Chapter 19 and 20
Chapter 19 – The Modern Era
- Neoclassicism
Neoclassical painters included Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-79), Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825), Angelica Kauffmann (1741-1807) and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867). In this period, also sculptors were Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741-1828), John Flaxman (1755-1826), Antonio Canova (1757-1822), as well as Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844). Neoclassical architecture was highly characterized by grandeur of scale, high level of simplicity of geometric forms. Other stylish features during this era were the dramatic use of columns that was influenced by Roman arts. There is a great use of the Rococo style. Neoclassicism was greatly characterized by Greek and Roman-influenced styles. One painting that is famous in this era was the “Andromache Mourning Over the Body of Hector,” which was done in 1783 by the painter known as Jacques-Louis David.
- Romanticism
Major artists in this era are Francisco Goya, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Henry Fuseli, Caspar David Friedrich, Théodore Géricault, and the famous J.M.W. Turner, who was the first to introduce this style. Romanticism was highly influenced by a revolt against the aspect of aristocratic social and changing the political norms of the Age of Enlightenment. It is a fact that romantic art mostly focused on human emotions and feelings. The art also has characteristics of depicting spirituality, a high form of imagination, mystery, and fervor. The artists were able to portray their subject matter as from landscapes, to religion, revolution, and peaceful beauty. The loose brushwork is highly evident in romantic art. The most famous painting was “The Raft of the Medusa” by a painter called Théodore Géricault. The inspiring fact about the Medusa painting was the French criticism over the political issues. The painting is about whether the men on the raft need to be saved or not.
- Realism
Two main artists in this era included Gustave Courbet and Jean-Francois Millet. Stylistic features of realism include the high precision, detailed and accurate representation in terms of the art of the visual appearance of scenes and objects. Realism was influenced as it opposed the Romanticism. Most painting is “The Gleaners” by an artist called Jean-François Millet. The picture depicts how people should view themselves inwards. An interesting fact is that the three peasant women gleaning a field show aspect of inequality and how we view others.
- Impressionism
Some of the known impressionist artists in this era included were Edouard Manet, Camille Pissaro, Edgar Degas, Alfred Sisley, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, and also Pierre Auguste Renoir. There are some unique characteristics of Impressionist paintings which one of them includes relatively thin brush strokes, as the artist used the open composition, emphasis on the accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage of time), ordinary subject matter, the inclusion of movement as a crucial element
- Post Impressionism
A list of major artists as Paul Cézanne, Odilon Redon, Henri Rousseau, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, and Charles Angrand. The style used was emotions and memory as they rejected the concept of the observed world—the style used devoted symbolism, unnatural, and meaningfulness. An interesting painting was “The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh as he expressed dimness of the sky and used to bring serenity to illness due to the calmness it portrays.
- Expressionism
Major artists were Max Beckmann, Otto Dix, Lionel Feininger, George Grosz, Wassily Kandinsky, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Paul Klee, and Franz Marc. The movement opposed the realism in which was a major influence for this art. Emotions were the primary concept applied in most of the works. The most used style of jarring, violent brushstrokes, and a good painting example is of “Large Blue Horses” by an artist called Franz Marc.
- American Expatriates
Artists included Mary Cassatt, Childe Hassam, Theodore Robinson, and Archibald J. Motley. The main style used by artists were light motifs and watercolors. A significant artwork is the” The Cup of Tea” of 1879 by Cassatt. The influences in visual art movement, for example, Pop, Psychedelic arts.
- Americans in America
The artists involved were Jacob Lawrence, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Romare
Bearden. The artworks highly inspired and influenced by a growing and changing culture.
Chapter 20 – The Twentieth Century: The Early Years
- Fauvism
Some of the greatest artists are Vlaminck, Braque, Dufy, Henri Matisse, and Andre Derain. The main stylistic characteristics include the radical use of unnatural colors, canvas application that portrays strong, and unified work. Influences of influences movement were Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, and Georges Seurat. This group of artists wanted to retain an aspect of painterly qualities and use of strong color so as to retain elements of impressionism. Major painting is the Le Bonheur de Vivre by Henri Matisse, but was also known as “The Joy of Life.”
- Expressionism
The major artist includes Vincent van Gogh, Wassily Kandinsky, Edvard Munch, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Francis Bacon, and Egon Schiele. The Abstract Expressionists started in 1905 in which was highly influenced by the idea of exploring the unconscious, which was famous in Surrealism. The primary styles used in this art mainly aimed at distortion, jarring exaggeration, primitivism, and the concept of fantasy. The expression of emotions in the artwork was some style used in this era. The interesting painting was “Mad Woman ” by Chaim Soutine in which expressed the concept of violent brushstrokes and contorted lines with the intention of communicating unnerving tension.
- Cubism
Major artists are Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Fernand Lége, Jean Metzinger, Albert Gleizes, Robert Delaunay, and Henri Le Fauconnier. The style used was two dimensions that brought flatness to the canvas. The geometric design is highly characterized in cubism. The major influencers of cubism were Paul Cézanne and Pablo Picasso, as the inspiration came from African tribal masks, which was considered stylized and having elements of non-naturalistic. The painting of “The Weeping Woman” by Pablo Picasso is very interesting as it was an inspiration for his love life, showing the concept of depression.
- Futurism
Major artists were Giacomo Balla, Umberto Boccioni, and Gino Severini. The main stylish features include dynamism, elements of speed, energy, and machine power used. Futurism was highly known to reject the past and glorifying modernity. An example of a famous painting is the ” Speeding Train” done by Ivo Pannaggi. This painting was fascinating as the train travels diagonally as it portrayed alot of dynamism.
- Early 20th Century
In this era, there were many artists who included Henri Matisse in the year 1905, known for Fauvism. Henri Matisse, in 1910, Pablo Picasso, 1907, and Georges Braque in 1910. The famous art form used in the 20th century was cubism, which was highly evident as well as Fauvism. Examples of paintings that are famously known are Pablo Picasso – “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon” in 1907. Picasso used jagged madness, masks, and primitivism in this artwork.
- Abstraction in the US
Some of the major artists are Mark Rothko, and as well as Robert Rauschen, 1925–2008, who was known as American painter and graphic artist. Neo -dada and abstract expressionism were styles mostly influenced this period. The major work of Rauschen was ‘Canyon’ in 1959.
- Abstraction in Europe
Major artists were Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman Paul Klee, Theo van Doesburg, and Anni Albers. Abstraction has three major levels, which included logical, physical, and view levels. Abstraction made the code easier to read. A major painting was by Pollock, Jackson called the ” Number 1A” done in 1948.
- Fantasy
Major artist include Kelly McKernan, Greg Simkins, Kirbi Fagan, Alix Branwyn,
Crystal Sullivan, and Leesha Hannigan. Features used in fantasy are included Dragons, wizards, fairies, and other mythical creatures. It depicts alot of fiction and creativity. Other stylistic characteristics are unrealistic and dreamy. One interesting painting of a dragon by painter Crystal Sullivan named it ” The Tomb Keeper” has alot of fantasy of existence of dragons and viewed as protectors.
- Dada
Some of the major Dadaists included Tristan Tzara (1896-1963), Man Ray (1890-1976), Jean/Hans Arp (1886-1966), Hugo Ball (1886-1927), Hannah Höch (1889-1978), Raoul Hausmann (1886-1971), and finally Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968). The main influence of Dadaism was the negative impacts of world war I. The Dada mostly rejected the idea of reasoning and logic. The major style that gestured in dada art was prizing nonsense, alot of artistic freedom, irrationalism, emotional reaction. One of the most offensive paintings that caught my eye was the ” LHOOQ ” by the Artist, Marcel Duchamp, as he modified the ‘Mona Lisa ‘ as a man.
- Surrealism
List of famous artist in this period were Jean Arp, Max Ernst, Paul Delvaux, André Masson, Pablo Picasso, Pierre Roy, René Magritte, Yves Tanguy, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró. The stylistic features of the Surrealistic are involved in dream-like visuals, highly used symbolism, and collage images. The main component of this art is the unique artistic response to psychoanalysis of dreaming. The main influence of this art was Sigmund Freud, who was well known for his literary, intellectual, and element of an artistic movement that brought the birth of Surrealism. It is a revolution against the limitation of the rational mind, which was a sign of oppressive. My preferred artist is Salvador Dali as he executed sexual expression and nature inspiration, for instance, the ” The Great Masturbator ” as it features ego transformation and unconscious aspects of self. Another major painting of Dali was “The Persistence of Memory.”
- Figurative Art in the US
Figurative art can be described as any form of modern art that is high features concept of strong references to the real world and, most, in particular, is the human figure. The influence of this art is symbolism as they tried to reject the aspect of realism. Spiritual and fantastical scenes were highly characterized styles used. Most famous living artists today are Mark Bradford, Nick Cave, Charles Gaines, Theaster Gates, and Sam Gilliam. Other past major artists were Theophilus Brown (1919–2012), Joan Brown (1938–1992), and Joan Savo (1918–1992). The most interesting painting is by Edvard Munch, known as “The Scream.” The fact that is made from oil, tempera, and pastel on cardboard that expresses personal emotions.
- Harlem Renaissance
Major artists in this era include Aaron Douglas, Lois Mailou Jones, Augusta Savage, Jacob Lawrence, Sargent Claude Johnson, and Charles Alston. This era was highly influenced by the abolition of slavery and the cultural struggles of black people. It involved the cultural celebration of African Americans in the US. This era has no definite unifying characteristic, but there are common themes that highly influenced it, which were slavery, black identity, and the effects of institutional racism. The major style used in this era is blackface. One major sculpture that inspired me was the “Booker T Washington” made of bronze by Richmond Barthé as he was an inspiration to blacks as a reformist, an activist who promoted African education.
- Bauhaus
Major artist of this era are Walter Gropius, Paul Klee, Joseph Albers, Wassily Kandinsky, Mies van der Rohe, László Moholy-Nagy and Oskar Schlemmer.
Stylistic features include plainness, usually has straightforward simplicity, streamlined aesthetics, mass production of design, and lastly, it presents modernity. There were major influences that led to the Bauhaus, and they were modernism, the movement of English Arts and Crafts, and Constructivist movements. The Bauhaus era wanted to generate mass production of designs; the art was very simple, rational, and easily acceptable to many people. The famous painting is the 1932 ” Bauhaus Stairway” by Oskar Schlemmer. This depicted the symmetrical and simplicity of the stairs that highly characterized this era as the figures are much modern.