topic of focus when reading about the nineteenth century because that is a time where people are beginning to point out the realities of life instead of the luxuries. This is a time where artists are connecting people and art with nature and incorporating real life experiences into their own artwork. 

 Gustave Courbet was an artist that stood out to me when reading chapter twenty-three of A History of Western Art because he believed that realism was created best by those who made art based off their own experiences. I connected to this because my personal favorite art to create comes from my own experiences in traveling. In my free time, I enjoy painting things in relation to the ocean. Some of my most enjoyable memories come from spending time by the sea, which inspires me to paint portraits of beach scenery and creatures of the ocean. I connect with these moments so much that all the tattoos I have thus far are of ocean theme. I agree with Courbet when he says that the realest and most authentic artworks in realism come from those who have experienced it themselves (page 418).  

Honore Daumier’s, Louis Philippe as Gargantua, was a great example of the mockery of artists to political figures in the nineteenth century. This print of the prince carelessly eating all the people in poverty’s goods showed what was happening in political society and how it was affecting people. Although this was an exaggeration, Daumier was sent to jail for this print and a new law was proposed so that no illustrations were allowed in the press, only words instead. I like this story because it shows the power of corrupt politicians and how artists were standing up for civilians with no voice even though there would be consequences in the end.  

Chapter twenty-three also discusses the development of photography. When noticing some of the first stages of photography, it is so cool to see the monumental improvement to where we are today with capturing photos. Photography is something I have grown to enjoy as a personal hobby, and I almost always take my DSLR camera wherever I go. I am grateful for the development of photography and appreciate the process and knowledge it took to get to where cameras are today.  

In chapter twenty-four, it states that unlike realism in the 19th century, impressionism rarely gave a focus to political views. This is interesting in the fact that based off different styles of artwork, the artists seemed to have very different standpoints. Before reading chapter 24, I felt I could relate to realism artists more, but afterwards I have noticed that impressionism art focused on the effects of light in nature and weather occurrences, which is what I prefer as a better viewpoint myself.  

Claude Monet’s, Bassin des Nympheas, stood out to me on page 440 because it has so much detail in every brushstroke. The way the vibrant colors reflect a deep green onto the water to show the stillness of the water is not only clever, but visually appealing as well. I like that this painting was inspired by his own water garden, similar to how Gustave Courbet used his own experiences to create realism artwork in chapter 23.  

Chapters 23 and 24 discussed realism and impressionism in the nineteenth century and how the development of art and photography in real world situations were affective in the portrayal of politicians versus society. Nature and lighting were also a major part in the creation of realism and impressionism artworks.  

*All references to artwork and artists come from chapters 23 and 24 of Laurie Schneider Adams, A History of Western Art, 5th edition.  

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Week 7 Blog Post: Realism/Impressionism Ch 23+24

Chapters 23 and 24 cover a time period of revolution and the “reality” of the world. The most common themes I saw as I read was the real time, real experience the painters captured. In my blog post, I will cover the Realism style by analyzing the painting “Olympia,” and explore Impressionist style by examining “Moulin de la Galette.”

In Chapter 23, I was drawn to the painting by Édouard Manet entitled, “Olympia.” I thought this painting was the perfect representation of the Realism style due to the painting’s representation of raw, imperfect life. According to the reading, Manet’s painting was viewed by many as an oil canvas of a prostitute, sitting in an unmade bed with a flower in her hair sent by one of her clients. Realism is represented here in many forms, the most pronounced one is her body. In the painting, the woman is laying in a disproportionate way, she is not perfect but she is real. I think Monet was trying to capture the true form people are in, rather than the romanticized nude figures seen in previous chapters. Secondly, the bed sheets are ruffled and unmade, creating the allusion that the reality of life is unkept and flawed. “Olympia” was also a progressive painting, it was controversial because rather than staying with the Classical ideal, the real society of nineteenth-century Paris was exposed (428). I also noticed that the woman openly accepts the viewer and glares back. Her body is uncovered and she rejects modesty. The painting led me to believe that Realism style is like protests we see now against the perfect image of models in society, and the notion that women must be private and lady-like. The progressive art movement seemed to show people that women have the right to do or say as they please. On the opposing side, I compare Romanticism style to magazines and screenplays, similar to how many people picture the perfect life to be. In my opinion, Realism style artwork helps people stay grounded and less like they must live and look a certain way; the reality of life is imperfect and a winding road of happiness and sadness. 

Chapter 24 covered the Impressionist style, where painters captured their emotions and “impression” of a situation or moment of time. I noticed a lot of the artwork from this era was painted outdoors and the characters looked off-guard and in the moment. Similar to Realism style, it captured the true sense of the situation, but it also added the feelings of how the artists felt during the scene. According to the reading “Week 7 Overview”, the painters used the manipulation of light in different parts of the painting to “heighten their ability to capture the moments.” Page 435 shows an image of the painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir named  “Moulin de la Galette.” The painting depicts a leisure day at the Montmartre dance hall courtyard (435). Couples are laughing and dancing candidly. I liked this painting because it was bright and cheerful, showing the emotion of each person through their eyes. 

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I really enjoyed reading about your analysis of the two styles. I agree with you on the theme of both styles; Baroque seems more down to earth and fitting of the reality of life. I looked back on Gianlorenzo Bernini’s sculpture of “David” and I felt it represented the true emotion of artists and a way to release unspoken hardships. I believe Rococo style, on the other hand, is a way for the artists to escape these emotions by opposing them with magical realms and fantasy. Both styles are very interesting because it clearly shows the coping mechanisms of humans and the choice they make on how to creatively express this. 

Week 5 Baroque/Rococo

For this week’s assignment we covered two sections, the Baroque Style in Western Europe and Rococo movements in art. These art styles are very different as Baroque is a style that shows a lot of seriousness and action in the works of art while Rococo is a more relaxed style of art and does not show the same amount of seriousness. However, even though the styles are very different, some scholars still believe that Rococo was a refinement of the Baroque style.

It was very interesting learning about the Baroque art style in Western Europe because it was very easy to see the seriousness taking place in multiple works of art. For instance, Gianlorenzo Bernini’s sculpture of Davidis very captivating. When looking at this work of art just looking at the facial expression one can see how serious of a situating David is in. Just his face shows focus, determination, and will. I personally like this style of David more compared to say Donatello’s Davidbecause it was a very serious situation. Another good example of the Baroque style is Jacob van Ruisdael’s Extensive Landscape with Ruins. I like this example because even though there are no people in this work of art, the seriousness can still be identified without human expression. That to me takes a lot of skill and represents a great work of art. In this piece we can see the intensity through nature. The skies are very dark and are showing signs of a powerful storm that is about to hit a lone church tower. The power of mother nature can cause destruction and in this case the seriousness all falls on the lone church tower.

For the Rococo style I liked learning about how relaxed the setting of the art work generally was. For example, Antoine Watteau’s Pilgrimage to Cythera shows bright colors of a beautiful day and shows multiple couples enjoying the day. This to me is relatable for many as most of us have been on a great date where everything seemed perfect and that to me is what is happening in this work of art. Even the clothes the people are wearing in this painting signify a relaxing state as they are wearing silk clothes. Another good example of Rococo is done by Dominikus Zimmermann and his work through Wieskirche. In this work there are many bright colors to include pink which is often used in Rococo style. With this work it shows the positives of faith and heaven. I like to compare this work to Giovanni Battista Gaulli’s Triumph of the Name of Jesus, which is the Baroque style. I like to compare these two because they both show heaven, but the Baroque style still has a seriousness side to it by showing the damned near the bottom whereas the Rococo style does not. This to me shows how the style are different as stated earlier.

In conclusion, both the Baroque style and Rococo style are very interesting. Baroque style has a very serious aspect to it which is unique and captivating, while the Rococo style is a relaxing one in my opinion with bright colors. For this reason, I would agree with the scholars who believe that these styles are different completely and that Rococo is not a refinement of the Baroque style.

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Blog Post Week 5: Chapters 19 & 20

In chapters 19 and 20, the theme of emotional, imperfect art and fantasy captured the artwork of this time period. I really enjoyed reading about Baroque and Rococo style because it is personal to the artists. To me, this is the most real way to express emotion, and the artists do so in this time period without restraints or the desire to perfect it. In my blog post, I will cover the representation of social classes through the analysis of a monarch palace. I will also touch on the development of the scientific method in the 18th C, and how it is incorporated into art at this time. The last thing I will talk about is Antoine Watteau’s piece, called “Pilgrimage to Cythera.” 

 The first thing I noticed in Chapter 19 was the palace of Versailles (figure 19.10). The symmetry of each side of the throne room was really interesting to me. It is precise and regal; which is fitting because it is named after Apollo, one of the twelve olympians. The room depicted is described by Adams as “bolstering the divine rule of the monarchs” (342). To me, the lavish aura of the palace was done so to set the kings and rulers above the ruled. Looking at this through a historical lens, the palace represents the hierarchy of the time, and the separation of social classes. This created a form of an authoritarian ruled government, and classified people according to lineage and wealth. 

Secondly, I enjoyed reading about the Age of Enlightenment in Chapter 20. I feel connected to this subject because of the scientific developments in the 18th C and my interests in this field. I was specifically drawn to the teaching method of Denis Diderot and his idea of learning through experience. Page 368 describes about Diderot used the scientific method to teach his art students. He did so by having them observe real life and using it as inspiration in their paintings. I liked this statement because I agree with his teachings; I think the best way to learn is through trial, error, and observation. The scientific method was shown in Joseph Wrights, “An Experiment on A Bird in The Air Pump.” In his piece, he demonstrates the ability of the demonstrator to control if the bird lives or dies. It’s fascinating to me how the experiment is shown with a form of mystery and suspense. 

In Chapter 20, I thought the best representation of Rococo style was Antoine Watteau’s “Pilgrimage to Cythera.” In his painting he attempts to show an escape from reality by depicting a magical world and beautiful fairy-like costumes. Adams described Watteau’s painting on page 370 as adoring and giving of love. My favorite part about this painting was how their costumes dulled and became normal clothes as they returned to reality. To me, it shows that Rococo style paintings were used as an outlet to fantasize about the mystical and beautiful worlds. It made me wonder if people at this time felt oppressed or dissatisfied with the real world. 

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In the State portraits you discussed, by Piero della Francesca, I noticed some similarities with the piece “Dead Christ” that I touched on in my post. Both of these paintings incorporated body proportion and background consistency that was beginning to emerge at this time. I like that it added realistic details to the paintings, and I was especially interested in your comment on how the rulers are dominant over the lands shown in the background of the painting (Adams, 260). I saw this same theme, because the rulers are the center-point of the painting which I viewed as symbolic and consistent with the new techniques. 

Week 3: Chapter 15 & 16

Chapter 15 focuses on the early Renaissance in Italy and later the influence it had on the Netherlands. Humanism was still featured in many artists pieces of work but also, new techniques were used too. For instance, artists such as Brunelleschi moved away from the Gothic style and towards “simplicity, harmonious proportion, and symmetry” styles (Adams, 247). This same artist came up with an idea that would change artwork thereon. Therefore, this new perspective was linear or one-point perspective. In artists pieces, they would now have proportions, vanishing points, varying lighting, illusions, and perspectives added to their art (Adams, 253). Therefore, during the early Renaissance, there was an explosion of new ideas and perspectives that would change the way art was created.

One example of artwork during this time period that caught my attention was the State portraits, created by Piero della Francesca. In these paintings, they represented the rulers in a very humanistic way because they had proportional features and had detailed faces. Also, these paintings also had a landscape in the background which aided in the understanding of how these rules were dominant over the land and their power (Adams, 260). This artist used proportions in his artwork, which was a new concept during the Renaissance. 

Moving to Chapter 16, during the high Renaissance, many key artists were still influenced by the release of new ideas. For instance, Science and human anatomy were featured in Leonardo da Vinci’s work. This was something new that was not featured in artwork before. Likewise, I was able to relate to his work, such as his embryo drawing because I think human anatomy is interesting. This drawing of his is engaging because his work was studied in the future and was used for future knowledge about humans (Adams, 283). Likewise, because I am majoring in nursing, this sort of art and future anatomical drawings were of use for my studies. 

In addition, other artists during the high Renaissance (ex. Michelangelo) focused on the relationships, psychology, composition, and the geometry of the people in the pieces of art (Adams, 287). Also, there was an emphasis on humans relationship to the landscape. This was demonstrated by the artist Giorgione from Venice and was able to add to the recognition of humans place on Earth (Adams, 300). One piece of note is Tempest by Giorgione. In this painting, there is a sense of dialogue between a soldier and a nursing woman, but also tension. The tension can be seen between the two figures but also due to the lightening in the landscape. Giorgione’s use of the sky and land demonstrates the intricate relationship between humans and the land. 

Overall, the Renaissance was a time period of new artwork that was able to portray ideas, styles, and ways of life. Many of the artists’ work would influence many religious settings, people in power, and just citizens of the time period. All the work was completed in varying ways with different perspectives, proportions, geometry, etc., which made all the Renaissance work very interesting and beautiful to view.

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Blog Post Week 3: Chapters 15 & 16

Chapters 15 and 16 described the Early/High Renaissance time period, noted as an evolutionary time period with growing political and religious ideas. I characterized these chapters with differing perspectives on religion, evident in many paintings I read about. In my blog, I will cover the importance of religion in artwork in Chapter 15, and my interest in the anatomical sketches described in Chapter 16. 

In Chapter 15, I was especially interested in painting 15.8, called “Dead Christ” by Andrea Mantegna. I believe I was partly so interested in it because of the disturbing image it left in my head. Mantegna depicted a “haunting” image of Christ, who lay unconscious with holes in his feet and tattered clothes. According to Adams, Mantegna used a tactic called one-point linear perspective which created 3-D imagery using the idea that, “distant objects seem smaller than closer ones and far edges of uniformly shaped objects appear shorter than the near edges” (248). I think this created a lot more depth to the painting, making it appear very realistic and in return: all the more haunting. It seemed to me that Christ’s feet was the center point of the painting, which I believe had important symbolic significance; the representation of suffering and crucification. I also noted the translucent hallow that hovered over the body’s head, and members of the community sobbing and paying respects to Him. This deepened my understanding of Mantegna’s religious views in his painting by showing he viewed Christ as a holy being and is, in a way, paying his respects to him through his artwork. Aside from the visual symbols of the painting, Adams described the painter’s method as a phycological effect. At first I was confused by this statement, and I wondered how others perceived the painting. After I thought about it for a while, I think the perspectival theory created images in artwork that stick in your head and force you to turn them over with thought. In Dead Christ, I thought about the realistic image of Christ long after I viewed it and continued reading, and thought about the pain and emotion the painting is showing. This is very powerful because after taking classes that focus on religion, I don’t really have a set belief, but this painting made me take a deeper look into Catholicism simply from an image with no words. 

Secondly, Leonardo da Vinci’s anatomical drawings in Chapter 16 was the most interesting thing to me that we have read so far. It astounded me that the thoughts and theories on the origins of life were represented so largely dating back centuries ago.  Da Vinci’s “Embryo of The Womb” sketch not only depicted different views of early-life, but also it’s connection with the mother’s blood supply (283). Being a biology major, I could relate to his interest in the study of how the body functions. As I read, I wondered why Da Vinci never fully finished his sketches, but rather just made them halfway and stopped. Adams mentioned on page 283 how he had hoped to further his studies but never did. I think that he was using these sketches as an experimental outlet but never got around to finish it. I was pleasantly surprised to see that artwork media can spread as far as biological interests, and I hope to read more about anatomy. 

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As I reviewed page 236, I also saw a lot of the points you mentioned in your blog post. One of the themes I also noticed you mentioned was the importance of “Security,” which was depicted in painting 14.13 as an allegorical figure. I think that this represents the importance of keeping a tight hold and sense of community in the government. It seems pre-renassiance times relates justice and laws directly to good government, evident in the harsh punishments (swinging from ropes) the criminals faced in the painting. It made me wonder if the figure was supposed to be a peacemaker or an authoritarian controller of the community. 

Week 2 Blog Post

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Blog Post Week 2: Chapter 14

Chapter 14 from, “A History of Western Art,” Fifth Edition, by Laurie Schneider Adams, focused heavily on the pre-renaissance time period, and how art developed as lives changed. In my blog post, I will to touch on how the paintings created during this time reflect the powerful voice and progressive mindset of the time. I will also talk about my interest in how young artists are developed. 

In my opinion, the most intriguing thing in this chapter was how young artists learned and developed their skills. This was especially interesting to me because I related to the young students, as I am a college student, just beginning to soak in information and progress in my studies and future. In the section “Training an Artist,” Adams described how apprentices are developed by starting at “the bottom of the food chain,” so to speak. The young aspiring artists mixed paints, prepared pigments, or painted small minor characters in large paintings. I saw a connection here; in premodern times, student teaching was still very similar to current times. I related it to my current job, financial status, and role as a student. I am currently working long hours and studying hard, I find myself at the bottom of the food chain just as the training artists were. At work, I do mindless tasks which I think are similar to mixing paint or drawing background characters. In class, I listen to my professors diligently and I understand that their knowledge on the subject is far superior than mine. I realized, after reading this chapter, that this theme is prevalent whether you were born in the 14th C or 2019. No matter what, learning is a continuation of working your way up. It made me wonder if famous murals painted by extremely experienced and nuanced people allowed their students to create minor characters, and if I have ever seen any of these. 

Along with my interest in training artists, I also enjoyed reading about how people at this time incorporated their beliefs into their paintings. Pre-renaissance was all about building change, progress, and voicing different opinions and views of the world. I could clearly see these values as I read about the piece entitled the Virtue of Justice, found in the Arena Chapel (Figure 14.8). Adams described the artwork as, “reflecting the humanist concern with the government” (231). The painting represented the split between two political parties found in Italy: the authoritarian states and the democratic regions. It showed a majestic queen who radiated beauty and power. In her hand, she held a Nike that represented ancient Athenian beliefs that connect justice to a well-run government. I saw the painting as the artist’s way of expressing her view on a fair way to run the people of Italy. With the painting being gothic and provocative, it mirrored the pre-renaissance mindset exactly; the people of this time have a powerful voice, and change is inevitable. Despite my knowledge on 14th C rebellion, I was surprised to see that artwork at this time used the government as a creative outlet so frequently. I previously thought that authoritarian beliefs shut down all creative ways to speak out, but it seemed that Italy had multiple forms of government, including oligarchies (231), and a  well-built way to express that.

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Blog Post Kalei Biehl

Art history is interesting to me because it tells us more about our past in a more personal way. People who create art show their inner feelings and it’s exciting to see how that’s portrayed in ancient and modern art.

Outside of art, my main interests are running, reading, and enjoying time with my friends and family. I’m pursuing a degree in Biology at The University of Iowa.

In this class, I hope to cover art from different cultures because I enjoy learning things that are foreign to me, and different from our cultural norms.

My favorite work of art is Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. I think it is classic and beautiful and reminds me of when I visited Germany a few years ago. 

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Allison, I am very intrigued by this piece of art as well. I think it is really interesting that all the small pieces come together and create a coherent figure. It also stuck out to me that there is a hole at the figure’s head and stomach, which I took as a symbol of being careful of what you say and put in one’s body. 

I also really enjoy hiking, biking and being outdoors! I hope you continue to enjoy your education and career path in the Accounting field.

Kalei Biehl

Week 1

Art and art history interest me because art and art history are crucial in understanding and expressing cultures, religions, spirituality, and emotions. Outside of art, I am interested in hiking, biking, camping, traveling, and trying new foods. I am pursing a double degree in Accounting and Human Resources and I plan to go into the Accounting field. I hope to learn more about my creative side and about different cultures through art in this course. 

My favorite work of art is this piece that I saw at the City Museum in St. Louis. I found it interesting how every angle you looked at it, it was different, but looking at it head on you could see what it was. I also liked all the random little pieces that made up this work of art.