Lizzi Fass @lizfass-blog - Tumblr Blog

Chapters 29 & 30

This week’s chapters felt more modern to me, although the media was created a long time ago. The textbook showed images of media that I have seen sometime in my life, but in a different view.

Chapter 29 talked about abstraction. There were many pieces that stood out to me while reading. I like abstraction because I have to look deeper into the artwork to find the meaning. Typically the title of the piece gives it away, but others do not. I wanted to challenge myself and look for the meaning in the chapter’s paintings before seeing the title. In Willem de Kooning’s “Woman and Bicycle”, I was very confused at first. But then I saw a face and feet; that’s when I knew it was a person. I was puzzled as to what was in the middle. I saw a circle near the feet and determined it was a wheel. Then I managed to notice another wheel on the opposite side. I looked at the title and it made sense that the wheels were part of a bicycle.

Helen Frankenthaler’s “The Bay” reminded me of Dubuque for some reason. The artwork reminded me of the Mississippi River, although the body of water in the painting is a bay. The gentle colors and style made me think of the soothing waves of the river. Looking at the piece, at first it looks like just a few colors. However, “The Bay” made me see, hear, and feel the river. That’s what I love about art; it makes you feel like you are a part of it.

Overall, Chapter 29 shows that there is meaning in every piece of art. Look closely into it and you will always find that meaning. Each painting and sculpture in this chapter show that artwork does not have to be straight to the point. It is like a puzzle; once you find the true meaning, everything falls into place.

Chapter 30 showed artwork that I could relate to my life. A lot of art movements and styles were discussed. This chapter also showed how artists really get involved with their work.

The first thing that stood out to me was “Campbell’s Soup (Tomato)” by Andy Warhal. I have eaten Campbell’s soup ever since I was a kid. Seeing this piece made me feel nostalgic and fascinated to know the artist behind it. I was interested to know that Warhal also made other product labels, including Coke bottles, and even creating comics (p. 537).

Claes Oldenburg’s “Clothespin” puzzled me. I thought, “Why would someone create a a huge clothespin?” However, while reading about it I learned it is representing a man. Again, I love the hidden meaning behind artwork.

The story behind Eva Hesse’s “Metronomic Irregularity” was interesting to learn about. It talked about how it was “a metaphor for Hesse’s fear of separation and abandonment, and also as links between her two identities, German and American.” (p. 545). This piece showed Hesse’s feelings as well as a background; I thought it was very deep and meaningful.

Overall, Chapter 30 talked about numerous styles. From product labels to a definition of “painting”, this chapter seemed to have it all. I liked the variety and learning about each piece. All the artwork connects in one way, though: They all have a purpose.

lizfass-blog

I really thought it was interesting how you viewed each piece of work; I never thought of guessing the story or meaning behind the work before looking at the work’s title or caption about it. I will have to do that while reading more about art or while looking at art in person. What was your favorite piece of work or style in these two chapters? I also felt a similar connection with the work titled “The Bay” as well. While looking at it, it reminded me of my time spent at the multitude of lakes in Wisconsin and nature surrounding body of waters.

Week 10 (chap 29 + 30)

Both chapter 29 and 30 are styles of art that occurred after World War II. During this period in America, there was a lot of social and political distress and disagreements of how, what, and the meaning of art should be (Adams, 549). Likewise, the first style that came out of this time era was abstract expressionism. This style mainly was based on fauvism, cubism, and geometric forms (Adams, 519). From this, action painting became popular. Artists focused on their involvement and own movement to create their works of art (Adams, 521). This style of art reminds me of the action of splatter painting - which was popular in the 2000s!

Action painting also had an emphasis on color choices, just like the next style did too. Color field painting seemed to me, like the style that had the greatest emphasis on color choices. Artists seemed to select their colors in a way that could portray an image or feeling. Helen Frankenthaler’s, The Bay, was one of the pieces that I enjoyed reading and viewing. The color choices worked well with one another and reminded me of many lakes in Wisconsin.

With all the previous art styles influences, Pop Art, Op Art, Minimalism, and Conceptualism became popular. These styles used aspects of other styles, but also had some contrasting thoughts about which style was preferred. For example, pop art and often minimalism works were thought to be opposites because of their main visual focus. Pop art used many common, everyday objects as the focus. One artist, Andy Warhol, was one that I had heard about but did not know much about. So after reading about him, I was able to conclude that his work used many commercial images and focused on life at the moment, instead of his self or the past.

Sculptures also became something of note. During this time, the texture and materials were the largest importance. George Segal’s sculpture, Portrait of Sidney Janis with Mondrian Painting, reminded me of these plastered people we had in my library in high school (Adams, 539). It is different to have your main subject just be a plastered human.

Subject matter then changes completely after these styles to geometric shapes in the following styles. Op art is one that uses shapes, lines, colors, and abstraction to create a retinal experience (Adams, 542). In elementary school, I have fond memories of creating optical artwork. I distinctly remember choosing particular colors and line placement to make it mess with my classmates' eyes. Similarly, minimalism uses geometric shapes to create art. This time of work is supposed to “convey the idea that a work of art is a pure object having only shape and texture in relation to space” (Adams, 543). Even more abstract is the style of conceptualism. Here the artist removes themselves from the artwork, and instead, has the work explain itself. In my opinion, this seems like something that had not been focused on previously.

Likewise, the styles presented in these two chapters seem to push boundaries and all previous art. The nature of art seemed to be evolving via color, subjects, textures, and simply just the meaning behind the work. For me, this type of art is often the stuff that I have seen or enjoyed viewing. I’m excited to see what new styles of art arise in the future!

yauslinm-blog

Chapter 27 and 28

When I first started this class, I remember we had to share our experience with art. The only time I had ever been in an area with artwork was when I went to the Chicago Art Museum for my senior class trip. After reading chapters 27 and 28, I can relate the pictures and art I see in these chapters to what I saw in Chicago. It’s modern art that I am more aware of than the previous chapters. I will be talking about the styles of art and some of the artists that spark my interest.

In chapter 27, Cubism was known for its built-up images from constructions of color. Cubism gave European artists, non-Classical ways to represent the human figure. The first type of Cubism artwork that I came across was Picasso’s portrait of Gertrude Stein. He uses an emphasis on color that is consistent with contemporary Fauve interests. In this piece of art, Cubism comes into play when there are new spatial and planar shifts. Picasso also started nude artworks. The faces of this artwork disrupts nature and defies the Classical ideal and it is influenced by the contemporary vogue for primitivism.

Collage is another style talked about in chapter 27. It is a “logical outgrowth of Analytic Cubism and marked the beginning of the shift to Synthetic Cubism.” (p.483) An example of this type of art is Picasso’s Man with a Hat which is pieces of colored paper and newspaper that are on a paper forming a geometric representation of a head and neck. Collage deals with disassembling aspects, and this artwork describes that perfectly. It is made up of pieces of paper that can also be disassembled.

Futurism is inspired by “the dynamic energy of industry and the machine age.” (p.487) This style of art, in 1913, came in plastic form. It was done by Umberto Boccioni and was called Unique Forms of Community in Space. This piece of art represents a man that is striding as if he is reaching a definitely goal he has. Boccioni states that the artwork must “make objects live by showing their extensions in space.” (p.487) So, this piece of art has multiple layers of surface plane that portray a flapping material.

Architecture was becoming popular in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. It was popular in the United States, because that’s where it was taking the most developmental strides. Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright were two big architects during this time. Frank Lloyd Wright was known for his style of Prairie. An artwork that demonstrates this is the Robie House of 1909 in South Chicago. He represents the flat prairie landscape of America by creating low-pitched roofs with large overhang, and low boundary walls.

There was a new style of art that got produced by the end of World War I. It is called the International Style. It was brought to the United States by Bauhaus artists that were forced to leave Germany in the 1930s. These styles of art in the United States inspired many similar skyscrapers all across America’s large cities.

In chapter 28, Surrealism got my attention. This style of art is representing a higher reality that is higher than the average appearance. The artists that did Surrealism work were interested in the unconscious phenomena. This phenomena led to images that were portrayed as unreal or unlikely.

American Abstraction is an interesting topic, because it was the start of “modern” art in that time era. The first artist that dealt with this was Alfred Stieglitz and he was a photographer who manipulated his photos with negatives and chemicals and didn’t enjoy unusual visual effects. Another artist is Georgia O’Keeffe, who is also a photographer. She was influenced by the landscape of America, so her artwork uses black and white to accentuate on that.

After reading these two chapters, and looking at the artwork from someone who doesn’t take a fancy on this topic (like me), I would think to myself that it doesn’t even seem that hard to do. After watching the video, I’m not familiar with styles of colors and everything that goes into the works of art. My understanding that these artworks are a lot harder than they look is more aware now.

lizfass-blog

Did you have a particular favorite style of art, upon reading these two chapters and why? In addition, did you have any particular pieces that you felt a connection with? You have a very good analysis and overview of all the different styles covered. I thought the same thing about being able to accomplish artwork (referencing the video) - I do some art, mostly photography, but other than, not very much. Likewise, for me, by watching this video, I was able to understand all the factors that go into artwork.

Chapter 27 & 28 + Video

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Week 8

Once the late nineteenth century roles around, and after impressionism, post-impressionism arises. During this movement/style of art, artists are working and determining different structural and emotional connections within the art. They were often drawn towards “ bright color and visible, distinctive brushstrokes” (Adams, 452). Abstraction, silhouettes, and symbolism define post-impressionism and were only continuing to rise.

Likewise, as the turn of the century rolled around, so did new advances in all areas of life too (Adams, 467). Artists such as Picasso and Matisse are ones of note during this new century. Symbolism continued to reveal itself too. It allowed artists to be able to “depict a mood or state of mind” (Adams, 468) but also, to have a deeper meaning and connection attached to their paintings. Unlike the past styles, Fauvism became apparent too. This style includes bold colors, different forms, and abstraction as well (Adams, 470). To add, there was also expressionism throughout paintings as well. Expressionism is using “color to create mood and emotion but differed from Fauvism in its greater concern for the emotional and spiritual properties of color and form” (Adams, 471). Overall, the 20th century leads to the creation of different art styles that had a deeper meaning due to the special use of lines, abstraction, color, and their play on emotions.

One artist that caught my attention while reading these chapters was Vincent van Gough. He had a strong passion for landscapes and impressionism. His painting The Starry Night is one that uses lines and expressive colors to portray his vision (Adam, 458). His lines make the picture have a sense of motion, as it makes the sky look like its moving. Also, his lines go different directions in particular parts of the painting which create definition between aspects of the landscape. I related to this painting because I have been taught and shown this painting since elementary school and have always enjoyed viewing this painting. It is more interesting now, as I know why the particular style of lines and colors were used.

One other painter that seemed similar to van Gough was Pablo Picasso. Picasso focused on symbolism throughout his work. He accomplished this by having periods that had work that revolves around the usage of one color. For example, his painting The Old Guitarist used the color blue to portray a sense of “melancholy and pessimism” (Adams, 468). The guitarist has a long and lean body, with an elongated expression, all alluding to a sense of depression or “feeling blue”. Similarly, just like van Gough, I was always shown this painting done by Picasso in school. We always learned about this specific art movement and recreated work that fit into these styles. In elementary school, we often would make monochromatic work which could follow this theme of symbolism too.

In conclusion, after reading these two chapters, it becomes very apparent that artwork is changing and so are artists. Artists are expressing themselves through their artwork, but also experimenting more with styles, materials, and colors within their artwork.

avenariush-blog

Week 7 Blog

Just less than seven weeks ago, we started off in the 13th century, and now we’re already exploring 20th century art with Realism and Impressionism. I must say, personally, these works are more up my alley as I tend to experience recency bias. Of course, before I get started, it is important to note that the industrial revolution has kicked off and that technology is starting to increase at a rapid pace. In this blog, I will analyze main points from chapters 23 and 24 of the textbook while relating them to the experiences of my own life.

Starting with Realism, in France, we have Rosa Bonheur whom used Realism with a touch of romanticism (which we talked about last week) in her work, The Horse Fair. This painting, which is oil on canvas, has some of the most real-life anatomy of animals and humans to the date of 1853. This painting portrays “… the struggle between humanity and untamed forces of nature (416).” Horses in this painting, of all different colors, are rumbling down a dirt path, some bucking in the air, and humans are trying to contain them by grabbing their headgear. The detail of the sky being dark, and the muscles of the horses being flexed as they are exerting massive amounts of energy is so realistic, much like nothing that we’ve seen before up to this point.

Traveling across the North Atlantic Ocean, we have examples of Realism in America with Mathew Brady. Brady is a very interesting character as he is known to have taken more than a third of the 100 known photographs of President Lincoln. One of the most notable photos of Lincoln that Brady took was “Cooper Union.” This photo was taken in 1860, with Lincoln standing straight-up, wearing a trench jacket, with a straight face. Lincoln’s left hand is firmly set on a pile of books, which is said to have given the photo a touch of Lincoln’s intellectual side as well as his serious side with his straight face (thus making this Realism). It is important to note that Realism in this time seems to be a world-trending phenomenon, even in forms of architecture with the Brooklyn Bridge and Eiffel Tower.

Shifting into Impressionism, in France again, we have Claude Monet, who, “…embodied the technical principles of Impressionism” more than any other artist at the time (439). The perfect piece to describe Impressionism is Monet’s Impression: Sunrise. This piece is oil on canvas, which depicts a boat on a body of water surrounded by trees during a sunrise. It has the famous silhouette of the sun onto the water, as well as the trees. One thing different about this piece is that the strokes are thicker than most impression pieces such as Monet’s Terrace at Sainte-Adresse, which is also an oil on canvas, impression. This piece looks almost like a low-resolution photograph, with its very thin strokes.

Heading back to America again, we also see Impressionism. John Singer Sargent, whom happened to live in Paris in the early 1880’s (448), had several great American renditions of Impressionism. One of the most popular, Breezing Up. This oil on canvas painting portrays an older man and three young men in the ocean on a boat, with the boat riding on its side nearly, and a flare of sun on the left side of the painting. Everyone in the photo is calm, and thin strokes appear to be used. Following the trend of many Impression paintings.

Overall, we see some trends with Realism and Impressionism. Both seem to start in France and creep over to America. Both also seem to be applied on oil on canvas paintings. Lastly, most can apply to almost any real-life depiction of humanity. I am very surprised by how far the anatomy and proportions of anatomy has come along with things such as the planes used in paintings, and the linear-perspective. This art seems to build on itself, using themes of the past, to build and become more REAL.

lizfass-blog

I also related to these two chapters as well and enjoyed viewing the paintings more so than the previous ones. I agree that the paintings are more like a photograph, or low-res photo. I think this happened because technology and photography was becoming a more apparent art form. Did you have a particular favorite piece of artwork or artist? I think Monet’s work was my favorite in these chapters because he did so many landscapes.

Realism and Impressionism (week 7)

Throughout the 19th century, realism and impressionism were quite popular in all aspects of art. This century was a turning point in the social and economic status of Western countries (Adams, 416). Adams defines realism as being a “direct observation of society and nature, and political and social satire” (416). Artists used contrast in colors, along with light to show suspense and realistic concerns within society (418). During this time period of realism, the use of photography began. An English photographer discovered “negative” film which leads to the exploration and expansion of creativity with photography (422). Growth in this aspect of work grew dramatically. Likewise, this aspect of this chapter and realism interested me the most, because I enjoy photography very much. I took photography all throughout high school, and still enjoy taking pictures of landscapes.

The artist Nadar was said to be the pioneer of portraiture and aerial photography (422). His portraits played with black & white, and therefore contrast between light. Photography was controversial though because it was associated with “industry and science rather than the arts” (423). Similarly, architecture also was said to be not an aspect of art either, but instead a “utilitarian structure” (429). The most important piece of architecture that arose from this period of realism was the Eiffel tower. Structures like skyscrapers were also created because of the use of steel and concrete.

Similar to realism, impressionism evolved during this same century in Paris. The main difference between these two styles is that impressionism often left political events out of the artwork. Instead, artists focused on landscapes, leisure activities, the environment, and cityscape (433). Many artists used contrast in colors, lighting, shadows, and also abstraction sometimes. I thought that it was interesting that artists took into consideration the weather, time of day, and seasons while completing their artwork. This seems like it made their work different and more unique than other works that have already been completed in the past centuries.

While reading this chapter, it seemed like most of the impressionist painters used brush strokes that evoked a sense of movement. One painter that really caught my eye was Claude Monet, a painter that focused on “landscape[s] who studied light and color with great intensity” (439). Landscapes are always one of my favorites as I enjoy spending time in nature, even if I am just sitting outside. He was unlike other painters of the time because he actually painted and did his artwork outdoors and in addition, blurred much of his paintings with his strokes (439).

In the painting, Water Lily Pond, he used a lack of motion, but instead used broken up colors. This created a pattern that allows the viewer to grasp his concept of the water and reflected light in the painting (441). I enjoyed this work because of the calmness in the water, but also because it featured nature and the outdoors.

On the same hand, painters Renoir and Pissarro painted landscapes of the city that all demonstrated the contrast in color and light in a city. These paintings had people in them, along with their shadows. Overall, impressionists really wanted the viewer to have a “slice” of life, whether it be nature, city, or private life. Often, there was tension, truth, or just plain reality in the paintings, which all conveyed the artists' intentions of realistic art.

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.

lizfass-blog

I really liked how you focused on the women and equality aspect of this reading. I thought it was important also to notice the change in women’s role in art in this time period and how it would later affect the future, along with the art. Did you have a favorite piece of work in these chapters that either had women as subjects or was created by a female artist? I agree with you that traveling is one way that we are able to grow in knowledge!

Week 5: Baroque/Rococo

The Baroque style was popular in Europe but was a collection of different styles and influences. It often “tended to be relatively unrestrained, overtly emotional, and more energetic than earlier styles” (Adams, 333). With that being said, there were many works that played with the contrast of light & dark, leading to the inviting observers and viewers into the artwork. In Italy, France, and England, Baroque was the main style during the late 16th century until the 17th century. Baroque also used Gothic and Renaissance styles (Adams, 342).

While reading chapter 19 about Baroque, I was surprised to read about Artemisia Gentileschi. She was a follower of the artist Caravaggio, a popular male artist during this time period. Gentileschi was said to be “one of the first women artists to emerge as a significant personality in Europe” (Adams, 348). I related to this because so far, we have not read about many female artists so, it is interesting to read and see her artwork. However, her artwork is more gruesome, which can be said to be one characteristic of Baroque (Adams, 349).

Baroque was also seen in Northern Europe, such as Holland. Artists here focused on landscapes, portraits, and many other styles. Just like the other artists in Italy, France, and England, they still focused on contrasts of colors and lighting. Baroque also had an influence in Spain and could be seen in various artists work (Adams, 363).

Eventually, the Baroque style was refined to be more somber, less violent, and contain irony or satire (Adams, 367) and was called Rococo. Like I said above, during this time period is when women become more apparent in art. Adélaïde Labille-Guiard is a perfect example of this. While viewing her painting, the viewer can see a portraiture of herself, along with two pupils (Adams, 372). This suggests the fact that women are becoming more prominent and important in the creation of art.

Another piece of work that stood out to me in chapter 20 was created by Thomas Gainsborough. In this piece, it is a portrait of Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan and the background is a nature scene. The contrasting elements make the subject (the person) stand out. Also, his use of light playing off of the trees, her dress, and the rocks she is sitting on also make the painting more interesting. His use of lighting, color, and diagonal axis’ aides in the movement and my attraction to this painting (Adams, 375).

Likewise, throughout the two chapters we read, it can be understood that women are more prominent in art. Although most of the work from this time period was created and praised, by males, women are being recognized also. Women were painted in many portraits by male artists and eventually, women artists had work that was being celebrated too.

Overall, the Baroque and Rococo style was a revival of particular styles in paintings and architecture. Classism and Gothic style was often represented in the works (Adams, 380). Later, we would see aspects of this artwork in the future (Adams, 384).

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Blog Post Week 3: Chapters 15 & 16

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

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

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

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I found the psychological meanings and concepts in the paintings in the chapter very interesting also. I think it is powerful that paintings and artwork can leave an impact on us, psychologically. Is the psychological impact begin with the high renaissance? Also, I was super interested in Da Vinci’ s “Embryo of The Womb” too because I am a nursing major. I really thought it was odd that he never was able to finish all the sketches. In addition, I did not think of the sketches as a way of representing the origins of life. Thanks for sharing your ideas!

Week 3: Chapter 15 & 16

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

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

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

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

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

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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!

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I think learning about the origins of art is an important way to view a piece of work, as well! The details in Giotto’s work is incredible. At your church at home, do you have any paintings or sculptures that aid in learning about history and art as well? At my Lutheran church, we have stained glass and other tapestries that tell stories from the Bible but are also pieces of art, that have vibrant colors - like the works we read about.

Week 2: Pre-Renaissance

In Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s painting, Effects of Good Government in the City and the Country, it depicts the importance of the humanistic movement, along with focusing on the realism of everyday life in Sienna, Italy. Humanism is the main style prior to and during the artistic period of the Renaissance. Renaissance is the French word for rebirth and was the “revival of interest in ancient Greek and Roman texts and culture, which began in fourteenth-century Italy” (Adams, 236). Likewise, during this period there were many artists experimenting and completing a multitude of work that had many similarities but also showed differences between every individual artist. The general concept that the artists focused on was humanism during the Renaissance.

The painting Effects of Good Government in the City and the Country is a piece of work that demonstrates the individual aspects of everyday life in Sienna, and the overarching movement towards humanistic art. Throughout the painting, Lorenzetti demonstrates how the Republican government functions in Sienna. This is different than other artists because prior to the Renaissance, artists did not focus on the aspects of government nor daily life in paintings. In addition, his painting expresses “remarkable realism” by having the people wearing the latest fashions and doing activities that realistically portray common daily lifestyle acts (Adams, 236). One important aspect of the painting is Lorenzetti’s way of demonstrating the consequences of not following the government and rules in Sienna. He portrays this by having a criminal being executed and in the end, “is a clear warning of the consequences of social disruption” (Adams, 236). Overall, this painting is a good example of humanism because he demonstrates the life in Sienna through buildings, a good functioning government, various citizens, and the overall city’s prosperity.

In my opinion, I thought that this painting was different from the others that were mentioned in Chapter 14 reading because of his unique way of demonstrating humanism. Therefore, this painting stood out to me because Lorenzetti added various buildings in the background, which aided in my understanding of life in Sienna. When architecture is added to a painting, it makes the painting more time and style orientated. Likewise, seeing the architecture of the time period helps me catch a glimpse into what life is like in a particular area or place. Also, all his other little details, such as clothing, horses, agricultural tools, etc., elude to the focus on the people’s lives in Italy. I felt that I could relate to this painting because of his use of architecture. I have always been fond of architecture and how it evolves over time. Thus, having the various buildings and being able to see how the people interact with their surroundings in the painting, allowed me to be able to connect with his artwork. Another interesting aspect of this painting is his way of portraying life during this time period. He presents life as being pretty well and put together. It does not seem chaotic or disorganized, which could have not always been the fact. However, because the painting is so realistic, it portrays to the viewer how good the government system and life was in Sienna. Overall, Lorenzetti’s work was relatable because of his humanistic approach and use of architecture.

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Introduction

I think that art is very special and each artist is unique. It’s fascinating to see the different types of styles and creations made!

I personally love to write. I also enjoy playing video games and spending time with friends/family. I actually just graduated with my Associate of Arts, though I still need to take a few more classes to fulfill the degree. I will then be going for a Communications degree at UD!

There isn’t anything specific I hope to cover in this course, but I am excited to learn about art!

I don’t have a favorite art piece, but I do like Monet’s style:

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I really like Monet’s style also. One of his paintings of the bridge with the waterlilies is one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy the class also!

Introduction for Art History

I am interested in Art because it is an engaging way for people to be able to express themselves. Art can also be representative of something more than just a piece of artwork. Likewise, I am interested in history too, so I believe art history will just be interesting to learn about.

Outside of school, I enjoy baking, running, hiking, and hanging out with my friends & dogs. I’m going to be a junior in the Fall at Luther College and am majoring in Nursing.

There is not anything specific that I am hoping to cover in this course. I am just excited to learn more about art history because it has been since high school that I took an art class.

Below is one of my favorite paintings. This is at the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa. It’s painted by a Norweigan artist.

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