Elyse K.

[avenariush-blog]

Week 10 Blog

Reading this book is like riding a roller coaster. Sometimes you hit two chapters you like, two chapters you don’t like, and one of each. For me, the continuing theme of boredom comes with the abstract art chapters. With chapter 29, that boredom is back again! However, in 30, we get to go behind the scenes and look at some pop art as well as conceptual art to even the tide. In this blog, I will analyze main points from chapters 29 and 30 of the textbook, while relating them to the experiences of my own life.

When I look at The Gate by Hans Hofmann (p. 518), I see what I describe as “nothingness”, in a negative tone. It is an oil on canvas painting that primarily is made of rectangular painted boxes in green, blue, grey, white, yellow, and red. Before last week and watching the “I Could Do That” video, I would say, I could do that! However, after watching, I see something more than nothing. I see skill as it takes a high skill level to paint straight edges with oil on canvas, I also see Cubism in this as well with the rectangles. It’s still not my favorite, but I can at least appreciate it.

When it comes to abstract art, I actually liked looking and learning about the drip technique that Jackson Pollock used on page 521. This is a relatively new technique as he used it in 1947 and he also was innovative as he, “…engaged his whole body in the act of painting.” This means simply that he, “…controlled the placement of the drips and splatters through the motion of his arm and body.” It looks as you might imagine, like someone took a paint brush and flicked it a ton on a blank sheet of paper. Look at the photograph on page 521 of Jackson Pollock to see what I mean! I also enjoyed Tahkt-i-Sulayman I by Frank Stella (p. 528) as it was a polymer and fluorescent paint on canvas piece which was bright and vibrant in color. It looked like a bunch of protractors in different shapes lined up differently. It reminded me club colors in Miami, bright yellow, green, blue, orange, pink, and red, also like some of the Miami Heat throwback jerseys. For that, I liked it.

Gliding into something newer, we have pop art in chapter 30. Pop art is simply art that becomes popular with the public due to its recognizable image. The biggest example of this that I found happened to be the Campbell’s Soup (Tomato) can from 1968 by Andy Warhol. The design of the label is so basic as the top half is red and the bottom half is white, with inverse colored text on each side reading “Campbell’s condensed tomato soup.” However, that simplicity is what makes it recognizable and able to stick around for over 50 years. When someone tells you to grab the Campbell’s soup, your mind probably knows exactly what it is looking for (because of the simplicity). Brilliant idea for marketing (business major).

The last piece that I enjoyed was Untitled by Dan Flavin. It was a pink, yellow, blue, and green fluorescent light square across a corner (p. 544). The corner behind the checkerboard look-alike fluorescent lights, reminded me of the MGM Grand casino and hotel in Las Vegas. I often see the aerial snapshot of the MGM Grand as I watch UFC events or boxing matches and this image reminded me of the corner shaped building of the MGM grand at night, as the corner was bright in color and it faded out towards the edge. Compare the image to the MGM to see what I mean!

Overall, I would say that I was able to enjoy this art more because of that video last week. I also was able to make connections to stuff from my own life in these minimalist or abstract pieces to further enjoy them.

[jmeier15-blog]

 I like how you described the book as being a roller coaster because I also feel that way. There are some chapters where I am interested in the style of art that they are discussing and others that I couldn’t care less about. It seems the further in the book we get the more interested I am in it. I guess I never realized before taking this class that I would be more into more modern art rather than the older pieces. I also really enjoyed the activity painting done by Jackson Pollock. It interests me how people use all different kind of methods to create art and can incorporate their whole body into each painting.  I also like how you described pop art as being art that is popular due to a recognizable image. I never thought of the Campbell’s soup can as being recognizable due to its simplicity but I suppose you are correct is stating that people easily recognize it because of that reason. Hopefully the last couple of chapters are able to peak our interest more so than those in the past!

[elyseck-blog]

I loved your description of the various chapters throughout the book. I absolutely feel that way too. There are some chapters where I am simply bored to death reading, and then there are others that interest me greatly. I’ve never been a huge history fan in general, let alone art history. This class however, has given me a better understanding and appreciation for the rich history art has all around the world. I’d agree with you about Pollock. He was quite interesting to read about too. The drip technique is such a different, but cool style in art. I’ve had experience trying the drip technique, but unfortunately it never turned out as well as Pollock’s work. The action part really gets me too. It’s my understanding that he is constantly moving in all of his pieces and throughout all of the time he spends doing this technique. My question is, how does everything turn out so beautifully? Overall, great post! I couldn’t agree with you more!

[elyseck-blog]

Chapters 29 & 30

Chapter 29 was all about Mid-Century American Abstraction. The art and artists that emerged from this time period were big into color, with bold standout imagery and paintings. I’d like to think of this movement as a more modern one in comparison to the previous periods we’ve studied throughout this course. I loved reading about the action paining portion of the chapter. The dripping, splattering, spraying, and rolling methods of applying paints to painting is so unique yet so cool. While some pieces looked busy, it added so much volume to the piece as a whole. I’ve had experience doing some drip paintings like the ones Jackson Pollock is known for, but I’ve never had as great of results as he did with his work. It’s interesting to learn about how his whole body and his body actions add so much to his work. As the book explained, his whole body is engaged throughout the creation of his work. I can’t help but think of how difficult it would be to control the paint as it’s leaving the constantly moving brush being handled by Pollock. It has to be quite difficult, but with his experience and talent he sure makes it look easy. I loved learning about his White Light piece. There are lines across the entire piece, including straight, curved, diagonal and so on. In addition, there is a nice portion of chromatic colors that help add texture and vibrance to the entire work. While this piece is quite busy it’s also fascinating. It’s fascinating in the case of how unique and different it is from any other standard type of art. The busyness of all the lines and shapes really do fit together in the end which makes the piece come together well. 

Chapter 30 was all about Pop Art, Op Art, Minimalism and Conceptualism. I liked learning more about Andy Warhol, as he was someone I have learned about in previous art courses in high school. His Pop Art style is cool to me, and something that is relative to my time period in a sense. His work reminds me of marketing and advertising in a way, as he is known for his commercial imagery. I also wasn’t aware that some of his work was monumentalizing commercial American icons, so it was nice to see comparisons of various works of art. Overall, chapters 29 and 30 were the most interesting to me and really struck my interest and attention to art history more than any of the other chapters we have studied the past few months. 

[thelavenderllama-blog]

Chapters 27 & 28 + Video

This week’s chapters talked about a lot of important art movements. The video, “I Could Do That”, was also eye-popping. I felt that this week’s media stood out more to me and I could relate pieces to my life.

In Chapter 27, there were a lot of different works of art as well as movements. The book talked about cubism and futurism. Pablo Picasso was the artist that caught my eye the most. I have seen his work many times before, mostly the pieces that connect with cubism.  Looking back at his painting, “The Old Guitarist”, and “Man with a Hat”, these two are completely different styles. It is interesting to know that the same artist painted the two. I personally like Picasso’s cubism style more. It makes me think harder about what the pieces represent and what they look like. For example, when I looked at “Man with a Hat”, I was first puzzled as to what it was. The title gives it away, but looking back it at I can see it clearly. 

Picasso’s painting, “Three Musicians”, reminded me of back when I was in band. I felt connected with this piece. The three figures in the painting made me think of my friends and I together during band practice. Although the figures in the painting are not high schoolers in band practice, I like how I can make that connection possible. 

Overall, Chapter 27 reminded me of a puzzle. The styles were more wild, but they fit together. Each piece of work in this chapter connected with each other’s style. Whether it was a painting or a house, I can tell that the styles fit with each other.

Chapter 28 talked about lots of art movements. I had never heard of the term “Dada”, so this chapter was definitely interesting to read about. The artwork is this chapter seemed more puzzling; I had to think harder about the meanings in pieces. However, that’s one thing I like about art; it’s more satisfying to figure out the meaning yourself rather than knowing it with the title or description. 

There were a few artists whose names I’ve seen before, but didn’t know much about them. One of these artists was Grant Wood. I have seen his painting, “American Gothic”, many times in my city. One time I believe it was displayed at the art museum. I like how “American Gothic” represents Iowa. I feel connected with this piece because of that.

I believe the overall theme of Chapter 28 is that artists should create whatever they’d like; they don’t have to follow a certain art movement. When I was looking through the artwork, there are some that are the same but some are different. There’s a variety of styles and media. 

The video, “I Could Do That”, was very eye-catching. I’ve had friends and family look at works of art and say that they could easily create that. I liked how this video talked about looking into details and meaning rather than glancing at a piece. When the narrator was talking about “Tableau I”, I was fascinated to know that it was done with oil painting. Although it looks easy to recreate, I know I could never do it. Overall, the video was very informative on how each piece of art means something beyond the piece itself. 

[ellaosterkamp-blog]

These chapters were ones that I connected with more than the other as well. The simplicity of the artwork noted in these chapters showed how its not always what we see on the outside that is important, instead the meaning behind the artwork. I like how you pointed out multiple different art pieces, styles and artists. I also liked the “I Could Do That” video because it gave the “easier” looking artwork and gave it more meaning. Overall, good organization in this post and you did a good job relating the pieces to your life. 

[elyseck-blog]

Ella, I like the analogy you used regarding chapter 27. A puzzle is a perfect way to describe things. The art was a bit crazy with a lot going on, but after looking at it as a whole piece for a bit, it all fit together quite well. There may have been many directions, lines, shapes, and all different sizes, but in the end the complete piece worked quite well. I also enjoyed watching the video “I Could Do That.” It’s important to note how difficult some art pieces really are. They’re not easy, and it’s likely many of us wouldn’t be able to create such an innate piece of art. There is always meaning behind the art, and I loved how the video detailed that. Figuring out the possible meaning is sometimes fun to do, but oftentimes there is so much more to a work of art then we really realize. Overall, great post. These chapters were quite interesting to read!

[elyseck-blog]

Chapters 27 & 28

After reading through chapters 27 & 28, cubism really stood out to me. I really enjoyed reading about the difference between synthetic and analytical cubism. Synthetic cubism involved artists incorporating texture, pattern, and various techniques into their paintings and work. Art is all about combinations of new and old, recreating one piece to make it different from the old. The cubism aspect reminds me of taking multiple styles such as: painting, plain paper, designed paper, etc. and creating something out of a number of things. The variations of cubism are different. I understood it as, synthetic is a mere combination of formats, where as analytical cubism is more the same object or subject but analyzing it from different angles, sides, etc. Overall, the cubism style really interests me as it is a combination of multiple styles and forms put together to create one piece. 

In addition to the chapters, I also enjoyed the video. The ‘I Could Do It” video was very informative. I know personally I’ve looked at work and thought that it was easy to do, or quite simple. However, people fail to realize that there is so much more to art than simple lines and shapes. While it may look easy, it more often than not really is not easy. Artists start and restart work more often then we truly realize. There is so much precision and detail that make a work of art fascinating. As mentioned, it’s also important to think about the reasoning behind works of art. They didn't just wake up one day and start painting. Instead, there is often a strong reasoning behind why they chose to do what they did. The chapters and video were interesting to read and watch. 

[yauslinm-blog]

Chapter 25+26

After reading these two chapters, this is the type of artwork that sparks my interest over what we’ve learned so far. I love the artwork that is bright, colorful, and tells a story. In the first chapter I will talk about at least one artist that sparks my interest on each topic of artwork in that chapter. In chapter 25 I will be talking about Paul Cezanne, Vincent Van Gogh, Gustave Moreau, and Henri Rousseau. From chapter 26 I will be talking about the top two topics that spark my interest. Those two will be fauvism and expressionism.

Paul Cezanne was known “to have the most powerful impact on the development of Western painting” (p.453). He was known for turning painting into a structure that was visible to the viewer. In the beginning, his artwork was mainly black and always had something to do with violent themes in them. Cezanne is known for his self portrait. The main colors of himself are dark colors, but the background is more impressionist style. He applied his paint thick in this artwork so that the viewer could see each brushstroke. Cezanne was under the influence of Pissarro when his artwork started to become brighter. The first artwork he did with these bright colors was Still Life with Apples. He used black spheres for the beginning of the apples and built onto that with brushstrokes of reds, greens, yellows, and oranges. My favorite artwork that Cezanne did was Mont Sainte-Victoire. This is an artwork of rich green trees in the foreground and a mountain in the background. The brushstrokes of the trees and the mountain are thick and detailed. Cezanne was drawn to this artwork for personal identification.

Vincent van Gogh was an artist that I heard much about in art during school, but never really knew a lot about his art or him in general. Reading about him in chapter 25 gave me a better understanding of his history and his artwork. Vincent only spent the last 10 years of his life painting, but he made a big impact. He, like Cezanne, started his artwork with dark colors. Later, after he started working with Impressionists, he expanded his range of colors to lighter and brighter colors as well. His artwork The Starry Night is the one I am most familiar with. It is described as “intense, expressive color, his powerful imagery, and his strong sense of line” (p.456). It is hills underneath the sky and in the foreground of that its a city in the night time under the stars. I found it very interesting he painted this piece of art while he was in a mental asylum. 

Gustave Moreau led the Symbolist movement. His artwork that I am most familiar with is Galatea. It has to do with the Cyclops Polyphemos looking at a nude figure. He is holding the stone he used to kill the nude’s lover. This artwork is meant to symbolize love and passion that ended in murder. The art comes off as eerie and mysterious. Moreau put the nude female in a reclining position so that she looks vulnerable.

Henri Rousseau was an artist who really had no formal training. This made him mocked by a lot of the art critics, but he was soon later praised for his work. His great work that I want to touch on is called The Dream. This painting has a nude in the reclining position as well. She is laying on a couch, and the couch is in the jungle. Rousseau gave two reasonings as to why the nude lady was on the couch in the jungle. The first one being that the female is dreaming and her dream took her there. The other one being just because of the couch’s red color. This painting was famous for combining “the visionary world of dream and imagination with a detailed depiction of reality” (p.466).

In chapter 26 Fauvism sparked my interest because it had to do with bright, vivid colors that exploded from the canvas. The art was made purely from the color combinations used to create startling effects. This type of painting was known for its “brilliant, non naturalistic color and emotional exuberance that struck viewers” (p.470).

Expressionism also used color in its artwork. It was different from fauvism in the sense that it had a “greater concern for the emotional and spiritual properties of color and form” (p.471).

[lizfass-blog]

Just like you said in your blog post, I was also most familiar with van Gough due to learning about him from an early age in elementary school. I also thought it was interesting that he did some paintings while in a mental institution. Fauvism is an interesting style too because it was so different than the previous styles we have read about. Did you have a favorite painting/work that encompasses the style of fauvism? Overall, great post!

[elyseck-blog]

Lizzi - I totally agree with you. I love this artwork the most. The bright, vibrant colors really catches my eye and interests me the most. I love how you mentioned art telling a story. Every piece has some sort of story to tell yet we might not always know the back story. The pieces where it’s easy to recognize a story or perhaps even make up a story are the best ones. I also enjoyed reading about Fauvism as you mentioned. The colors really pop out in pieces like this and it is so appealing to the eye. It sounds like we have similar art interests! Nice post. 

[elyseck-blog]

Chapter 25 & 26

Chapter 25 was all about Post-Impressionism and the late Nineteenth Century. Post impressionists were attracted to the bright colored works of art which showed very detailed and distinct brushstrokes. It was made clear that the outlines of any object pictured in a piece of art was always clear. It was always easy to see where the edge and outline was on something. As I looked at some of the pieces I saw exactly what this meant. Although the pictures look sort of pixelated in a way, the edge and perimeter of the shapes and entire piece were easy to depict. I thought it was quite interesting to read about the Apple piece. It’s always cool to read about how a certain piece symbolized something, whether that be a community, a piece of history, or really anything. The apple was portrayed as the “forbidden fruit” in the Garden of Eden, and therefore has a remarkable place in the Western imagination. Really everything symbolizes something in one way or another and once again art is connected to that. 

Chapter 26 was all about The Early Twentieth Century: Picasso, Fauvism, Expressionism, and Matisse. Not only was this a major turning period in art history, it was also a turning point in terms of political issues and people. Pablo Picasso, as mentioned throughout this chapter is probably the one who I’ve heard of the most. His work and he himself have been a major part of the history of art. I really enjoyed reading about Picasso’s “Blue Period.” I like to connect periods like this with music. Oftentimes music artists have stories behind songs which symbolize oftentimes a rough period of their life. Similarly, Picasso’s “Blue Period” symbolized the time of poor and unfortunate in Picasso’s life. All in all, everyone has a story, the rich, the famous, the poor, the hungry. Everyone has something different to tell, but it helps make them who they are today, and it’s so interesting to learn and read about people’s lives and situations which helped shape them to who they are. As mentioned in Picasso’s snippet, lots of artwork depicts a mood. Mood is so easy to see just by looking at someone or something. Once again, Chapters 25 and 26 were quite interesting to read about!

[yauslinm-blog]

Chapters 23 and 24

Chapters 23 and 24 are about the revolution and change of the times. In the nineteenth century the art that was being made reflected what was going on politically during that time. While in chapter 24, impressionism started to emerge. This style of art did not deal with the political things happening in the world. Instead, it focused on the entertainment, landscape, and leisure activities to do artwork on. I will be writing about female artists over these two chapters, American Realist Painting, and covering the building and sculptures that I have heard of before reading these chapters. 

The first female artist in chapter 23 was Rosa Bonheur. She combined realism and romanticism in her artwork. She was from France, and one of her more popular works of art was called The Horse Fair. This painting crossed both realism and romanticism. It had realism in it by the details of the horses and the scientific observations she did on horses before this piece of art she created. It crossed romanticism by the grooms of the horses trying to keep them under control, and the sky in the background of the artwork that is dramatic. Romanticism is also involved by the difference of humanity and “untamed forced of nature” p.23.

Julia Margaret Cameron was from England and she was known for her photography skills. She mainly focused on portrait photography. The qualities and techniques she used are still used today. She manipulated her photos with effects, blurring edges, and the atmosphere to go with her outlines. Doing portraits was something she loved doing, because she could change the picture to however she wanted.

In chapter 23, American Realist Painting was becoming popular. Thomas Eakin was one of the landmarks in this time. He made a painting called Gross Clinic. This was doctors performing surgery in their street clothes. This painting demonstrated the enlightened mind, which the enlightenment period was happening in this time. Henry Ossawa Tanner was a student of Eakin. He painted realist scenes in the United States of African American life. Much of his work was centered around biblical stories. 

The Eiffel Tower is talked about in chapter 23. It was built as a temporary structure in Paris. Its original purpose was to be a landmark for the Universal Exposition of 1889. The tower was designed out of metal truss which sat on a bed of concrete. Gustave Eiffel, the designed, turned a engineering feat into an elegant architectural monument. 

In chapter 24, Mary Cassatt is a female artist that uses “close-up” for her style of art. She was known for her artwork of The Boating Party. It is a picture of a mom holding her baby while on a boat on a body of water, and a rower is rowing them on the body of water. Cassatt shows the intimacy between the mom and baby by making the viewpoint of the artwork slanted. She also makes the rower in black clothes to show he is strong and dominant. To intensify between the three people in the photo she foreshortened the child and the rower.

Berthe Morisot is another artist in the impressionism time period. She did artwork much like Cassatt, showing the intimacy between mother and child. Unlike Cassatt, Morisot doesn’t use special shifts in her artwork. She utilizes shapes for her paintings. Most of her artwork is her figures on a horizontal surface that is inside a rectangular composition. She also contrasts between the light and the darks of her paintings. Using loose brushwork is something she got criticized for, but she used it on her paintings anyways. 

American painting at the Turn of the Century is the last thing in chapter 24 that sparked my interest. It talks about the artist I described earlier, Cassatt, and that she lived in Europe but worked in the Impressionist style. There were other artists that stayed in the United States, and they worked on the Realist side of art.

[elyseck-blog]

McKenzie, I really enjoyed reading your blog post. I like how you focused on women artists and their work and upbringing during changing times and revolution. For me, I’ve never really been interested in a particular artist, but rather a vast group of artists who have completed different pieces and practice different styles. It’s sort of interesting how you really elaborated on women artists though. Perhaps you were able to make a relative connection to a particular one in which you really enjoy? Furthermore, it’s also interesting to learn about how the revolution of artists was an important piece of history. Similarly to women in politics and various rights in the world, women artists were really becoming more popular during this time period as well. Overall, nice job!

[elyseck-blog]

Week 7 Blog Post

Chapter 23 really stood out to me, but especially the section on architecture. Architecture is so interesting and so neat to look at and learn about. The buildings and famous pieces described in the book are all so familiar to me, and the history behind each one that I've learned about growing up. The Brooklyn Bridge and the Louis Sullivan Skyscraper are the only ones listed that are located here in the United States but it’s quite interesting to learn about unique pieces from outside the US as well, like the Eiffel Tower. The structure of the bridge is fascinating in itself. The granite posts designed at the end of the bridge itself is so cool. In addition, the cables and wire strung together from post to post is interesting too. I’ve said this before but, I cannot even begin to imagine how a piece like this even starts being constructed. Furthermore, it’s cool to see the history connection between the cable and rope designs in Asia and South America. Another reason and example that their are connections from all over the world tied directly to art. In connection with my own life, architecture really stands out to me in the aspect of art. I've grown up around construction and architecture my entire life and it’s fascinating to see all forms, styles, and pieces of architecture. 

Chapter 24 was all about the impressionism movement in France. The work in this time period detailed the impression of the moment. In my opinion, it’s quite different from varying styles and eras. It really reminds me of watercolor paintings. The image being depicted isn’t always perfectly clear and in fact sometimes it tends to be a bit pixelated but that’s what really makes the piece quite interesting. I particularly like the Claude Monet, Rouen Cathedral oil painting. Although the Cathedral itself is a little blurry, the overall outline and image itself is quite unique. In addition, the skyline and bright blue sky really creates a nice outline around the building. Furthermore, the shadow and altered lighting is quite cool too. 

Overall, Chapters 23 and 24 were interesting reads. Although quite different, there were so many connections between the two which made it fun to read about. I’m a huge fan of all sorts of architectural work so it was nice to read about the history behind some of those pieces. 

[ellaosterkamp-blog]

Week 5 Baroque/Rococo

In the beginning of chapter 19 in Laurie Schneider Adam’s A History of Western Art, religion, politics and science all play big roles in the new movements happening from the 1500’s to the seventeenth century (page 333 para 2). Many new things were being discovered at this time about space, people and religious beliefs which lead to conflict. This is similar to what is happening today within politics and space exploration. When people hear of new things happening that have never happened before, they tend to react by being scared or in a defending manner. Just like in the 1500’s, these new discoveries are leaving people on edge and confused about what the future might hold for us as not only citizens of the United States, but the entire world as well.  

Although new developments may bring fear, it also has a positive side. One in particular was the start of a new era of equality. Before current times, women were thought of as unimportant and irrelevant when it came to anything other than washing dishes, preparing meals and caring for her family. As new developments arose, so did women’s rights. This process took far longer than it should have, but not until the late 1500’s were women even allowed to create meaningful artwork. During that time, only a very small number of women, particularly those with higher education and family members as artists, could participate in the creations of artwork. As time went on, women became more and more accepted in both the general society and as artists. When we look at the big picture over time, these developments of society throughout history have monumental meaning today. Especially being a pilot, I could not even imagine living in a world where as a female, I have no rights. Although these rights still have a long way to go, not only for the female population but also LGBTQ and racism, as citizens of the world we have grown immensely in the right direction.  

The 1700’s was also a great developmental time for artists, musicians and science. Musicians such as Bach and Mozart came to light, Edmund Halley identified a comet, and oxygen and calculus were discovered (page 368). John Locke also stated that knowledge comes from experiences (page 368 para 5). This statement is something I have also been saying for many years now. I have also been one to experience things for myself instead of reading about it out of a book. Traveling had been a passion of mine because I enjoy going to new places and experiencing different cultures and scenery, even if it is still just somewhere new in the United States. Every time I come home from a travel, I feel like my views and knowledge of the world is expanded with every trip. I think many people judge others because they are inexperienced with the world and other cultures making it so they are blinded to understanding their point of view. If we all are open in our thoughts and continue to grow and accept one another, we can continue to become a nation united.  

*All references to the information and artwork came from Laurie Schneider Adams A History of Western Art, fifth edition.  

[elyseck-blog]

Ella, I like how you brought up the problem of equality. It’s interesting to see how so many pieces of history are directly connected with various artists and pieces of art. In addition, you mentioned racism too. A number of artists demonstrated various problems in history to tell a story through art. We have grown as a nation and it’s encouraging to know that people are finally understanding the importance of treating each other with respect no matter who they are. As a female, I am also glad I don’t have to worry about the rights I have and to feel as if I’m not important. Society has come a long way, just as the growth and development of art and various styles, artists, and works of art. Overall, nice post!

[elyseck-blog]

Week 5 - Chapters 19 & 20

Throughout chapter 19 it was very interesting to read about the Baroque style. Throughout this course I’ve really learned and examined how much detail plays in every piece of art. This specific architectural style is so fascinating. I especially noticed the extreme use of the Baroque style in the religious pieces and places talked about throughout chapter 19. One thing that really struck me in the chapter was the Raising of the Cross piece. The detail in the images of the people pictured is so cool! From facial expressions to the clear sculpting of the muscles and various body parts on each one. Growing up a Catholic I am quite familiar with this time in religious history, and this piece really brings that time to life. It provides a great mental picture and allows the viewer to really imagine this specific scene in real life. Another piece that struck me was the French Baroque Painting, Ashes of Phokion, by Nicolas Poussin. I think again in this painting, it is really brought to life. I feel as if I’m a person walking along the sidewalk pictured. The detail is great, and the scaling of the people is so on point. I am simply amazed by all of these artists and all of the great work they are able to establish. 

Chapter 20 was quite interesting as well. Specifically, I really loved the Strawberry Hill piece. For me, architecture, especially unique architecture is so interesting. The layout of the piece is quite neat. From the pointed tips along the roof line and perimeter to the uniquely sculpted windows. Each part makes the entire piece quite unique. I am personally interested in architectural work because growing up my grandfather was the owner of a construction company and I was able to see all different types of buildings, places, etc. and really see how each new building is different from ones before. The same goes for art. Styles change drastically over time but it’s interesting to see where styles really originated from and to really see how they have developed, changed, or even how new styles have evolved over the years. Overall, chapters 19& 20 were very interesting!

[rhoadsj-blog]

Week 3 - Early/High Renaissance

This week’s reading covered both the early Renaissance and the high renaissance. Both of these time periods are an important time for art. The early renaissance contained a large change in style by incorporating oil paints as media and the high renaissance brought us many very well-known and highly valued pieces of art.

In the early Renaissance, I found it to be really interesting how big of a difference in detail there is between the work of the artists from the Netherlands and the artists of Italy. According to the textbook, the Italians tended to use tempera paints whereas those in the Netherlands leaned more toward oil paints. The use of oil paints allowed the artists from the Netherlands to create more precise details in their art than the Italians could with their tempera paints. I really enjoy the intensity of the colors the artists from The Netherlands were able to produce in their paintings. It’s such a huge difference to turn between pages 267 and 268 in the textbook. If one were to focus on Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus tempera painting on canvas, which is an absolutely stunning work of art, in my opinion, on page 266 and then flip to pages 268 and 269 that contain paintings that incorporate oil paints, like Robert Campin’s Merode Altarpiece and Jan van Eyck’s Ghent Altarpiece, it’s almost like going from low definition to high definition resolution on a television. The intricate details can be seen in figure 15.32 on page 268 that zooms in on a very small image of Christ carrying a cross near the windows from Robert Campin’s Merode Altarpiece and figure 15.34 on page 270 that zooms in on God’s crown from Jan van Eyck’s Ghent Altarpiece that shows the fine details in the gems of the crown.

The high renaissance is when many easily recognizable paintings were created, like Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, and Michelangelo’s work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. According to the textbook, the high renaissance uses the word “high” to mean that the work from this time had very high approval. One artist’s work, in particular, stood out to me very strongly in this chapter and that was Giorgio da Castelfranco, as known as “Giorgione”. His work can be seen from page 300 of the textbook to page 302. What drew me to his work is the absolute beauty in the way he painted women’s bodies. He chose to use realistic body types for the women he painted, making their bodies more pear-shaped, which is a very common body type for women today, and it seems as though it may have been common in the 1500s as well. Giorgione’s Sleeping Venus on page 301 is a very beautiful example of the way he painted women’s body types.

In conclusion, the early renaissance contained a large change in style by incorporating oil paints as media and the high renaissance brought us many very well-known and highly valued pieces of art. Both of these time periods from this week’s reading are an important time for art.

[ellaosterkamp-blog]

I also found interest in the details and high contrast differences between tempera paintings and oil paintings in that time period. Your connection between the artwork and comparing it to high vs low definition made it easy to visualize the quality and meaning in the artwork itself. Chapter 16 was easier for me to understand and comprehend because the artists and their artwork was recognizable. It was interesting to read about what they really meant, as I had never looked into it. One thing I would have liked to see in this post was how you can relate to it, but overall I enjoyed reading. 

[elyseck-blog]

Ella, it’s very clear you have a great understanding of this weeks reading material. You did a nice job comparing and contrasting the various correlation between the artists and their work in both the Netherlands and in Italy. I myself am a fan of oil paintings. I have some minor experience with creating various works of art using oil painting techniques, but overall I have had great results and have loved how oil pieces turn out. Texture is huge in art and it’s interesting to see how texture plays a role in all the different styles. Like you mentioned, the extreme detail difference is so cool. Detail in general in art is simply fascinating and it’s awesome to see how it is so different in every artist’s work. Overall, nice post! 

[elyseck-blog]

Week 3 - Chapters 15 & 16

Some things that struct me in chapter 15 were the construction and creation of The Dome of Florence Cathedral, the artist Masaccio.  As I’ve read the various chapters each one has struck me differently and different parts about each really interest me in a unique way. I think it’s quite fascinating how each famous artist is so uniquely different than the others, yet they all seem to create such a pristine masterpiece in so many different ways. As I’ve stated in previous blog and discussion posts, art history never really struck me as interesting or important, however, this class has given me a greater appreciation of how valuable history and art really is. I think it’s so important to recognize the various people of history who have helped create and maintain a valuable portion of history around the world.

I find it quite interesting that Brunelleschi, as mentioned in the book, used other pieces of work, specifically the Pantheon as a sort of guide as he helped to construct the dome. Although the building techniques didn’t work in unison with each piece, it’s interesting that he used another piece of work as an aid for ideas. As I read the snippet on the dome, I couldn’t help but just stare at the picture and wonder how this idea was even started. Questions like, where did he start, how did he measure, how did he figure all of these parts and pieces to fit nicely with one another, and so many more, ran through my head. It’s so amazing to see how a piece so big can come together like that. I find all of the measurements, mathematical and extreme detail explained in the text to be very interesting as well.

In addition, Masaccio’s work is also very unique and wonderful too. Again, he used the ideas and styles of Giotto to create his own unique works of art. The Brancacci Chapel piece resonated with me for some reason, and I’d like to believe it’s again because of the innate detail and unique symmetrical look that I see when I look at it. In addition, the imagery of the people pictured, and the various sculpted pieces are also fascinating. Overall, the entire chapel is simply beautiful, and I can’t even imagine the atmosphere in person. Masaccio seems like quite a fine artist with an extensive range of knowledge of all types of art and styles. So far, I’ve loved learning about these various people and their rich connection to history. I like to make connections of work that I’m familiar with today and really see how styles, techniques, and various movements have affected history.

In connection with chapter 16, Leonardo da Vinci and his work struck me. Vinci is someone who I’ve learned about, heard about, and been able to study probably the most about throughout my educational career both in middle school and high school. To me, as to many others, he is a very well-known artist. As mentioned in the chapter, I think his connection of art, life, and the sciences is so interesting. I was totally unaware until reading this chapter that he completed various scientific drawings of the origins of life. To me, that is so cool. I also didn’t know that a number of his pieces were never actually finished by him himself. He would start, but never finish. This sort of all ties into the fact that various artists use each other for ideas, help, and ultimately creativity in order to create unique pieces, yet similar ones at the same time. In connection with my own life, when I think of creating something new life and art go hand in hand. Someone has to start something, somewhere. A family is started by someone just as art is started by someone. It’s interesting that Vinci really took the scientific side of art and truly brought it to life. His excerpt in the book has been most interesting to me thus far because I think I’m able to make a connection much easier than some of the older people and pieces of work. Both chapters were an interesting read, and I love that I’m gaining so much information in just roughly one hundred pages.

[oakesa-blog]

Chapter 14

In terms of art history, the Renaissance is largely regarded as one of the single most influential periods of humanity. It is important to remember those that came before them and recognize their talent. In early thirteenth century Italy, the first signs of an artistic revival became evident; with influences from Greek and Roman history, artists of all kinds were beginning to approach their craft in “new” ways.

The first piece directly mentioned in the book is Nicola Pisano’s marble pulpit, “Nativity,” which is especially exciting for me as I have always been extremely fascinated with sculpture. The marble carving has a distinct Roman influence, as evidenced by the draperies and shapes of the figures throughout the scene, and it is clear upon reflection of the piece that Pisano’s exposure to classical art during his time spent in the Holy Roman Emperor’s court greatly influenced his own work.

As Italy began moving into the fourteenth century, the humanist movement began to take shape. With it came the revival of ancient Latin and Greek texts, and brought about a widespread growing interest in nature. This resulted in artists incorporating more of human nature with the human form, which over time became a prominent goal of many Renaissance artists. As literacy increased, literature relating to art was also on the rise, and the concept of fame began to develop throughout Italy. Giotto di Bondone became a very popular artist via his tempera paintings and frescos that featured a new style with Byzantine influence and a clear emphasis on human nature and realism.

In Siena, many other artists shared a similar style that was also heavily influenced by the Byzantine style. Duccio di Buoninsegna painted a number of pieces reflecting this, but it was also evident that his work was impacted by Giotto’s new style and the realism that it entailed. His own works lacked the same level of Classical styling as Giotto’s, however. Ambrogio Lorenzetti painted the fresco “Effects of Good Government in the City and the Country,” which is perhaps my favorite painting mentioned in this chapter, that depicted a stunning scene of humanist influence in Siena with wonderful depth and realism. The piece is 46 feet long and displays scenes that include women dancing and singing, a number of shops, peasants tending the fields, and more. Above them all, the figure Security holds a banner stating that peace resides over Siena with her protection. This piece is my favorite not only because it seems to offer such an amazing glimpse at what Siena may have been like in the 1330s, but because it clearly states that social disruption will lead to turmoil. This is, of course, absolutely true, and though this has always been the case, I feel that it is even more obvious in the modern world of instant communication and constant news updates.

Another sculptor the book mentions is Claus Sluter, and his carvings reflect a considerable and dynamic realism. The detail of facial features and hair, draped material, and angels’ wings are all beautifully crafted and seem to follow the “logical rules” of reality.

Overall, the fourteenth century saw a number of shifts in artistic styling that would ultimately lead to the wonder of the Renaissance. There were still a number of innovations to come, but the influences were evident; I especially appreciated the advance of realism throughout the visual arts of this time period.

[elyseck-blog]

You do a great job explaining in such fine detail the Renaissance period. I particularly like how you included that during this time period there was a lot of shifting and change. New styles were being adapted and learned, and yet there were still old styles of art and work being implemented and used. When I think of Renaissance I’ve always associated it with a changing time period. That’s how it has been taught in history and other classes in which I’ve learned about this time. I think it’s also interesting to see how influential artists are to each other. So many of the artists mentioned throughout chapter 14 shared how various people helped influence them and their work. Art is so unique yet so similar. Ideas are constantly being bounced off of people from vastly different artistic backgrounds, and with the help of fellow artists people are able to create their own work of art themselves. I liked the Claus Sluter mentioned in the book as well. The detail is so fascinating. It always amazes me when I see the great amount of detail in the face or body of a sculpture or image. The realness exemplified is so incredible. Overall, great job. It’s obvious you have a great interest in art and art history, and it’s been interesting reading about various classmates and their background and interest of art. 

[elyseck-blog]

Week 2 Blog Post

Reading about ancient art and it’s connection with history has been quite interesting. It’s so inspiring and neat to see how artists, artwork, and styles and techniques have evolved over time. The Pre-Renaissance period was full of new ideas, people, and art evolutions. As I read thru chapter fourteen, Giotto di Bondone, and The Arena Chapel really stuck out to me. The Arena Chapel piece alone is just fascinating in my eyes. There is such great detail, style, and color that really brings the entire piece to life. As referenced in the text, Giotto was a well known artist who was transported to various parts of Italy to create various artwork. As I scanned thru each piece of art throughout chapter fourteen, Giotto’s stuck out the most. The colors really brought it to life, and as mentioned by Petrarch, his painting style truly made the piece radiant. I found it very interesting that the Arena Chapel was founded by Enrico Scrovegni. I’ve heard of this man before, and after a little research after reading chapter fourteen I was able to come to the conclusion that the chapel was originally bought and built to serve as Scrovegni’s family’s private oratory, and as a funerary monument for him and his wife. This is all so interesting and unique. It’s nice to learn about how one piece of work or art was originated and the ideas behind the original making, and then to see and learn about how the ideas and work have changed over time. As I look and study the chapel itself, it amazes me to see the extreme detail that went into this marvelous creation. The perfect symmetry on each wall is so intriguing, not to mention the perfect detail of the people pictured all throughout as well. Overall, the piece in general is quite fascinating. The scenes depicted on each wall of the chapel are quite interesting as well. In connection with what I've seen in churches today, it reminds me of the stations of the cross that are displayed all around the perimeter of my Catholic Church here in Iowa. Although It’s a very different story compared to the Arena Chapel, I was able to make that connection to what I’ve experienced and seen throughout my life. In addition, I can also connect my Roman Catholic faith learnings and experiences to the Nativity scene depicted in the chapel. I’m quite familiar with the nativity scene so it was easy to make a connection there too. Ultimately, it simply amazes me how all of these scenes and events make up the entirety of the chapel as a whole. The time, effort, detail, perseverance, etc. is just unimaginable. I’ve never really thought about the connection of art and religion. After reading about this Pre-Renaissance period it all makes sense. Art and religion go hand in hand. If it weren’t for artists, the sculptures, artwork, etc. wouldn't be on display in various religious facilities. In terms of a connection to my own life, I most often see these types of work in my school and church. Growing up a Catholic my entire life, and attending a catholic school for the past ten years, I’ve been able to learn about these different times in history and their connection with various religions, etc. This was very interesting to read about and I look forward to reading more about the history of art!

[lostinarthistory]

Introduction

1. What interests me about art and art history- art, no matter what form, is a beautiful way to express oneself. It’s interesting to me how different people look at and interpret art in so many different ways. There’s no right or wrong way to produce or look into art, I believe it is a matter of individualism. 

2. Outside of art, some of my interests include reading, crocheting and writing poetry. I’m currently writing a book of poetry and hope to publish it by the end of this year.

3. Is there anything specific I hope this course covers? I’m hoping we get to explore different specific artists, like Van Gogh. According to his history from books and online sources, he seemed like such an interesting guy. I feel like I relate to him a bit in terms of his mental health and way of expressing his feelings. 

4. I’m super into anatomical art, I actually have a version of this heart tattooed on me.

[elyseck-blog]

Amy, I love how you included that art allows one to express themselves in a different way. This is so true. Art of all sorts and kinds allows someone to exhibit themselves in a way different than everyone else. Art is never a mistake, and it is never wrong. A mistake just leads to a different idea or way to express themselves. Ideas are always evolving and changing. I think it’s so interesting to see all of the different types of arts and artists and how each one is different in their own way. 

[elyseck-blog]

Introduction to Art & Art History

Over the years I have developed an interest in art and art history. I specifically enjoy all sorts of photography and art imagery. While I don’t have great knowledge about the history of art, I’m excited to gain a better understanding of the great artists that help make up the rich history of art around the world. Aside from art I really enjoy taking photos and experiencing life through a different lens. In my free time I love to play golf and spend time with friends and family. I am currently pursuing a degree in business management. After my undergrad degree is complete I plan to enroll in a mortuary science program where I will then hopefully find a job in that field. Below is one of my favorite pieces of work.