NICC Art History II

Amanda Pierce

[davisl15]

Week 11 chapter 31

Chapter 31 is about everything in art from the late twentieth century to today. There is a lot to talk about and there are a lot of things that the book just doesn’t have enough room to cover. Globalization is a very important process that has a huge effect on everything that happens in the world. The important artistic result is that artists from all over the world have much better contact to everybody else. This helps to expand what types of art most people are accustomed to seeing. Before this time people in america would not be exposed to very much art that wasn’t affected by the american styles. Globalization changed this because then people saw art that expressed the rest of the world’s styles. Another important effect of globalization was the change in architecture. Since people from all around the world could see what kinds of architecture the other side of the world had, they started to adopt it. There was a movement where architecture from Asia was started to be adopted into certain american buildings. There was also European artists that had started to take the ideas of other parts of the world to enhance what they thought their buildings should look like. Another very important movement that happened was a return to realism. When photography became available to everyone there wasn’t a large need for people that can paint realistically. More people would rather have a photograph then have a painting. This changed in the late twentieth century because people found a way to paint realistically but not exactly. The textbook shows a very good example of this by showing Chuck Close’s Self Portrait. It is realistic enough that people that look at the painting know what it is. The main point is that the paintings doesn’t have just smooth contours that are shaded together. The paintings is split into several different small boxes that have very interesting shapes inside of them. This in my opinion is what the return to realism looks like to me. Another return to realism that I see is the return to sculptures. This time period brought back realistic sculptures that have been gone for an extended amount of time. Most sculptures before this era were abstract sculptures. There is still artists that make incredible abstract sculptures but overall there has been a shift to people making very realistic sculptures. I think that the reason that realistic sculptures are coming back are because people can’t take a photo and have a more realistic sculpture. There isn’t anything that is advanced enough that can produce 3D sculptures just by clicking a button. I think that there will eventually be technology that can do just what I described but I don’t know if it will become possible during my lifetime. I think that is the real reason that realistic paintings now have to be distorted in some way to be well accepted. It is so easy to just take a phone out and take a picture that is always going to be more realistic than anyone can ever paint onto a canvas. This is the reason that I think abstraction became such a big movement because it can’t be created by a photo.

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Hey Luke-

I completely forgot to mention globalization and its importance in my blog.  That is such a huge thing, especially when it comes to different cultures adapting and taking on traits that they have seen from around the world.  Great point.  Thanks for sharing.

-Amanda Pierce

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Ch 31-Wk 11

Contemporary art hosts some reoccurring themes of earlier works of art.  It also is the basis of some older styles of art seeing a resurgence and reworking.  Realism is a style that has been revisited and reworked by contemporary artists. Modern artists have some luxuries that artists did not have many years ago, such as photography.  With the use of photography, artists can capture an image that they wish to paint rather than having a model pose for them in real life for countless hours or even days.  

Chuck Close is famous for his paintings of portraits; he paints not only portraits of other artists and famous individuals, but also self-portraits.  What makes his portraits so unique is that he uses grids to transfer photographic images into portraits.  This results in a realistic image that almost looks pixeled.  It is a beautiful culmination of photography and painting.  

Duane Hanson, on the other hand, is famous for masterfully blending realism with sculpting.  His sculptures of human beings are so realistic that they could easily be mistaken for a live person.  Hanson’s finishing touch is to dress the sculpture in actual clothing. Ron Mueck and Constantin Brancusi are two other excellent examples of artists that create artwork in the Super-Realism style.  

Contemporary artists have also started exploring new pallets and platforms for their artwork. Architectural design has begun to explore new frontiers with modern designs.  Bold and almost gravity-defying buildings have been erected in countries all over the world.  

Another new and exciting placement of artwork is in nature itself.  Environmental art captures a type of beauty that is naturalistic and serene. Artists can use that platform to display their masterpieces with mediums that are found in the environment.  The book shows a piece of environmental art called Spiral Jetty that was created by Robert Smithson in Great Salt Lake, Utah.  The piece was created using mud, salt crystals, water, rocks and coil, and stretches 1,500 feet long on the beach.  This natural art creation doesn’t detract from the natural beauty of the environment, it simply magnifies it.  

Ice sculptures are another new wave of art that are simply astounding.  I have always felt a sense of despair when I see a beautiful ice sculpture; it is heartbreaking to see such a beautiful piece of artwork that will sooner, rather than later, be destroyed.  

The twentieth century also saw the emergence of Feminist Art.  To be completely honest, I have never been fond of the Feminism movement; I feel comfortable in saying that because I myself am a woman.  I feel that feminists overstep their bounds at inappropriate times. The book shows The Dinner Party, created by Judy Chicago.  It is a re-working of The Last Supper that instead features historical and influential women that are known throughout history.  I think that an attempt to recreate a religious piece like The Last Supper and replace the dinner party with all women is something that was done in poor taste.  Personally, I think that is an inappropriate adaptation.

[davisl15]

Week 10 chapters 29 and 30

Chapter 29 is about mid-century american abstraction. There was rise in the mid 20th century for art that was abstract. I think that the main reason that there was a large increase in abstraction is because photography started to gain popularity so there was less demand for art that was realistic. The art environment also changed dramatically because art was focused in america now. The main reason for this is because Europe was stuck in the world wars which made numerous artists come to america to be away from all the fighting that was happening back home. The major art center in america was New York. I think the reason that New York became a major art center is because the artists that came from Europe stayed more on the side of america closer to Europe in case they ever wanted to go back home.

Another major movement in art was action painting. Action paintings was the process of applying paint in many different manors. There was a movement to use paint by dripping, spraying, or splattering the paint. This produced a very different kind of art then when artists were using paint brushes to paint onto their canvas. This also produced a lot of paintings that were similar but were never going to be the exact same painting.

There was also different styles being developed on the west coast of america as well. The styles were very similar but there was also difference between the two very different styles. The west coast style of abstraction usually used much more bright colors which made seem much brighter. There was also more sculptures in the west coast styles. From what I saw there was a larger amount of sculptures on the west coast. The reason that I think that this is the case is because there is much more space on the west coast. The east coast is overall much more congested and there is less space to make sculptures

Chapter 30 is about Pop art, op art, minimalism, and conceptualism. Pop art developed first in Britain in the 1960s, but was overall more influential in the Americas. Pop art is when art is made using items that are popular. This gives viewers a better understanding of what they are looking at because they are used to the items that are in the art. This is a very important movement because i don’t think that pop art really ended. I think that there is still a lot of art today that uses some of the same principles of early pop art. I think that pop art is always going to be around in some way because there is a large market for people that like looking at items that are popular. Op art is art that uses optical illusions to trick your brain. I think this is a very interesting style of art. I really like the different uses of shapes that trick your brain into thinking that something is different when it really isn’t. Minimalism is where art is very minimalistic where there isn’t very much going on in the art. Surface deep there isn’t very much going on in minimalistic art. That is where you have to look past what you can actually see and look into the true meaning of the art. Conceptualism is an even more extended version of minimalism. There is even less to look at and you have to really look into the art deeply to try to understand what the artist is trying to convey.

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Hey Clare-

I think the overall theme of the art movement during this time could be called “abstract.”  

I like your insight on why artwork was popping up in different regions of the United States.  I think it is important to look at factors like that when you are considering the artwork of that time period.

What would you say is your favorite subcategory of all the styles we learned about in these two chapters?

-Amanda Pierce

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Ch’s 29/30

In the early to mid-1900’s, New York earned its place on the art-world map with its new style of art. The art world experienced a smooth shift from European Abstract Surrealism and slid into Abstract Expressionism.  This new style included Action Painting. Action Painting was, in a sense, precisely what it was named.  This style used different and very characteristic techniques to apply the paint on canvas, such as splattering, spraying, dripping and rolling.  For the first time, the creation of the work of art was, in and of itself, a work of art.  

Arguably the most famous Action Painter of his time was Jackson Pollock.  This name is a familiar, household name when it comes to famous artists.  His paintings could be described by a novice as “paint splatters.”  Pollock often times found himself lost in the creation of his artwork and said that while he was creating his art he was unaware of time and space, stating that, “the painting has a life of its own.”  After he finished painting, he would trim the borders of his artwork, masterfully containing the abstract splatters and confining them within an angular space.  

Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline were among the pioneers in staging “one-man shows.”  At these “one-man shows,” the men would stand alone on a stage and create a piece of artwork in front of an audience.  In addition to their unique style, these two men were also famous for eliminating recognizable figures and representations.  Their artwork was truly abstract, by its definition.

Another famous Action Painter Was Willem de Kooning.  While the style and method remained the same as Pollock and Kline, Kooning’s works of art retained some blatant differences.  His use of Action Painting was entirely in the form of exercising aggression, and he did not entirely eliminate recognizable figures and representations.  Kooning’s artwork did maintain some recognizable figures and shapes, but exacerbated the style with a Cubist style of abstractness.

This style of art is arguably the most controversial style in terms of recognizing masterpieces. When looking at a Jackson Pollock painting, it is easy to catch yourself saying, “even I could do that.”  Let me tell you, from experience, that it is not as easy as it looks.  Any attempt at a recreation results in a piece that is seriously lacking the finesse that these professional artists have.  It almost makes you feel embarrassed to have even attempted to create something similar to their work.

The next major, notable style of art to emerge was Pop Art.  Andy Warhol is one of the most notorious Pop Art artists, and is famous for many pieces of art like Campbell’s Soup.  Pop Art always reminds me of cutting and pasting collages from magazines.  The images had that kind of feel to them but stood out in a unique and well-thought out way. This era also saw the emergence of Minimalism and Conceptualism.  Conceptualism was said to have equally as important and deep of meaning in the interpretation as in the artwork and images themselves.  

[schwartzhoffe]

Week 9

Chapters twenty seven and twenty eight talk about a lot of different movements of art that has made a lasting legacy in the twentieth century. In chapter twenty seven the main points were about Cubism and Futurism. Cubism was an art movement. “It was essentially a revolution for art (Adams).” However, Cubism was the end for perspective with a single viewpoint and was the beginning of art that were abstract and used material that wasn’t necessarily used for art. Cubism is very ironic because of one of the founders, Pablo Picasso, was trained in realistic representation. However, I admire him for doing this. He wanted others to create or portray something different that anyone could do you wouldn’t need to be an amazing one of a kind their unique skills without being judged. He gave everyone the opportunity to do what they love and I believe he was one out of many who set high standards in today’s time. Personally my favorite Cubism Art was Picasso Sculpture, “Head of Woman.” It was the very first Cubist sculpture created. It is a women’s head, but her face and neck are geometric shapes. Even though the book didn’t say what it meant, I picture that if an Artist today created it it would be to empower women. It means to me that a woman shouldn’t be judged by their appearance, instead of the person they are. This chapter also talked about Futurism. This movement was focused on the future. Filippo Marinetti tried to encourage people to let go of the past. He wanted to abolish museums and libraries. This movement influences many types of art including sculpting, architecture, and paintings. My favorite is the architecture. It became international and really had an impact on the United States. We still see these vertical cubic, skyscrapers in some of the biggest cities today (Adams).  

Chapter twenty eight talked about many things including Dada, Surrealism, Social Realism, Regionalism, and Abstractism. All of these things have had a huge legacy on the twentieth century. However my favorite one in this chapter is Surrealism. Surrealism and Dada shared a lot of the same members. However, Surrealism was associated with exploring the imagination, which includes myth, fear, fantasy, and dream. However, it is my favorite because it connects a lot of the other movements. Surrealist recommend to write in a state of free-floating to obtain a spontaneous unedited expression, which influenced Abstract Surrealists. My favorite piece of Surrealism was a sculpture by Alberto Giacometti titled, “Large Standing Women.” However, this piece is very rigid and strange. It gives one a sense of uneasiness. It is suppose to represent royal figures from ancient Egypt and explores the idea of extinction. I absolutely love this piece because out of all of these pictures in this book this is the one I will remember in thirty years because of this feeling (Adams).

The video, “I Could Do That” talked about people thinking they are able to do a piece that may be hard to do. For example, Piet Mondrian created an oil painting with perfectly straight geometric shapes and consistent color with no mistakes at all. It may seem easy at first however oil paint is not as easy as a marker to draw straight lines. I relate to the saying I could do that. Right now I am in high school and I’m out for cross country and I’ve trained everyday for the past three years. I went to state as a Freshman and Sophomore and I’m training for my Junior year. Growing up I was very bad at sports most of the time I was the benchwarmer in every sport, was last in my grade, then I started running. I became one of the fastest in my school’s history and everyone believes if they ran when I started they could’ve had my success with it. Again, comparing to the oil painting no one understands how hard something is until you try. No one knows running a 5k is hard, they say they can go to state too. Also I’m not a poor sport so I pull a Gonzalez all the time and encourage them to try. The video mostly focused on Felix Gonzalez and his work because he wasn’t one to show off his great talents he made art and he encouraged people to do it themselves as well. One of his works is two clocks side by side that are in sync with each other this piece is known as “Perfect Lovers” and in this video this piece was compared to Gonzalez out living his husband. Other Gonzalez’s works are reproducible ones including a stack of candy that he encouraged to have viewers take a piece. I love how he encouraged people to try something new and he gives them the idea they can do anything they want if they have the right mindset. (I Could Do That).

Cities

Adams, Laurie. A history of Western Art 5th ed.  McGraw-Hill 2011

“I Could Do That | The Art Assignment | PBS Digital Studios.” YouTube, 20 Aug. 2015, youtu.be/67EKAIY43kg.

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Hey-

I like your insight on artists who create artwork that encourages people to give it a try and create their own artwork. I think sharing art, and encouraging others to create art is very important- it is a great way to de-stress and to express yourself.  

Thanks for sharing!

-Amanda Pierce

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Ch’s 27/28

Cubism was a new art style that emerged in the early 20th century in Paris.  Unlike other new styles of art prior to this, Cubism explored new perspective pertaining to space and point-of-view.  During the Renaissance, art was adored for its ability to depict beauty and a sense of reality.  Even when the object of the art was something that could not possibly be real, such as mythological subjects, the space and proportions of the images were generally “realistic.”  

With the emergence of Cubism, all the unspoken rules that artists seemed to follow were cast aside. Artists who flourished using this style of art used their masterful skills to blend background into foreground. Recognizable images, such as the human form, were extremely distorted; not in a subtle way, but in such a way that no human being could ever possibly really look that way.  The skill with which this was accomplished was astounding; instead of appearing as though created by an amateur or novice, the artwork was masterful and elegant.  

One artist who created artwork early on in the era of Cubism was Pablo Picasso.  Picasso was known for his tendency to switch between styles of art, and he did it very well.  I feel that with a lot of famous artists, you can always make an educated guess when you view their artwork that they were the artist responsible for the piece in question.  When it comes to Picasso’s work, an amateur art critic such as myself have a difficult time ascertaining who the artist responsible for the work might be.  For example, Picasso’s piece titled The Old Guitarist from the Blue Period is in no way whatsoever comparable in style to his piece titled Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, created after his plunge into Cubism.  

Georges Braque was another notable artist who painted in the Cubism style.  Braque and Picasso are credited as being the two artists who were jointly responsible for the development of Cubism.  My favorite piece of artwork by Braque is featured in the textbook.  Violin and Pitcher is an example of Cubism at its finest.  Braque used monochromatic tones and intense shading to create his masterpiece.  True to the Cubism style, Braque blended background with foreground and created an image with sharp contours that alluded to a dark and almost seductive feeling.  

The early 20th century not only gave way to the emergence of Cubism, but also to the emergence of Futurism.  In terms of architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright emerged with his abstract and beautiful building designs.  After World War I, the world witnessed additional new and exciting styles of art. Surrealism, Social Realism, Abstraction and Dada were notable styles that emerged during this time period.  

Pertaining to the video “I could have done that,” I can honestly admit that I have been known to have said that in the past.  I think that the video does an excellent job discerning between what people really mean when they say “I could have done that.” I agree that some art styles are not favorable to everyone, and I think it is accurate to say that some artwork doesn’t have the skill set that I like to see in artwork.

[tentisdacoda-blog]

Blog 8

Chapter 25 of our textbook overs post-impressionism and the late nineteenth century. Artist’s were heavily influenced by ending impressionism and the light colors and precise brushstrokes that came along with it. Two trends at the time, Cezanne and Seurat along with Gauguin and Van Gogh, included emotional content as well as structural and formal values. Cezanne, who was said to have the most influential piece of Western painting called Musee d’Orsay. The painting included himself with a very dark background displaying the large architectural structures in which he was known for. I didn’t feel much love for this painting since it was so dark and hard to see, but I read that later on in his career, he brightened up his work.

Georges Seurat created a painting known as “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande.” It shows people of all social classes and ages, animals, nature and fun things such as boats out enjoying the sun and warm weather. Everyone looks so happy and content. This painting reminded me of a time I was at a lake in Minnesota last summer. It was the 4th of July weekend and the beach was completely packed. Everyone was engaging in other social groups and getting along. I remember how happy I felt that day meeting so many cool people with such different stories. I usually hate crowds, but for some reason that day it didn’t bother me. It took Seurat two years to finish this piece.

In chapter 26, we learn about the technological advances such as transportation and computers, allowed many artists to communicate, inspire and view other’s work. This opened up a whole new can of inspiration and education.  Fauvism was introduced which was a colorful style of art that involved the use of many colors that were normally not paired together. Another style similar to fauvism was expressionism. Colors and pictures inspired by emotion and expression became huge at this point. This is art at its core and what it should be all about whether it’s music, painting etc. I feel that the ability to take your emotions and produce a product is not only inspiring and relatable, but extremely beneficial for one’s mental health and letting out emotions of all sorts. There is a poet/rapper named J. Cole that has some beautiful music that journeys into his thoughts and mind. Although I cannot personally relate to many of his lyrics, I often find myself empathizing with what he is speaking about.

Pablo Picasso, one of the most popular artists from the 1900’s develops work inspired by his depression or “blues” period. He has a steel blue colored painting showing a man sitting down with an instrument. I can tell by his closed body language that he is in a bad place mentally. Artists that express their negative feelings outward, are shown to have a higher chance of recovery from those negative emotions. In my opinion, it’s one of the healthiest coping skills one can yield!

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Hey Dacoda!

I think an interesting fact about George Seurat’s painting “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande” is that it was painted using stipple.  I am not sure if that is the correct term-I vaguely remember learning in art class in high school that “stipple” is when you use many many dots to create an artistic image.  

So you can imagine why it took him so long to paint (besides the actual size of it). 

Thanks for sharing!

-Amanda Pierce

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Ch 25/26: Post-Impressionism, Symbolism & Expressionism

The late nineteenth century brought forth my personal favorite style of art: Post-Impressionism. Post-Impressionism was inspired by the Impressionist movement.  Artists during this time were primarily creating artwork that was distinctly different in style than artwork created in earlier years.  Post-Impressionist artwork featured vibrant colors and visible and distinct brush strokes.  Earlier artwork, such as Realism, can be summarized to have non-visible brush strokes.  I think it can be said with some certainty that, prior to this movement, many artists prided themselves on their ability to mask their individual sweeps with their paintbrush.  This style of artwork stands out from the rest because the shapes and edges had outlines that were intentionally enhanced.  

My absolute favorite artist from this time period was the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh.  Historically, van Gogh is known to have been “mentally disturbed,” a fact which is interpreted to have been represented by some of his most famous paintings.  One of his most infamous works, The Starry Night, pictures a vividly colored night sky composed of swirling shapes that convey the movement of a gentle night’s breeze. Vincent van Gogh created this stunning masterpiece while confined in a mental asylum; because of this fact, this beautiful piece of art has been forever labeled as an artistic representation that reflects a deeply disturbed mind.  While there is some truth to this, the finality of the criticism is absurd and inaccurate.  It reminds me of another situation that has had a similar result.  Everyone is familiar with the Swastika.  This symbol was brazenly worn by Nazi soldiers during the first World War; the mere sight of the Swastika invokes a feeling of disgust in most people.  However, most people are unaware of the true meaning of the Swastika.  This symbol was actually an ancient religious icon from Eurasia; in that culture, it has forever been a symbol of divinity and spirituality.  So, like the Swastika, van Gogh’s beautiful mark has forever been branded with a negative connotation.  It is a horrible pity.

Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to visit the Minneapolis Institute of Art during a time when the museum was featuring an exhibit of artwork that is normally housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.  Much to my surprise, on display in the exhibit was an original painting by none other than Vincent van Gogh.  I was rendered completely speechless by its beauty; of all the pictures that I have seen of his work, the pictures and prints never came close to accurately showing the astounding beauty of his art.  The “visible brush strokes” that are described as a distinctive feature of his style fail to mention the texture. In real life, van Gogh’s brush strokes are composed of mounds upon mounds of oil paint.  The absolute beauty of it is really indescribable.  I could do nothing more than simply stare at his painting for the better part of an hour.  The child in me wanted desperately to be able to touch it, to feel the brush strokes.  It was amazing.

Post-Impressionism then gave way to Symbolism.  Symbolists aimed to create artwork that pictured images from the imagination.  Mythology was a major theme during this time because of its correlation to dreams.  Edvard Munch was a Norwegian artist who created the famous painting, The Scream.  Munch painted in a style that was a combination of both Post-Impressionism and Symbolism, and similar to van Gogh, Munch was known for being mentally disturbed.  His paintings, I feel, were a more accurate representation of that fact.  

The early twentieth century gave way to a new style of art and a whole new brand of artists. Expressionism and Fauvism dominated the turn of the century.  These styles to me represent what I would call “abstract” artwork.  Pablo Picasso also emerged as a painter during this time period, shifting his own painting style frequently, as he saw fit.  

[madisenahlstrom-blog]

Week Seven

The two major styles of the nineteenth century were realism and impressionism. Realism was the style that corresponded best to the new social awareness. The style quickly spread throughout the world. Impressionism was more about genre subjects, like leisure activities, entertainment, landscape, and cityscape. Impressionist rarely responded to the political events happening around them.

Photography was one of the major discoveries in the eighteenth/nineteenth centuries. While this discovery was going on, everyone wanted to find the best way to improve and refine it. When they finally created the camera, artists started to get inspired from photographs. It blows my mind the amount of creativity that people have. Like, one day someone just decided to explore “drawing with light” and that is how cameras came about. I am very interested in evolution so this is a perfect example. Photographs started off as only black and white, then in the twentieth century, color was added. Then in the 90’s, they used Polaroid’s, which printed your picture off right away. Now, we have cellphones that have such high resolution that we do not even need a camera. You can add multiple effects to all your pictures and essentially change how they look.

The creation of iron and steel also go along with the new discoveries. Steel and iron were created in the nineteenth century. They were the start of mass manufacturing. Factories started to pop up everywhere so they could create things out of this new material. They were mostly created in urban areas so there was a huge shift in where people lived. Most people moved into the city because they wanted to find a job. This obviously goes along with evolution just like any new discovery. Today, the highest populations are in the biggest cities with the best jobs. There are still jobs in other areas, but these are just the most highly sought after. It is crazy to think about all the stuff I use or see today that is made out of steel or iron. Some things that are made of iron and steel are cars, appliances, utensils, medical devices, and agriculture machines. Looking at this list, I do not know how they survived before all of this was created because I am so used to having these things in my life.

The Eiffel Tower would not have been created if it had not been for steel and iron. The Tower was actually created as a temporary structure at first and no one thought it would become as famous as it is today. It was created as a celebration of the French Revolution.  The creation of the Eiffel Tower also ties in with the creation of the skyscrapers. There were many feats that the architects had to pass when they created these buildings. If you look around New York City or Chicago, you will see tons of skyscrapers. It is crazy how one project in the nineteenth century influenced all of these people to build these enormous skyscrapers.

These chapters were interesting to read about because of all the new inventions. I did not enjoy the paintings as much as I did the new creations. I loved seeing how art tied into creating these buildings because it showed me that art is not just through painting.

[lilyanesta-blog]

Hello, I really liked your response, It was very organized and clear. Its crazy how far we’ve come with steel and cameras, I use the camera on my phone all the time and never really think of how it originated. It amazes me too that people can be so creative and inventive. I agree that art is not just through paintings, sometimes I forget that but really, anything is a form of art. Great post keep up the good work!

[tentisdacoda-blog]

Madisen, I found these chapters interesting as well with all of the inventions and how much it changed the factories, probably creating many more jobs! Im glad you mentioned how dull the artwork seemed to be at this time because I feel the same way. I found impressionist, Edouard Manet’s “Bar at the Folies-Bergere” painting quite funny as the book describes it in a way. The woman in the painting looks bored or annoyed out of her mind behind the bar and in the mirror, we can see a man’s reflection. This leads me to believe she probably just wants to be left alone. Haha, I thought that was great. 

Awesome post!

Dacoda

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Hey Dacoda.

I think photography is fascinating, as well.  I actually used to work in a photo lab, and I developed pictures from both film and digital media.  That was probably my favorite job that I've had, so far.  Unfortunately, like you said, with the advancements in technology and instant prints and such, most people don’t want to pay for someone to print their pictures when they can do it themselves much faster.  I guess the only downfall that I've noticed personally with that is that I always did a much better job color editing and touching up people’s prints.  The machines that they have at say, Wal Mart, are not designed with the photos in mind- they are designed with time efficiency and dollar signs in mind.  *Sigh* 

Anyway, I enjoyed reading your post,  Thanks for sharing.  :)

-Amanda Pierce

[captainamandapierce-blog]

19th Century Realism & Impressionism

The turn of the 19th century brought about worldwide changes, not only from a sociological standpoint, but also in the world of art.  The beginning of the Industrial Revolution changed the world as we know it forever with its bounding leaps of technological advancement and scientific discoveries. The vast majority of average workers began to migrate towards urban settlements due to the transformation from agriculture to industrial work.  The invention of things like advancements in printing and photography, the lithograph, the telegraph and the telephone led to the ability to mass-produce and quickly spread information in the forms of news and art.  During this time period, Karl Marx published The Communist Manifesto amidst the sociological movement towards workers’ rights.  Charles Darwin published his findings in a work titled The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.  The first ever convention for women’s rights was held during the 19th century as well.  These bold and widely recognized events were responsible for brave new ideals and movements that began the much needed upheaval and change of society.

In the world of art, this revolutionary movement produced the art form known as Realism.  Realism focused primarily on observation of society and nature and bred artwork that embodied political and social satire.  Newspapers and magazines resulted in artwork being criticized; the analysis of the critic ultimately determined the success and profitability of the artwork being scrutinized.  The overall feel of art transitioned from romanticism to everyday occurrences.  One of the most well-known realists, Gustave Courbet, firmly believed that artists could only accurately represent their own experiences in their artwork.  I am a firm believer in this idea, as well.  Personally, I have only ever been able to create artwork that is based on things that I have actually seen with my own eyes.  Some of the more beautiful artwork from the Renaissance seems nothing short of impossible to me; it is so hard to believe that someone could create something so beautiful purely from something that they have internally envisioned.  

Another notable Realist gained his fame late in life, primarily through his satirical artwork that was published with lithography in the Paris Press newspaper.  In his artwork, Honore’ Daumier was best known for his portrayal of social injustice.  One of his pieces, titled Louis Philippe as Gargantua, pictures the King of France as a morbidly gigantic glutton; the king sits atop a throne and systematically consumes every last bit of his poverty-stricken subjects’ coins.  The gluttony and greed represented in the satirical image spoke to the people; in response, the French government passed a law that limited the freedom of the press to strictly verbal rights, rather than pictorial.  They feared that the satirical image would result in open rebellion in France.  I think it is fascinating that satirical artwork dated back this far in history; to this day, the comic strips printed in newspapers commonly feature social and political satire.  

In addition to lithography, photography also began to become an artform in the 19th century. The American Civil War resulted from the growing movement towards human rights.  Innovative new building materials were used to advance structural integrity; suspension bridges such as the Brooklyn Bridge were erected using cables composed of steel wire, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris was erected with wrought iron lattice on a reinforced-concrete base.  The art style of Impressionism followed Realism towards the end of the 19th century; unlike Realism, Impressionism featured leisure activities, landscapes and entertainment.  Claude Monet is one of the more notable Impressionist painters during this time period; his paintings of calm and tranquil landscapes still come to mind for me, to this day, when I think of this style of artwork.  

[skempr-blog]

Week 6 Chapters 21 +22

In the early 19th century, a lot was going on in the world. Revolutions were changing society from the inside out. Along with other big moments in the world’s history, art was there to describe and be apart of the moment. The art style most closely associated with the French Revolution was the Neoclassical style. Neoclassical style was known for its heroic subject matter, its clarity, and representation of stability. It’s interesting how art has been involved with most of history up to this point. When an important event happens, there is almost certainly going to be a specific art style surrounding it. One of the most well known Neoclassical painters was Jacques-Louis David. His painting, Oath of the Horatii, is a great example of Neoclassical painting. It shows a moment of heroic sacrifice that represents honor. Neoclassical style always had a great political connection. Napoleon hired David, where he painted some very well known portraits such as, Napoleon at St. Bernard’s Pass. This is a painting I have seen every time Napoleon has been brought up. It painted Napoleon in a very heroic way. He looks very powerful and courageous in this painting. I feel that this painting had a great positive effect on Napoleon. It was very important for leaders to be looked at as heroes by their people. One painting I found very interesting was Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres’ painting of Napoleon. This painting shows the characteristics of Neoclassical style, while also blending some older styles in with it, such as Mannerism and Rococo. This painting puts Napoleon in almost a god like setting. Every quality is exaggerated to the max, which really shows the influence of mannerism.

Politics in America also affected art and architecture in society. As America was moving toward independence, architectural style moved more toward Roman styles than the “Colonial Georgian” style that was prevalent while under British control. The connection between politics and art at the time didn’t end there. James Madison hired John Trumbull to paint a very important moment in US history, when the Declaration of Independence was signed. This painting is special because it was one of the most important historical moments in the history of the US. The painting is also in great detail as all members who signed the declaration are present.

Overall Neoclassical style highlighted many important and historical moments in the worlds history. With the style shifting art to a more serious and intellectual approach, it was changed forever. A modern comparison to this sort of great revival of past influences, is hip hop music and rock and roll. Hip hop now a days is classified as a younger genre of music. Many older people have a strong dislike for it due to it being inappropriate compared to what they are used to. Hip hop has many themes of partying, recklessness, and the artists lifestyles in general. This reminds me a lot of rock and roll for many of the same reasons. Rock and Roll was not well received by the older generations at the time. They thought that the messages in Rock music were inappropriate and disrespectful, like how many view hip hop today. Hip hop is also similar in the sense that its evolved into the sound of a generation. They are essentially rebellions to the norms of the time, changing the sound regardless of who dislikes it.  While the rock of the 60’s and hip hop of the 90’s were important times, the rock of the 70’s and hip hop of modern day have peaked in popularity in terms of the younger generations. They are two types of music that are certainly different, but yet they represent similar purposes. I imagine that this trend will continue as well. Years from now there will be a genre of music that the current generation will dislike due to its message and theme.

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Hey Roark!

I think it is really interesting as well that so many important periods in history are tied so closely with the emergence of substantial styles of art.  Before taking this class, I had really not thought much about the significance of that fact.  I agree completely when you say that when the shifting art style to “ a more serious and intellectual approach” changed art forever.  I think that the implications of this style of art stuck with art in general in a more thorough way than any other style of art.  It truly is amazing.  

Thanks for sharing!

-Amanda Pierce

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Chapters 21 & 22

The Neoclassical style was a new and unique style of art that represented more than just the images that were created.  This new style of art was very much an artistic revolution; after years of distaste with the rulings of the monarch, the artists responded with a stronger voice than ever before.  Neoclassical paintings were more than just a beautiful work of art; they were thought provoking, deeply meaningful and political.  Louis XVI, making an attempt at the moral improvement of France, hired an artist to create a painting that would represent his ideals.  This Neoclassical artist, Jacques-Louis David, was so creative and clever that he created a masterpiece that appealed to not only Louis XVI, but also to the opposing republicans.  The irony hidden in the context of the painting, Oath of the Horatii, which was intended to be commissioned as a piece of revolutionary propaganda, was subtle enough that it was approved by the King’s minister of the arts.

I think it is fantastic that an artistic style came to embody a political movement.  It takes a lot of talent to create something beautiful that also says something profound.  This style reminds me of the band, System of a Down.  System of a Down was a major rock band that was introduced in the 90’s.  The singer, Serj Tankian, had a unique, one-of-a-kind voice; the band had a heavy metal sound, but the music was substantially different than any other band during that time.  Serj wrote the lyrics for his band, and he used his music to make bold political statements.  Listening to his songs for the first time, one would not have any inkling as to what the music was really about.  However, after hearing the songs, and really listening to the words, avid music lovers could pick through the lyrics to hear the political statements that were hidden within the songs.  Most of the band’s followers probably never had any clue that Serj Tankian was singing about politics; nonetheless, the band was popular, and Serj was still able to make his political statements for all the world to hear.

The Neoclassical style was so bold and refreshing for the time that it’s style was adopted by Napoleon Bonaparte during his rise in politics status from general to emperor. He chose this style of art specifically because it was bold, refreshing, profound and unique, and Napoleon was trying to better enhance his own political image while he ruled.  Napoleon was so pleased with this style of art that he became a patron of the arts; he hired Jacques-Louis David to create paintings for him while he ruled France, which of course led to several paintings of Napoleon Bonaparte himself.  Napoleon was knowingly making an attempt to use artwork as a means to project a new, powerful image of France to the rest of the world, paralleling his leadership of the country to the Roman empire.  In many of his paintings, Jacques-Louis David depicts Napoleon gallantly riding a powerful horse.  The exaggeration of Napoleon’s image is typical of the man himself, who was very resentful towards the world due to the fact that he was actually very short in stature, and often rode a mule as opposed to a horse.  

The Neoclassical style thrived not only in France, but also in America during the American Revolution. Some of the earliest works of our country’s first presidents can all be attributed to the Neoclassical style and its talented artists.  Following the Neoclassical style was the style of Romanticism, which explored new territory in the world of art, including the creation of dreams and nightmares as works of art.

  o

[gentlerevival-blog]

Art and Women in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries

In order to understand the present, one must first understand the past. It has only been in “the past forty years, largely as a result of the feminist movement [that] art historians have researched and reevaluated the role of women artists in Western art.” (Adams 348) In other words, until recently, a woman artist looking for her predecessors in Western history would have found few, if any. In this essay, I will explore a few of the female artists present in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

There was an incredible dynamism to the Baroque style of art. It was a time of rich color, vivid energy, and high emotion. It is no wonder that young artists, regardless of gender, should be intrigued but such potential. Artemisia Gentileschi was one of them, drawn in particular to Caravaggio’s style. Gentileschi learned painting from her father, which was common in female artists of this time. When Orazio Gentileschi hired Agostino Tassi to further instruct his daughter in drawing and perspective, he instead raped her. Tassi then refused to marry her; a mercy today, but a disgrace in Europe’s seventeenth century. “When Orazio sued Tassi, Artemisia was tortured with thumbscrews to test her veracity.” (Adams 349) Unsurprisingly, such a brutal experience was deeply formative for Gentileschi’s work going forwards; her pieces are known for their heroic women and overall violence.

Gentileschi’s story is informative as to some of the barriers women artists faced in Italy. Many of them were taught by their fathers; as shown, seeking outside instruction could come at a heavy cost. Women were also, crucially, barred from drawing male models. This kept them from creating works akin to Gianlorenzo Bernini’s David or Peter Paul Rubens’ Raising of the Cross and thus limited their creativity and popularity, as “familiarity with the male nude was important for monumental works.” (Adams, 249).

However, such stumbling blocks did not stop women from producing some of the best and most thought-provoking pieces of the era. Maria van Oosterwyck’s Vanitas Still Life, for example, is a masterpiece. It is, on a technical level, superb, but it is the level of thought and the depth of philosophy present in the painting which elevates the piece. This single, complex painting demonstrates that women were very much a part of Europe’s intellectual and artistic circles.

Adélaïde Labille-Guiard was an artist who was also an activist. In her lifetime she fought to improve the position of women in the arts. Her painting, Self-Portrait with Two Pupils, encapsulates this well. Labille-Guiard paints herself in the Rococo style, thus firmly establishing her merit as an artist. She depicts herself painting; as mentioned in my previous essay, The Political Artist: Mannerism in the 16th Century, a female artist depicting herself painting in a time when such a thing is rare is, whether or not she intends it to be, a political statement. In contrast to Caterina van Hemessen, who I referenced in that essay, Labille-Guiard is unambiguous in her political intentions. The painting is carefully made to convey “a serious message about the role of women artists.” (Adams 372)

Women were undeniably part of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries art world, as Adélaïde Labille-Guiard made explicitly clear. But they were never allowed to fully partake in the same opportunities as their male peers. Artists like the aforementioned Labille-Guiard, Maria van Oosterwyck, Artemisia Gentileschi, and others provide a glimpse into what the art of this time could have been; all the more vivid and complex enrichment with women’s experiences and perspectives.

Work cited: Schneider Adams, L. (2011). A History of Western Art. New York, New York. McGraw-Hill.

Johnston Margaret. (2018). The Political Artist: Mannerism in the 16th Century. https://gentlerevival.tumblr.com/post/174873488924/the-political-artist-mannerism-in-the-16th

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Hey.

I am unbelievably impressed with your blog post.  You have obviously put a lot of thought into what you have read.  I personally never thought to look at the context of the textbook from an angle like you have.  It is refreshing to read what the book says from someone else’s (so very different) perspective).

I think it is awesome that you chose to put such focus on female artists.  It really seems that the male artists dominate the forefront of the artists mentioned in the textbook.  

Thank you for sharing your thoughts from such a different vantage point.

-Amanda Pierce

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Chapters 19/20

The seventeenth century brought a lot of influential scientific discoveries and developments, which greatly influenced the Baroque style of art.  Some of the more notable discoveries included the system of blood circulation and the laws of gravity.  The introduction of the concept of gravity was especially significant to that time period, as the nature of the discovery was a direct conflict with the Catholic king.  This caused a massive spread of panic throughout America and Europe that eventually led to witch hunts.  

The Baroque style of art was very unrestrained and energetic, but in some ways, comparable to the Gothic style.  This kind of art focuses more on nature as a result of the time period’s scientific studies, and uses sharp contrast in colors and textures.  

St. Peter’s is illustrated in the text book as a prime example of Baroque style art.  The colors are sharp and bold, and almost violently contrast between dark and light.  Twisted columns stand beside each side of the alter, stretching towards the ceiling with bronze tendrils that illuminate a canopy that arcs high above the alter.  

Baroque style architecture seemed to have a common theme of elegant, arcing domes and elegant and bold columns.  Landscaping included fountains and gardens with pools; this made the entire buildings and their surrounding spaces bold, elegant and extravagant.  

In England, St. Paul’s was the first cathedral to be built for the Protestant church.  Sir Christopher Wren was in charge of the construction of the church, which took forty years to complete.  However, once it was completed, it was a beautiful culmination of Renaissance, Gothic, and Italian Baroque styles.  

Pertaining to sculptures, David is the most notable sculpture that is an excellent representation of the Baroque style.  I thought it was neat that the artist who carved the sculpture, Barberini, is rumored to have held up a mirror while he was carving the sculpture in order to create a self-portrait in his work.  The angles and posture of the sculpture of David stand alone, but are posed in such a way that leaves the viewer to assume the presence of Goliath.  

The Baroque style painting during this time used sharp contrasts in colors, illuminating some portions of the artwork and deeply shading others.  This allows the viewer’s eye to be drawn to the desired focal piece as intended by the artist.  This style of art also focused a lot on violence and dramatic scenes.  Raising of the Cross was a painting created by Peter Paul Rubens, and is an excellent example of the Baroque style painting.  

Another type of artwork that was created during this time period was etching.  Similar to engraving, etching was done on metal.  I found it fascinating that artists during this time period found such creative new ways to display their artwork.  

The eighteenth century also brought on the Age of Enlightenment because of so many philosophical ideals being transformed into political movements in society.  The paintings during this time period became more soft and elegant, often featuring women and children in fine clothing.  

I really like the contrast in darkness and light that is represented by the Baroque style of art.  I think sharp and dramatic contrast is refreshing, bold, and powerful.

[kaylak13-blog1]

Ch 17 & 18 Response

At the beginning of chapter 17, I enjoyed reading about where Italy went after the Renaissance. Many of the religious views were shifted and the churches were threatened. In our book, it states that people were emphasizing God as being a “judge” and punishing people for sinning. Most of us know that God is supposed to be seen as forgiving and we are all capable of redemption. While I was reading about this, I could not imagine growing up in this type of society. All of my life I have been going to church and learning about God so I could never imagine that being threatened.

Mannerism was the form of art that came after the Renaissance, in the late sixteenth century. In the Renaissance, artists were trying to imitate and study nature. On the other hand, Mannerist artists focused on human bodies, but they elongated and exaggerated their poses. While I was looking through all these different paintings and sculptures, I could not help but wondering what were these artists thinking. All of these creations are very beautiful and intricate, but I do not see the point of arranging the people like they are. For example, in Pontormo’s Entombment, they are carrying Jesus after his death. To me, all of their faces seem way too exaggerated (even though I get that is the point). I definitely like the Renaissance artists and their creations a lot better than the Mannerist creations. I think this is because I am more into natural stuff and trying to idealize nature. It is amazing to me when someone can create a painting that looks so similar to the place they are trying to resemble.

Artists in Northern Europe had several different qualities than the artists in Southern Europe (Italy). The northern artists always focused on linear qualities, rich colors, and crisp paintings. As Mrs. Nance mentioned, one of the most popular artists in Northern Europe was Hieronymus Bosch. In his painting, The Garden of Earthly Delights, I was astonished by all of the details involved. I enjoyed trying to figure out what this painting meant. On the right of the drawing, hell is represented. I liked how he made that dark and gloomy so you knew that whatever it was, it was definitely not a good place. Overall, I really enjoyed Bosch’s work because although it was gruesome, it told a wonderful story.

I also really liked reading about Pieter Bruegel the Elder and his creations. Bruegel took a trip to Italy and while he was there, he was heavily influenced by nature and the landscape. You are able to see how attentive he is to the detail of the landscape in his painting, Landscape with the Fall of Icarus. Bruegel was my favorite artist in the unit because he was so focused on nature. To me, it looked like his work should be in the Renaissance and I loved the artwork of the Renaissance.

Lastly, as I was looking through Lucas Cranach’s work, I noticed it was very gory and gruesome. In his painting, Crucifixion, there was blood running from the dead men. I liked the idea of the painting, but I did not like all the blood. I get that he wanted to make it more real, but I think he could have toned it down more.

Response

I really like how you stressed your opinion on natural art. I am actually the complete opposite, I like art that is a little outside of the box, but I understand where you are coming from with the human bodies painted in the mannerism period. I also thought they were a little too much. Do you only like when human bodies are drawn in a more natural form or do you prefer all art to be more realistic looking? 

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Hey Kayla-

I think that the 16th century was a very dark time, what with the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic church’s response.  I think that the style of Mannerism kind of illustrates just how dark this time period was-- and I do believe that that is the “point” of the exaggerated facial features and the atypical arrangements.  I think Manneristic art really does a great job of demonstrating how people were feeling overall during that time period.

Also, I think the same goes for the gruesome paintings-- it seems to me that artists during this time were kind of going for a shock factor.

-Amanda Pierce

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Chapters 17/18

Chapter 17 deals with the 16th century and a new style of art called “Mannerism.”  In the 16th century, the Catholic Church was finally challenged and all but overthrown after more than 1,000 years in power by the Protestant Reformation.  Protestants were named as such for their “protest” of Catholicism.  I found this surprising; the textbook mentions Martin Luther and his acts in protesting Catholicism, but I always assumed that he had started the Lutheran faith.  The Catholic Church had become corrupt, and Christians in Europe wished to restore their faith and worship to its original state.  The Catholics retaliated with the Counter-Reformation, or Catholic-Reformation. The pope at that time even went so far as to permit the use of torture to gain confessions from accused heretics. The mere thought of that kind of behavior from a religious group is truly appalling to me.  

The textbook goes on to introduce the style of art that originated during this time called “Mannerism.” The name itself is subject to interpretation, but the basic style is consistent with the chaotic times and the upheaval of the Catholic Church.  While the Renaissance focused on religion in its artwork, the style of Mannerism focuses mainly on the figure of the human body.  This style disregards traditional proportions and divine figures; instead, the subjects of this style of art are elongated and twisted into strange poses. The artists crowded many images into small spaces, and used intense colors and shocking, unexpected scenes as their focal pieces.  This style of art was favored more by royalty, as it captured a more sophisticated and slightly erotic image than earlier styles and works of art did.  

One example shown of Mannerism style in the textbook was a painting titled Entombment by Jacopo da Pontormo.  His painting illustrates the removal of Christ from the Crucifix after his death.  Many figures fill the small space, and their clothing is painted in bright, shocking colors, especially for the image that is being shown.  I thought it was kind of interesting that, similar to the Renaissance, a lot of the Mannerism style artwork still followed the general theme of divine religion, but instead of the paintings being elegant and awe-inspiring, these paintings seemed to be more appalling, and featured scenes that were completely unexpected.  While the artwork of the high Renaissance provided a feeling of divine glory, the style of Mannerism provided a feeling of shock and awe.  I also appreciated how the style of Mannerism had a kind of mythological theme to it, as well.

I really like the style of Mannerism, simply for the fact that it is slightly dark, shocking and kind of erotic.  I think that it gives the artwork a kind of stunning and unexpected beauty. Mannerism seems to be anything but traditional; it is bold and unique, and I appreciate that.  I have always found myself attracted to things that are unusual and non-traditional; I like to think of myself as that.

Chapter 18 discusses the emergence of printmaking; which is a term that can be applied to types of art such as engraving and woodcutting.  Ink is applied to the carved or engraved surface, and then a sheet of paper is pressed onto the image, resulting in a print.  I think that style of art is VERY cool, even to this day.  I have always been impressed with artists who can create a beautiful image that is just as beautiful backwards, like in a mirror.  

Overall, I really love the stark and almost violent contrast of colors and shocking images that Mannerism depicts.  I think that this style of art is a nice change from the classical Renaissance style that we have been studying so far.  

[coolfreshsongstudentlove-blog]

Week Three

These artists continue to amaze me with their creativity and talent. Between both the early and the high renaissance chapters I have had many favorite works. With my favorite pieces I have the tendency to like detail and the lifelikeness of the image. In chapter fifteen, I liked the picture of the Dead Christ that Mantegna painted. The detail is amazing, from the emotion of the mourners, to the detail in Jesus’ feet. It is also interesting how Mantegna was able to capture the death of the corpse of Jesus at this angle. Mantegna’s layout here is clean and very even. Having a clean and even layout is very important when it comes to painting; it keeps the painter on track and results in an organized piece of art. This past semester I have learned to create flowcharts for accounting functions for different departments. With Mantegna’s work it reminds me of how important it is to have a layout that is clean and even when creating an accounting flowchart.

Jan van Eyck’s painting called Ghent Altarpiece also caught my eye. From just viewing the full painting on the page I was somewhat impressed. However, when I turned to the next page, they had a close up picture of the crown that was at Gods’ feet. I was blown away. The detail that was in the crown was absolutely amazing. The display of craftsman ship that Eyck displayed in the crowns design and how the pearls seem lifelike, shows Eyck’s great attention to detail, including his talent. By just zooming into this smaller section of the altarpiece to find such amazing detail, I am sure the remainder of the painting is just as detailed up close. One thing that I noticed while observing the crown is the detail in the hem of Gods’ cloak. Looking closely at the hem it almost seems like the embroidery that is there spells out something. This was not indicated in the reading if it does say or mean something; but it would be interesting to know what was possibly embroidered there.

Another thing that I like and almost find humorous about these paintings is how the artists add themselves into their work. For example: Jan van Eyck’s painting of the Man in a Red Turban is considered to be a possible self portrait of Eyck. Another time that Eyck may have added himself into his own artwork is in the painting, Arnolfini Portrait. On the back wall of the room is a beautifully reflected mirror, in that mirror, it is rumor that Eyck drew himself as one of the figures in the reflection. Another artist who enjoyed adding himself and other famous individuals to his work was Raphael. In School of Athens, Raphael included many famous individuals, along with another famous painter, Michelangelo, who Raphael painted himself jealously standing over. It is fun to see how these artists creatively add themselves to their own work, because otherwise we might not even know what these artists may have looked like. Their connection between their painting and fun reminds me that one will have a career someday; but make sure it is a career one enjoys and can still have a little fun at. This is a continuous effort for me, knowing that I will be a senior this fall, I will soon need to find my after graduation job. However, with accounting one can go so many directions with their degree; but as of right now, I do not know what direction I want to take. I will want to find my niche in accounting, just like Eyck and Raphael did with painting. That way I still will be able to have fun and enjoy what I am doing during my career.

References

Adams, L. S. (2011). The Early Renaissance and The High Renaissance in Italy. In A History of Western Art (5th ed., pp. 242-305). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

[captainamandapierce-blog]

Hey!

I also thought it was humorous that the artists added themselves into their paintings.  Do you think that they thought it was funny, too?  Or do you think they were doing it more to honor themselves and their other fellow, respected artists?  Christianity really did seem to be a major theme during the Renaissance.  It makes me wonder if it was mainly because it was something that hadn’t really been done, but that everyone could relate to.  I also wonder if Christianity is not a major theme now because it has already been done, and done well.  

I agree that it is truly amazing all the detail that the artists during the Renaissance put into their artwork.  I wonder if they were able to do so because artists during that time were actually capable of living off the money they earned from their artwork.  Not to say that it was “easy” to be an artist during that time, but I think artists these days definitely have a more difficult time trying to make a living off their artwork.

Thanks for sharing!

-Amanda Pierce