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I also enjoyed all the different architecture described in this chapter. It was very interesting to see all the different buildings and how they were made and the story behind them all. I really have enjoyed reading your blog posts in this class. They have all been well written and they give me a different perspective on the chapter. I enjoyed the different pieces that you described in your post. You were able to describe them very well while still hitting most of the aspects in the chapter.

Chapter 31

This chapter was interesting because it focused on more of the modern and future art and we have slowly come to this point. Also, it reflects to the other chapters and it makes a connection to art in the past to art now. Chuck Close designed a very neat self-portrait using small colorful squares to create the shape and look of his face. What is so interesting about this is because Chuck Close normally used black and white colors to make his paintings up until the 1970’s. Also, if you look close enough you can see the small details put into each square that shapes his face. Close used Cubism to make this a more structure like piece, along with bright colors that make the self-portrait so lively. I remember making art like this when I was a kid and at the time I thought it was so cool to be putting art I made into something bigger.

Architecture was also very important at this time and R. Buckminster clearly shows that with his incredible work on the geodesic dome. Buckminster used his creative ability to put this dome, made from small units forming the shape of this sphere. The dome could be constructed of any sort of material so there didn’t have to be a strong cost into building this beautiful piece of work, which is one of the many advantages that went into building this. The dome has not been used as much as expected, but the look and design creates a large crowd of many tourist and citizens of New England.

Charles Moore represents Post-Modern Architecture in the 1970’s. The New Orleans piece focus is on the fluorescent lights portraying the space and accentuate architectural form. Also, the small body of water lying beneath the lights reflect these colors off each other to make the scene even brighter. I like this piece so much because it perfectly fits in with the New Orleans night life style. When we went to New Orleans a few years ago, things were loud, bright, and alive, so this look brings out the most in the cities night life.

My favorite piece from the chapter was the Lowdown, designed by Elizabeth Murray. She took many different shapes and sizes to put together this masterpiece. What is so interesting about this is if you look closely you can spy out some objects that are represent through this piece. There is a set of lips in one corner, and a face in the other. There may be a reason for why she put these objects in here or if this was just all creative work done without much thinking. Her colors are what I noticed first when I saw this picture. She uses different tones and shades by mixing and outlining objects with these colors.

This chapter kind of finished off all the recent chapters and put it together in one. While reading Chapter 30, many styles and movements popped up from this past, so it was very interesting to see how far some of these have come and what they have inspired.

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Chapter 31

Chapter 31 had amazing paintings in it. There were different types of art demonstrated through photography and painting. When painting and photography are put together they form the style of art that is described in this chapter. This style is Super- Realism. It is essentially realism but because of the modern technology that is available to help with the art it is now Super- Realism. One painting that really stood out was Chuck Close’s “Self-Portrait” which he used a picture of himself to create a magnificent picture of his face that he painted little squares to form a face. Every square has pops of color and when looking at each one individually they look remarkable with blues yellows, blacks and pinks all together but then when focusing on the whole picture you can see his face that is formed through all the small boxes.

Another example of Super-Realism is “Mask II” created by Ron Mueck. It is a head lying sideways that is made out of materials that are very modern like fiberglass resin which makes it look very life like. It is incredible how life like it looks. The “skin” is wrinkled much like the person is taking a nap and all the muscles in his face are relaxed. It does not say what the hair is made out of but clearly the hair is very realistic. No details were missed; the man even has grey hair that is receding back like he is aged.  This sculpture is much different than the other shown on the same page. “Sleeping Muse I” is just a head looking as though it is carved out of a smooth material with little features and it is not life like at all. The face is more rounded and lying on the side as though it is also sleeping but it does not look anything like the other because it is plain white with no realistic features unlike the other.

In the architecture section of the chapter there are many beautiful masterpieces. The “Geodesic dome” is a dome that was designed by Buckminster Fuller. It is made out of polyhedral units. In other terms it is a sphere that appears to be made out of small pyramids. One of the advantages of having it be a sphere is that it can endure high winds and other weather aspects that most other buildings struggle with. Another positive of the building is that it was made at very low cost. This style of building is not used very often despite all the advantages that come along with the shape and materials used. Reading about this building is intriguing. I would really enjoy visiting it because it looks so beautiful. Also reading about it there are many words that I do not understand and it would be really cool to learn more about the history and why there are not more buildings like this because they would be such a tourist attraction if there were more.

This chapter was very interesting and although I do not understand modern art as much as I do older art I do think that it is beautiful and it takes a unique mind to understand the influences and how they are so famous. The architecture in this chapter is amazing to look at. How beautiful these buildings can be while still being functional it is amazing and it is truly a work of art.

[stahleys-blog]

I really enjoyed the art in this chapter also. I liked Jackson Pollock’s paintings the most too. Although I personally didn’t splatter paint anything I did think that when things were splatter painted they were cool. Although this trend has died out the paintings are still beautiful. Your review of the chapter was very good. You covered a lot of the chapter.

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Abstract Expressionism was used to bring the United States into the art world. What first started the popularity of this was in 1950 at the New York School. The New York school was interesting because it ironically had painters and artist from America, as well as Europe. Many and most of these artists passed through a Surrealist moment in their life. They made many of their paintings magical and surreal. With already having that mindset in their head abstract was easy for them to get a hold of.

The Artist and His Mother fit very well now. Arshile Gorky used many different styles like; Surrealism, Impressionism, and a tad of Cubism. It is interesting because these are all types of styles that we have learned about in the past. While I was viewing, this painting I noticed the different styles combined with each other. Abstract seemed to be a mix of different styles that brought attention to many viewers.

My favorite part about this chapter is when I read about Jackson Pollock. Jackson Pollock used the “drip technique,” which is what I usually call splatter paint. As a kid, I thought splatter painting everything was the greatest thing ever. I would take paint that my mom bought me from the store and bring it to the grass outside, as well as a few personal objects with me. Some of the splatter painting I did were on things like hairbrushes, phone cases, headbands, etc. Anything I could splatter paint, I would. I look back and think how embarrassing I was, but also how much fun I had. Jackson Pollock used the “drip technique” for several of his pieces to make them part of the abstract world. He started off at the New York school and later began most of his work. His work was so care free and spontaneous, which is why he became so well-known at the time.

I also really enjoyed Ellsworth Kelly and her spectrum painting. I have seen many pictures like this in my life time and I have always been a fan. I admire how the colors slowly fade into one another and towards then slowly fade back into yellow. Classic Modernism: Six Generations was also another piece by Ellsworth Kelly I enjoyed. It is so simple, yet in some way so powerful. Ellsworth uses three primary colors to make this painting stick out so much, red yellow, and blue. These colors upon each other make it more abstract and create a more popping piece of art.

Chapter 29 was a very alluring chapter, mainly due to all the bright colors. I liked how it related to America by talking about the New York School and how it brought all of this to America. Arshile Gorky, Jackson Pollock, and Ellsworth Kelly were all very popular artist of their time. All three of these artist shared the use of abstract in their pieces, but used it in a different way that made their work so special.

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Chapter 29

Chapter 29 is about the mid- century in the 1930s. This is when Abstraction came out and became very popular. This was around the time that Paris was taken over by the Nazis and art was a good way for everyone to find beauty in the world during this hard time. While everyone was fleeing away from the Nazis, Peggy Guggenheim opened the Art of This Century Gallery in New York. This was a museum that displayed different art works of the time.

Abstract Expressionism was made in 1929 by Alfred Barr Jr. this style of art was able to make a name for the United States and actually make them part of the amazing art world. This style was used to describe artists from New York mainly.

One of these painters in this style was Arshile Gorky. They were able to paint a famous painting called “The Artist and His Mother” it was painted on a canvas with oil. This painting got some inspiration from the Cubism time period. The way the faces are shaped are signs of this. Looking at the painting there are many unrealistic aspects of it. Such as the way that the mother is sitting but there are no changing lines to show that her lap is flat and not still standing up. Also the hands are not realistic because they are simply just balls on the ends of their arms. I personally don’t like this painting as much as others because of the imperfections in it. They are obviously on purpose but looking at it I just don’t understand why they left it like this. The painting looks unfinished and it is very bland. The colors at times look as though he got lazy and did not finish. I realize that it is famous and there is a reason as to why it is unfinished but in my mind I just don’t understand.

I do, however, enjoy Jason Pollock’s work. He is an action painter, they are also called gesture painter. Pollock began painting as a Regionalist and turned to Surrealism. In his paintings he used the drip technique. He used different types of paint while painting such as housepainter’s paint, enamel and aluminum. He described painting this way as being part of the painting because the canvas would be on the floor and he would walk around it and be able to be close to the painting. He would drip the paint on the canvas trusting that it would fall in the right place but controlling where it fell with his arm and body placement. I personally love these types of paintings because even though I don’t understand the reasoning behind the painting they are beautiful to look at. I like that he didn’t just use one type of paint but got creative and used different things such as aluminum to create his pieces. I really like the way that the finish product looks, it’s not a normal painting but there is still a story and beauty behind it.

[stahleys-blog]

I always enjoy reading your posts! I also think that art helped to get through this extremely difficult time in life. The war could not have been easy for anyone and so having art to help them through would really lift their spirits. I would enjoy this time period also because it would be amazing to see how the people came back from such a hard time.

Chapter 28

Chapter 28 focused on life after WW1. Things were dull and art was one thing many people relied on. Dada was a movement that took place at the same time of WW1. Dada was something many artist, performers, and writers went to so that they could feel safe during this harsh time. In fact, there safe place was in Switzerland. They let loose and brought their talent along with them. It was such a happy environment with what was happening at the time. Reading about Dada was very interesting. It sounds like it was a great way for many to express their ideas and thoughts with people in the same boat as them. I would have wanted to be a part of this at the time, due to the happiness it brought many struggling. If this were to happen in the present day I feel as if the outcome would be successful and fortunate. Many people have a lot unheard talents that go unrecognized. These people not only with talent, but with ideas and thoughts could all come together as one, sort of like they did during this time.

Some people from the Dada movement became part of the Surrealist style. They were connected well with each other. Surrealist style was known as being “surreal.” It was almost imaginary and many artist took advantage of this style to create some pretty neat pieces. One of my favorites artist was Man Ray. He used Rayograph, which was not very typical at the time. A very well-known painting titled “Le Violon d’Ingres,” was a mix of Dada and Surrealism. It was so different and really highlighted this movement and style at the time. The nude body with the “sound holes” was considered so surreal at the time and that’s why many people enjoyed Man Ray.

It was very interesting to read about the “melting clocks.” The reason it was so interesting was because I have seen it many times, particularly in Spanish class. I have always looked at this painting and questioned the meaning behind it. It makes sense why it was portrayed during this time. The “melting” of all the objects surrounding this piece gave it it’s Surrealist style. It is such an odd painting and I think that is what many of these paintings could be considered, odd. Not that odd is bad, in all honesty different is usually good and many of these artists had that mindset of making these paintings different.

Chapter 28 was a very interesting chapter. Dada was so cool even though what led to this movement was so heartbreaking, it was a point where many people overcame these hard times. It was interesting how Dada and the Surrealist style mixed. It produced some of the coolest paintings at the time. Besides for WW1 being the leading factor to this point, this is a time I would have enjoyed. There was a big change with the art side of the world, as well as artist, and I think that these people involved in these movements and styles made people and themselves stronger and helped them through this tough time.  

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Chapter 28

After World War I there was a lot of separation and desolation because of the change in how wars were now starting to be fought. They started to use more gun power and other tactics that were not as humane as before. Because of this the style of Dada came to be. This was an artistic and literary movement that took place all around the world. It was started in Switzerland who was not involved in the war because they are neutral in all wars. Artists and writers would gather and share their creations. This is still done today very often in many different ways. There are poetry reading gatherings in many coffee shops; this is very popular in colleges.

There are many interesting art pieces in this chapter. One that stands out to me is by Jean (Hans) Arp “Arranged According to the laws of Chance.” This was an art piece that has torn up paper that was then pasted on a larger piece of paper. In this piece the pieces of paper are simply rectangles that are on a piece of paper. Reading about it is really quite cool. The artist dropped the pieces of paper and pasted them where they fell. He moved them so they did not overlap but other than that he just used where they fell. If this is the case then it is really a neat piece that all the papers fell perfectly in a pattern that looks as though someone had laid them out.

Another piece of art in this chapter is Le Violon D’Ingres which is a photograph that Emanuel Rudnitsky or Man Ray went back and painted over the picture. He added the holes of a violin to make the woman’s back look like a violin. One looking at this picture would not assume that was the intention unless they played violin. I personally looked at the art and recognized that the pattern had something to do with music but forgot that it was related to the violin. It never entered my mind that her back resembled a violin until reading the paragraph about it.

Salvador Dali’s painting “The Persistence of Memory” In this picture there are many objects that would be impossible in the real world. The platform on the left of the painting has a tree growing from it when in fact it is not dirt and would not be able to sustain the life of a tree. There is also the lighting. It is very well lit in the background and the left platform is lighter than the ground. The light from the sun symbolizes the time going by. The melting clocks to me say that the time really does not matter. Or it could also mean that time drags and it is taking so long  that the time has melted away.

A very famous painting is in this chapter. It is by Grant Wood called the “American Gothic” This painting is demonstrating Gothic by using the vertical lines on the house and the pointed window. These two are meant to be Midwestern Americans who are on a farm. This painting is one of the most famous paintings that I have seen I think in part that I am from the Midwest so it is very common for schools around here to teach about this painting.

[stahleys-blog]

I liked that when you wrote your blog you focused on the architecture described in the chapter. I focused more on the art so reading what you thought of the architecture part of the chapter was very interesting. It is also very interesting that your parents have a home that is the style that is described in this chapter. What a cool connection!

Chapter 27

Chapter 27 had a quite a few interesting points to it. There were some parts that we had read about in the previous chapters. The Old Guitarist is an example of cubism during this time. This made things look less smooth and more cube and shaped like, hence the name, cubism. Again, Pablo Picasso was recognized for his working during this time. He had many paintings and sculptures that fit perfectly during this time.

My favorite part of this chapter was reading about Frank Lloyd Wright and his style. He began starting out with houses that were categorized under “prairie homes.” This was his most known style of architecture.  At a time, the main details of his homes were flat roofed and had wide spaces with a lot of windows so that there could be natural lighting. These houses were usually not considered tall, but low to the ground. I enjoyed reading about this so much because this fit right under our house. While my parents were searching for houses, they were looking for his type of style. They finally took their pick and ended up living in a house perfectly described with his style and I love how different our house is compared to the average American house. I did not know much about Frank Lloyd right until this year when I gave a presentation in my AP language and composition class. I picked to do it over him knowing that I could find some sort of connection. I discovered many interesting facts about him and all his work he produced over the years. His style changed a tad over his years, but to this day most people can tell what type of houses have that Wright look to it. Frank Lloyd Wright has built many buildings as well as house all over Illinois, specifically Oak Park. Oak Park is known for its historical mark left from Wright. To this day many houses are still up and you can even tour one of the homes he lived in. Not only are my parents big into this style, but my best friend’s family owns a house with the same style, in fact, they took a trip up to Pennsylvaina this summer to visit the Fallingwater house. They said it was so interesting viewing one of the houses he has built. I have come to conclusion that I would also like to live in a house created by the style of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Chapter 27 had one of my favorite topics to talk about it. It’s interesting to hear more about Frank Lloyd Wright’s style and architectures. This style in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was one of the most popular looks at the time. It relates to the cubism style due to its dense shaped archeiture. Before getting to the pages on Frank Lloyd Wright, I was thinking about his style because of its strong connection with this popular style coming from artist at the same time.

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Chapter 27 Cubism

In the twentieth- century there were many different styles of art. Cubism was one of these. It emphasized on special organization and how the colors work together. It was the most influential style and was widely known. In this style they used more red hints rather than blue hints that were in the Blue Period.

In this chapter there are very famous paintings. One of these is Picasso’s “Les Demoiselles D’Avignon.” This is a painting of five women standing nude in different poses. For this painting Picasso used several different inspirations. He used the African’s mas that is also pictured in the book. The long faces and distorted nose resembles them. He also got inspiration from the Egyptians with how the woman on the left is standing. Looking at the painting it is very colorful with many different strokes and lines. The figures are distorted and not realistic. This is part of what makes the painting so beautiful. It is a mystery and looking at it you have to wonder what he was thinking while he painted such distorted figures. This painting has so much in common and yet so much that is different than his other painting “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.”

This other painting has seven figures instead of five and is much different. Instead of having color and many different poses with little detail, this painting almost appears as though the figures are sketched with no details. They have sharp edges and lines that he drew. It is pointed out that the figures interact with the background. This looks almost like a curtain that one figure appears to be pulling back to peer around it. There is little color in this painting. There is some orange and only two figures are colored. In the center of the painting there are flowers but they are colored with only blobs of green and yellow. There is no detail in them. The colors on the women appear that he scribbled in the color instead of filling the figure with one solid color.

The era of collages also started during this time period in 1912. In Picasso’s collage “Man with  a Hat” He used newspaper and colored paper to form different textures. To complete the work of art he used charcoal to draw in the missing pieces. Looking at this drawing it is very confusing to look at. There are many different lines that resemble each  other and looking at the whole drawing it does not look like anything at all. Personally I have never understood these works of art. I do not understand what he was thinking when he created it. With that said I also think that that’s the beauty in these art pieces that people do not always understand the art pieces but they are still beautiful to so many others.

Continuing through the chapter there is a lot of color and lines that continue through this time period. It also turns into architecture. Many of these buildings have straight lines and have many shapes that are different than the conventional square homes that are so common.

This time period has many beautiful paintings and buildings that are still so beautiful today. It amazes me that these works were done so long ago and yet people still marvel over their beauty.

[stahleys-blog]

The way you described Rome and the art that is common there makes me want to visit there myself! You are correct with the observation that there is a lot of nudity. I personally do not like when there is so much graphic nudity but I also realize that that is just part of what makes the art so beautiful in these time periods. 

Chapter 26 and Research

Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse were two very famous artists in the early twentieth century. They made sculptures as well as some paintings. They began in the 19th century which was pretty young age for them, and carried on into the early 20th century. They passed through Impression, Post-Impression, and Symbolism. For about 3-4 years, Picasso style was known as the Blue Period. As seen in his painting, “The Old Guitarist,” the many shades of blue surround the guitarist as he looks down. He also looks down as in sad and depressed. For a matter of years Picasso made a lot of his paintings with the blue hue to them. I really enjoyed Matisse’s colorful painting, “Women with the Hat.” I can see almost every color blended into this piece of art. It really grabs the viewers’ attention with the vivid, popping colors. I can notice the tiny strokes from the paint brush, mainly around her upper body and on her shoulder. It almost looks like a bowl of fruit lies upon her head, especially with all the colors. I remember making paintings like this when I was younger. I never could master mixing these colors to create such a beautiful painting like this one.

Scrolling through this chapter I noticed a lot of color in many of these pieces. As I talked about in my introduction, I have always enjoyed bright colors seen through art. Using many bright colors were very popular in this century. Like mentioned before Matisse was one to clearly show these descriptive colors through art. Franz Marc and Kathe Kollwitz were also two artists that used bright detailed colors in their work. Harmony in Red created by Matisse, was one of my favorite paintings. I admired how the table or table cloth blended so well with the wall that it appeared hidden. Mainly the focus is the red, but the dark colored details spark the picture and make it livelier.

Research 

Urbanization, modernization, and industrialization build up Italy in the twentieth century. Many artist were fitting into these changes throught the years, which was easily seen through their art. While scrolling through different websites, I noticed a lot of nudity during the time. Not only during the 19th and 20th century was nudity big, but while I visited Italy a few summers ago I noticed many sculptures and paintings with nudity. Italy focused a lot on making sure they were characterized as a political country before WW1. Also, including their political stance, the Fascism movement played a major role in Italy during the 20th century. Many artist were adapting to more formal ways and modernization. Europe its self has typically had a modern look to it for quite some decades now and Italy especially brought that to their attention. With architecture too, modernization was seen all throughout the country. As of now you could visit the streets of Rome and not notice a lot of modernization, but deep into the souls of ancient art, old buildings, and tons of homes, a lot of modernism could be seen.

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Chapter 26

Pablo Picasso was a very popular Spanish artist in the twentieth century. Him and Henri Matisse, who was a French artist both made sculptures but were mainly painters. Both of these painters were recognized early in their careers unlike many other artists in their time period. Picasso branched out from Impressionism. Matisse’s paintings were colorful from the time he started painting to the time he ended. Picasso changed his styles often. He was considered a Symbolist in most of his paintings.

Symbolism was the style that Picasso was known for. This time period was also known as the Blue Period because he painted some of his paintings with a blue color tone which was to demonstrate the mood of the painting.

In his painting “The Old Guitarist” the painting is mainly just shades of blue demonstrating the sad story behind it. The figure in the painting is skinny with torn clothing. In the picture the man is bent over listening to the music of the guitar while playing it. In the picture it is assumed that he is blind because of the way he is bent over and listening to the music very carefully.

Fauvism was in the time period of Matisse. He created bright and colorful paintings that were much different than Picasso. The paintings are bright and use different shapes and colors that were abnormal and not exactly realistic. The paintings were made and a man Louis Vauzcelles stated that they remind him of a jungle and that is why they named the style Fauvism.

In Germany during the same time period this is when Expressionism really took off. This style lasted a very long time, until around the start of World War I. This style used the same amount of color as Fauvism. This style concentrated less on the structure and placement of the color. Looking at the famous painting “The Street” there are colors that are out of place and not realistic. The lines are not clean and hard to make out. The painting has several different people walking down the street. The figures are clear to make out  but the colors that make them up are not realistic. The one woman has blue making up part of her face but the rest is more of a red color.

The painting “Still Life with Masks” by Emil Nolde is a paintings of different masks that appear to be hanging from above the painting. Some of these masks are very frightening especially one which is red with black lips, pointed eyes, and a devious smile. This mask was inspired by Nolde’s painting of the ocean canoe prow. Some of the other masks were inspired by the carnivals that he attended.

Another one of Matisse’s famous paintings is “Dance” created in 1909. In this painting there are different figures that appear to be dancing in a circle. All the figures are naked and holding hands. The one looks as though they have fallen and are reaching to the other to try to get up. This is a very simple painting with little detail and lines. The figures are very simple and do not have much detail in their faces.

This time period is very remarkable and helped make was modern art is today. The lack of specific detail is carried through time into other time periods. The misuse of realistic color is also still used today. This way the artist is able to express themselves without having any boundaries. I personally love the freedom that is demonstrated by the artists in these styles.

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[stahleys-blog]

I really enjoyed reading about the different architecture that was discussed in this chapter. There are many different buildings that are so unique and beautiful. All the different buildings that you described make me want to travel to see so many other beautiful buildings much like the ones in the chapter. 

Chapter 23 Nineteenth-Century Realism

The nineteenth-century was the century of innovation. There was a lot of change and many new inventions. These designs like the steam engine and other goods were a big spark at the time. Many people were turning towards steel and iron which helped the factories. This created a lot more job opportunities for people and gave them the option to move to the cities. Politics became very popular. There was a lot more talk on the streets about campaigning and the government. In addition, cartoons of political chiefs could be seen in newspapers and magazines. This was also when technology was advancing with prints and photos, making things livelier. Communication was also advancing with technology, with the telephone and telegraph. This was a big change at the time and became popular very fast. 

With the spark of steel and iron, architecture soon became a lot easier. Many structures were built with steel and iron and help created a more reliable building. The Crystal Palace done so magnificently by Joseph Paxton. The “Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations” hosted an exhibition so that architects could turn in their creations for a new building in Hyde Park. (The Crystal Palace) Many people were turned down fast. Joseph Paxton was not one those 245 people. With Paxton’s win, there was a lot of work that went into in. Beforehand Paxton had a lot of experience with architecture. His design for the new building was very manageable and could be done in in the 9-month time he had. Also, Paxton made sure his design would not be too pricey and workable. Paxton hit all the requirements right on and was given the task to complete the job. The Crystal palace was a very large building including glass work all around. The building held many more exhibits as well as fairs. Later in 1936, a fire struck the building and it was demolished. Ironically, the Crystal Palace was built with fire proof glass.

The Eiffel Tower was also a temporary building in the 19th century, as well as the Crystal Palace. Many tourist and visitors enjoyed viewing the scenery of Paris through the highest point of the building. This is a very popular and well known piece of architecture, which at the time many were not too fond of it. In fact, there was a petition to have the Eifel Tower destroyed. I have always wanted to visit Paris and see the Eifel Tower so that I could also enjoy a great amount of the scenery in Paris. Last summer my sister spent three months in Germany and spent a weekend up in Paris. The Eifel Tower was one of the coolest things she said she has ever seen. The time put into this monument is almost beyond the recognition it gets.

Chapter 23 was one of my favorite chapters yet. The Crystal Palace and Joseph Paxton’s story was very interesting to me. It would have been so surreal to be chosen to build a well-known building in London at the time where a lot of architecture was just beginning. Only hearing stuff from my sister and viewing photos of the Eifel Tower, I have never read much about it. Reading about the Eifel Tower was very alluring. I have always had a desire to visit this fascinating monument and reading about it made me want to go visit more. I love how the 19th century was big on change and renovation. It created a lot more opportunities for people all around the world. These changes constructed a huge part of our future and deigned many important goods and buildings used to this day.

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Chapter 23 Realism

Realism is in the nineteenth century. During this time period there were new ideas about how human rights should be. In the paintings there are depictions of different classes within society. The lower classes were starting to rebel against political oppression. This was also the time where factories were invented. This is when there was a large division established between the workers and the owners of the factories.

There were many artists in this era. One of them was Jean-Francois Millet. He painted the painting “The Gleaners”. This is a painting of three women who are working in a field. Two are belt over and picking things out of the field. They are all working hard and in the background there is a farm that seems to have wealthy owners. This demonstrates the difference in social class because the owners controlled the workers who are doing all the hard labor for the wealthy family.

Another artist from this time period is Rosa Bonheur also combines Realism and Romanticism in her work in “The Horse Fair”. In this painting there are men riding horses. She worked for a slaughterhouse so she knows a lot about horses and their anatomy. She was able to paint the movement of the horses while demonstrating nature and the anatomy of the humans in the painting.

Honore Daumier was an artist that is both a Romantic and a Realist. He painted the “Third-Class Carriage” There is a high contrast of light and dark in this painting. There are times when the brush work is tight and other times where it is loose and so the image is not as clear as other times. In his other painting “Freedom of the press” is demonstrating the three different social classes. There is writing in the rock with the working class man standing and looking back toward a group of three men who are fighting over an umbrella. On the other side there are three men that are the crownless Charles X who is on the ground receiving help from two monarchs. This is demonstrating the difference in social classes. The ones who are well off, working class, and the class that appears to be falling and helpless. This painting is in black and white. This shows the shading skills that were used to bring this painting to life. It is also a statement about it being black and white, I imagine it demonstrates how all the classes are divided and you are in one and not the others. It is very black and white what class you are in.

Another painting that is black and white is Daumier’s “Nadar Elevating Photography to the Height of Art” In this picture there is a photographer who is in a hot air balloon with his camera and taking pictures of buildings that all have “Photographie” There are many angles demonstrated in this art piece. It is mentioned that his legs are at a sharp angle with his body. His hat is flying off and has sharp angles also. There are many details in this piece that it takes time to examine and find all the small details.

This time period was an amazing time in art. The different skills portrayed in the paintings continue to grow and change. Most of them can be linked to what is going on in that time period so looking at these works of art you can see what the news was at that time. I really enjoy this time period because it is such a time where people are fighting back to earn a different social standing and to be their own individual.

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[stahleys-blog]

I really enjoyed reading your post. I agree with every thing said. You brought great description of John Constable’s paintings as they beautiful. Your description of “God Creating the Universe” was very descriptive as I did not write about that painting because it was very hard for me to understand. Reading your post along with the book it was easier to see what the painting was about. 

Chapter 22

The romantic movement was huge in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian are the five languages that the Romantic style came from. The romantic movement was seen through social philosophy, art, music, literature, and politics.

Architecture was seen often through the romantic movement, including The Royal Pavilion which is located in Brighton, England clearly represents the gothic revival and its fine architecture. This building was made for the prince by John Nash. Nash’s details through the building are highlighted by the white tone surrounding the domes. Now occupied as a “seaside resort” and viewed by many tourist and citizens.

Francois Rude’s designed “La Marseillaise” formerly known as the “Departure of the Volunteers.” It represents the people of France ready to fight against “foreign enemies.” The soldiers can be seen as young and old and have a wide expression on their face. The scene looks very intense and dramatic, just as it should be.

“God Creating the Universe."This piece is pretty extraordinary just looking at it. God is in the center of the painting surrounded by a circle which looks like the sun. There are tiny details that work up to the center of the art. To me there looks like a variety of clouds, a moon, the sun, and a mountain, all parts of nature and the creator (god). What made this painting extra special was that it was hand-colored in 1794. The Romanticism can be seen through the blending of "medieval iconography” and a “Michelangelo-style God.”

My favorite painting was the “Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons.” This painting was created by Joseph Mallory William Turner, a popular artist at the time. Turners delicate strokes create a colorful and vivid painting. The orange and yellow colors produce a fire reflecting over the blue water. As horrific as the scene sounds the painting still remains very calm. I enjoy this painting because as the fire seems to be so massive and rough, the beauty grabs the eye.

Another well known artist of the time was John Constable. John Constable created another one of my favorite paintings which is the “Bishops Garden.” Constable focused on the English country life which is easily seen in this painting. The English country life was a beautiful seen. With a lot of trees and details, Constable put together a beautiful painting of the Salisbury Cathedral. There is a wide set of colors used through this painting. The sides are filled with trees covered in a dark tone. As we get deeper into the picture the colors become brighter and the details stand out more. The details i first noticed were the windows and carvings on the cathedral. The many details and colors throughout the painting grabbed my attention as soon as I saw it.

Chapter 22 had some amazing paintings and sculptures with great messages behind them. The romantic movement influenced many artist at the time in a very positive way. A lot of modern art can still include some of these famous styles and can be influenced by these times that many artist were involved in.

[stahleys-blog]

Chapter 22 Romanticism

Romanticism is a style of art in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. It was in mainly Western Europe and the United States. The languages that influenced this style were French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian. Many of these works of art go along with the phrases “long ago” and “far away”. Many of the paintings are unrealistic because they are simply what the artist assumes it is like in places that they have never been to.

The different sculptures that came out of this time period are amazing but not as noticed as poets and architects. The sculpture “La Marseillaise” is showing warriors going to fight to protect France against the different enemies. This sculpture was made to echo the military song that was written around the same time. The men in this sculpture range from different ages to different clothing amounts. Some are dressed in full armor and some are completely nude with only shoes on. Above them is a version of the winged Victory. Victory is bringing them off to war and protecting them.

Another famous painting of this time period is “Liberty Leading the People” this is a painting of a woman standing with her top half exposed with her dress falling off. She is holding up the flag motioning for the men to fight. All the men emerge from the haze in the background which symbols France’s political emergence during the difficult time for them. In the painting you can see how the soldiers look at Liberty for inspiration and motivation as they continue their hard journey.

One of the most famous painters in the Romanticism time period is John Constable. He was the best landscape painter. Constable’s paintings are very clear and you can see the scenery as though you are personally looking at it rather than Joseph Mallord William Turner whose paintings are blurred from the paint. They are equally beautiful but very different styles of painting. Constable’s painting “Salisbury Cathedral” is beautiful and you can see the cathedral with the cows in grazing in front of it. There is a couple walking the path with the man pointing out all the different aspects of the building. The trees have the yellow light bouncing off the leaves, giving shade to a small pond under it. This is such a beautiful scene and looking at it makes you yearn to travel there to see it yourself.

Turner’s painting “Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons” is a painting of the ocean with ships on the coast. The brush strokes blur the picture but the bright colors bring it to life. In the middle of the picture there is a huge flame that catches the eye when looking at the painting. The smoke off the fire makes it hard to see the coast line which show off the towers of Parliament. This painting is so beautiful showing off water, flames and sky and how they combine to form one beautiful sight.

This time period there are many paintings that are absolutely amazing. I love looking at the different styles and how they can form such different yet beautiful scenes. They are all so different portraying humans, animals or scenery. The different paintings make me want to travel to see the buildings in real life. They are so beautiful that they inspire people as they did when they were first painted.

[stahleys-blog]

Lauren I really enjoyed your post. It went into great detail about the “Death of Marat” painting. I really enjoyed how you went into their skin disorder and how they spent most their time in the bath so that is why they are in the tub when they are stabbed. I also talked about fashion but I did forget about the high wasted jeans. I forgot that they are such a fashion statement and such an obvious come back because they were so big back then and they are again today. 

Chapter 21

Another famous painting done by Jacques Louis David was “Death of Marat.” David and Marat, his Jacobins close friend,  both revolutionists. This was a painting of Marat stabbed body lying in a bath tub. Marat had a skin disease and his better times were spent soaking and writing political controversy.  Hence depicting a murder with a knife on the floor and hi pen still in his hand. The detail of the painting includes a draped body positioned such as Christ is often depicted, with his skin reflecting his disease, a man murdered while working on this writings and a date to relay to the viewer the second year of the French revolution dates the painting David also went on to paint many large and lavish oil paintings of Napoleon as the great military successor and victor. All his works are similar to iconic Classical Rome yet the painter tells the story of the French Revolution, French Emperor and the “New French Rome”

This neoclassical style was used during the American Revolution. Paintings of this time represent political change and to the observer a revolutionary new start of beginning.  Thomas Jefferson and George Washington are painted in portraits of the signing of the Constitution similar to those depicting the French Revolution. Stately, political greats painted working for change in a style of classic Rome but of a new era.  Iconic structures such as the Roman Pantheon are what Jefferson use to create the Rotunda at the University of Virginia.

Iconic fashion – Many fashions have returned yet slightly different from the original. Jeans for example have returned in a variety of iconic styles. Originally represented a change in woman from the skirt or dress to pants with the original brand being Levi or hand crafted with a sewing machine. High-waisted jeans were popular in the 60’s and with designer brand names added in the 80’s, made of denim cloth were popular at the time are now making a comeback. A popular brand by the name of Calvin Klein, sells many pairs of these. This style is a different change from the so-called “skinny jeans.” decade.  The name “mom jeans” came from the style that many moms wore at the time. In school I notice more people wearing these types of jeans than any other. In my opinion I am a huge fan and also own a pair. These jeans are now available in a variety of colors not just denim and made in stretch fabrics and often have holes in them.  Low-waisted, button fly jeans with bell bottom legs were a popular style in the 70’s, returned as well in the early 2000’s. Upon their return the bell-bottom was not as large, replaced with the flare and once again offered in stretch fabrics and a variety of colors. These were very popular during my middle school years.  I believe the trend style in jeans changes often as women are more the fashion consumer than man. Also more woman are working than in the 50’s and 60’s providing a means of increase shopping potential.  Retail stores and internet now have expanded the ease of shopping and often reduced the price.  And magazines and large fashion companies have influenced us all to adapt to the changing times.

[stahleys-blog]

Chapter 21 Neoclassicism

The Neoclassical style in France is one of the many styles created in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. This style is very political and normally has a heroic subject portrayed in the art. To upgrade his political image, Napoleon Bonaparte started to use the neoclassical style. After painting his “Oath of the Horatii”, Jacques-Louis David was appointed the imperial painter to Napoleon. This painting was one of the paintings in the neoclassical style. It shows a man holding swords from men and women on the other side. This was because one of the battles between Rome and Alba Longa settled a war by using two sets of triplets instead of sending their whole countries to war. This painting showed a completely different aspect of the style than David’s other painting “Death of Marat”. This shows Marat stabbed in his bathtub. He is holding a letter saying that he was stabbed by Charolete Corday who was in the conservative Girondin group. The first painting showed heroism and strength; the second was showing a man  brought to his death in his own bathtub.

Another painting that caught my eye because it was different than any of the other paintings in this time period was Marie-Guillemine Benoist’s “Portrait of a Negress” This painting shows an African woman who is nude from the waste up and wrapped in a white cloth. She is reclined on a chair with gold earrings. This was painted with oils on a canvas. The lines are clean and there is clear contrast with the white clothes, yellow background and her skin tone. The painting catches the eye and is absolutely beautiful. It truly looks like a modern painting.

Another very famous painting is in this chapter. This is “Declaration of Independence” and it is painted by John Trumbull. Trumbull was said in his own autobiography that Jefferson gave him advice on this painting. This means that there is accuracy behind the painting and if it is true, it is an important piece in American history. In this painting there is everyone who signed the Declaration and all the bystanders that witnessed the singing. Jefferson’s vest is red and contrasts with the rest of the clothing that is worn by the rest of the singers. This along with his height makes him stand out. The painting shows him handing the declaration to John Hancock which is the man known for signing the declaration along with others. This painting is a large part of the American history which means that it means a lot to every American. Looking at it, I can only hope that that is how the scene really looked because it would be a wonderful sight to see the real signing even if it is through a painting.

In today’s society it looks as though there are many styles coming back. One that I can think of the bell bottomed jeans. These were very popular when my mother was a teenager. All the photos had her standing there with those jeans. Now, in 2017 there are many people that wear bell bottomed jeans and occasionally I see them in the store. I also look through my mom’s old photos and see her wearing crop tops. These are shirts and do not cover your whole stomach. These are now a huge fashion statement. Almost every girl owns a crop top and it never occurred to me that they were not only coming into style but they are not coming  back into style.

[stahleys-blog]

Chapter 19 & 20

In the sixteenth century much of the art was influenced by religion and science. There were many breakthroughs in science during this time period. William Harvey established the concept of blood circulation and Isaac Newton discovered the rules of gravity. Both of these discoveries are revolutionary and still impact us greatly to this day. This was also the time where they truly established that the earth was not the center of the universe.

The Baroque style is the main style used in this time period. Baroque means “irregular, and therefore imperfect, pearl” (pg 333). This style was emotional and dramatic compared to other styles before it. This style originated in Italy.

Architecture was a large part of this artistic style. Pope Urban VIII hired Gianlorenzo Bernini to design a church to be beautiful. He was not able to complete this due to his death. This is when the baldachino or canopy over the altar was made and used in most churches since then. The outside of the church was later designed to create a dramatic enterance into the church. This is a circular enterance around which you can walk through or around. They are beautiful pillars that look dramatic and beautiful leading up to the grand church. These unique touches are not necessary but looking at the church it definetly brings out the dramatic in the Boroque style that was used on this church.

In chapter twenty they talk about the Rococo style that was established in the eighteenth century. The Rococo style is normally found in parks and gardens. This style stands for style and grace but is also exotic. This style originated in China. This style focused more on houses and the upper middle class. This style went along with the advancement of music by Vivaldi, Bach, Haydn, and Mozart. It also went along with science when oxygen was discovered by Edmund Halley. The steam engine was also made by James Watt.

I really enjoyed Jean-Honore Fragonard’s painting entitled “Swing”. This is of a woman who is swinging in a pink frilly dress in the middle of a forest. She has a hat on matching the dress and seems to be care free. The softness of the picture goes along with the style. There is scandle in the painting by her shoe flying off and his hat off his head. In this time period this was considered sexual references. The statue of cupid continues the theme and he has a finger to his lips while watching the couple. The painter saw himself as the man watching his mistress swinging care free. The swing indicates that they are free willed and do not go by the rules of the time where there would be no sexual content in any of the paintings.

The paintings in these times were revolutionary and shaped how our art is today. It is very interesting how the religion and scandal can somehow be in the same style of painting and architecture. It was beautiful how the colors and textures came together to form the painting and sculptures of the different styles.