Emily Lenstra

NICC Art History II

[rhoadsj-blog]

Week 10 - American Abstraction/Pop Art, Op Art, Minimalism, and Conceptualism

This week we learned about American abstraction in chapter twenty-nine and pop art, op art, minimalism, and conceptualism in chapter thirty. In this post, I will first discuss what stood out to me in the chapter about American abstraction, then I will touch on what stood out to me on the chapter about pop art, op art, minimalism, and conceptualism.

While reading through the materials this week, action painting in chapter twenty-nine stood out to me. Reading about Jackson Pollock on page 521 was very interesting. According to the textbook, Jackson Pollock would use his entire body to create a painting. He would lay his canvas out on the floor and drip paint onto it from above. He became one with the painting. I think this method of painting is interesting because the artist would have to have complete faith in their own movements to create the effect they are looking for. These types of paintings make me think of last week’s video about how a lot of people look at art and think they could have done the same thing, but Pollock, for example, had to come up with the idea first and then he had to actually follow through with it. Something else that stood out to me in this chapter was Louise Nevelson’s “Black Wall” on page 532. “Black Wall” is a sculpture of everyday objects stacked in boxes so it looks like a sort of bookcase. I think it is very creative to take different objects and place them in such a way that they become art. I also like that it was all painted one color because the objects now stand out based on their forms rather than their color.

Chapter thirty was about pop art, op art, minimalism, and conceptualism. According to the textbook, this is where the style of comic book images come from. I have noticed in my life that comic book images tend to follow a similar style, so I found it interesting that it was brought up in the textbook. Roy Lichtenstein’s “Torpedo…Los!” on page 538 is an example of this style. In this chapter, I really enjoyed the parts about minimalism and conceptualism. According to the textbook, minimalism tries to take away the artist’s role in the work and leaves the viewer to their own interpretations. I think it is fun to observe art and try to decipher what the meaning behind it is. Conceptualism is art that is all about the meaning and less about the object. Like minimalism, I like to think about the meaning behind art. This is different, though, because the meaning is not left up to the viewer to decipher, and some of the time the meaning is written on the piece, itself, clear as day.

Therefore, I first discussed what stood out to me in the chapter about American abstraction, then I touched on what stood out to me on the chapter about pop art, op art, minimalism, and conceptualism. This week we learned about American abstraction in chapter twenty-nine and pop art, op art, minimalism, and conceptualism in chapter thirty.

[thelavenderllama-blog]

I also thought that Jackson Pollock’s drip technique was fascinating. I like how you mention that he “became one with the painting.” I think this method is very creative because artists put everything they have into their artwork. When you mentioned that it is fun to decipher meanings behind art, I definitely relate to that. I feel that it is more interesting to figure out the message of a piece rather than it being obvious. Great post!

[thelavenderllama-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]

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.

[thelavenderllama-blog]

I enjoyed reading this week’s chapters and watching “I Could Do That.” I like how you pointed out Frank Lloyd Wright’s work. I thought the architecture was so beautiful and nothing ordinary. Looking at the photos, it was hard for me to believe that it was made so long ago; it looks more modern. It makes me wonder what people thought of his work back then. I also agree with you on your point about surrealism. I thought it was original and it takes more thought to find the true meaning. 

[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]

CH 25 & 26

Chapter 25 discusses post-impressionism and the artists that first took part in this era. I learned that post impressionism was like a new and improved version of impressionism where artists gave their paintings more outlined detail to objects and characters (page 452). They also used more colors which helped to define objects and sequence movement throughout the paintings.   

During the first week of this online course, we posted about our favorite artist or artwork, which for me was Vincent Van Gough. In this chapter there are multiple images of Van Gough’s artwork and it also talks about his general life. Although I chose Van Gough’s A Starry Night as my favorite art piece, I still admire his other pieces noted in the book as well such as his Self Portrait and Bedroom at Arles. I was first introduced to Van Gough and his artwork in my high school art class where my art teacher had a large replica of A Starry Night hanging up in the classroom. Along with Van Goughs artwork, my teacher also had George Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, which is also written about in chapter 25. Going back to Van Gough, although he is one of my favorite artists, I oddly enough didn’t know anything about him until reading this chapter. I found that he painted A Starry Night while he was in an insane asylum, which makes him even more interesting than before (page 458). Personally, I feel like painting is a form of mediation or a way to leave the world in a sense. I read that some people believe that A Starry Night was a painting that reflected what was going on in Van Gough’s mind during his time in the mental asylum (page 458), but I think it could have just been his way of personal therapy or meditation. When I paint in my free time, I feel like I am reading a book in a sense because I forget about everything happening around me and it allows me to really focus on my mind and be in the moment. This painting could have been his way of escaping from the chaos in his life.  

Edward Munch’s Scream was the runner up to Van Gough’s A Starry Night as my second favorite historical art piece. I have always thought of it as a creepy work of art but in an admiring way. I was again intrigued by reading on page 464 that Munch was also mentally unstable alongside Van Gough. By the description of the colors in the sky said to be screaming as well, we can clearly see in the Scream piece that Munch did in fact interpret the chaos he was feeling inside his head onto cardboard.  

Expressionism is an art style that stood out to me in chapter 26. Oil paintings were one of my most memorable mediums to use in high school and I can remember feeling a sort of satisfactory sense when pressing the oil to the paper. I am drawn particularly to the solid shaded background of Emil Nolde’s Still Life with Masks on page 472. My favorite mask in this piece is the yellow skull on the bottom right because of the thickness of the oil which created depth and bright colors.  

Overall, these two chapters bring up some of the most well-known artists of all time and describe their input to the artistic and historical time period of post impressionism and expressionism. I can find more things to relate to in these more recent chapters because there is more development of colors in art instead of previous religious chapters and the art in these chapters are more relevant to today.  

[thelavenderllama-blog]

I thought this week’s chapters were intriguing as well. Honestly, I think these were my favorite chapters so far! They talked about many well-known artists and paintings. van Gogh is one of my favorite artists as well! The style of his work is very creative. In “A Starry Night”, it was interesting to read about the context behind the painting. I also like how you pointed out that painting is a way to escape reality. I definitely relate to this with writing.

[thelavenderllama-blog]

Chapters 25 & 26

This week’s readings have stood out to me yet again in a variety of ways. There were many artists I whose names I have seen before. I also recognized many paintings in the chapters. 

Chapter 25 talked about Post-Impressionism in the late 19th century. The artists in this chapter that caught my eye the most were Paul Lezanne, Georges Seurat, Vincent van Gogh, and Edvard Munch. 

Paul Lezanne had “the most powerful impact on the development of Western painting.” He created “Still Life with Apples.” I liked this piece because of the style in which Lezanne used. The brush strokes grabbed my attention and the colors felt so warm and reminded me of fall. 

Georges Seurat painted “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” I remember seeing this piece in my high school’s art class. Not only does this piece capture an image of what the past looked like, but the details are fantastic. Looking at the zoomed-in image of the piece on page 456, I can see each brush stroke and can tell how much work Seurat put into this piece. 

Vincent van Gogh is one the most famous painters to have ever lived. Again, I have seen his artwork in various spots, such as school and even in the media. I remember seeing “Bedroom at Arles” in elementary school and I thought of it as a comic or cartoon style piece of art. van Gogh’s artwork is the image of reality but also adds imagination in it. Looking at “The Starry Night”, it shows the realistic image of a town, but the colors and style makes it feel more comforting to me. I would say van Gogh is one of my favorite artists. His work stands out to me because of the creative style and well mixed colors. I can tell a piece by van Gogh because of the shape. 

Last but not least, Edvard Munch stood out to me for one reason: “The Scream.” I have always seen this piece around, whether it was in media or in school. Recently I saw this piece transformed as a character from a show being the screamer. I think the style of the artwork reminds me a bit of van Gogh’s with the twists in the sky and ground. 

Chapter 26 talked about Fauvism and Expressionism in the early 20th century. The artists that stood out to me the most in this chapter were Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. 

Pablo Picasso is another very famous artist. He was the one who created the “Blue Period”, where his art represented “melancholy and pessimism.” “The Old Guitarist” shows that image perfectly. This piece reminds me of sadness. I wondered why the old man is so sad and perhaps what song is being played on the guitar. The colors in this piece make it feel cold and gloomy, which feels like the definition of the “Blue Period.”

Henri Matisse painted “Woman with the Hat.” This piece had colors everywhere, which immediately caught my eye. It feels like the total opposite of Picasso’s work. This painting feels lively and filled with hope. 

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s piece “The Street” is also filled with color. I compare Matisse and Kirchner’s colorful paintings with previous portraits. The colors feel more natural versus the vibrant tones in these pieces. Both color themes make the art stand out more in its own way, though.

Overall, I enjoyed this week’s chapters. It is always fascinating to read about artists or paintings that I have seen before but did not know much about. I also like comparing each piece with previous artworks mentioned in past chapters.

[kaleibiehl-arthistory-blog]

Week 7 Blog Post: Realism/Impressionism Ch 23+24

Chapters 23 and 24 cover a time period of revolution and the “reality” of the world. The most common themes I saw as I read was the real time, real experience the painters captured. In my blog post, I will cover the Realism style by analyzing the painting “Olympia,” and explore Impressionist style by examining “Moulin de la Galette.”

In Chapter 23, I was drawn to the painting by Édouard Manet entitled, “Olympia.” I thought this painting was the perfect representation of the Realism style due to the painting’s representation of raw, imperfect life. According to the reading, Manet’s painting was viewed by many as an oil canvas of a prostitute, sitting in an unmade bed with a flower in her hair sent by one of her clients. Realism is represented here in many forms, the most pronounced one is her body. In the painting, the woman is laying in a disproportionate way, she is not perfect but she is real. I think Monet was trying to capture the true form people are in, rather than the romanticized nude figures seen in previous chapters. Secondly, the bed sheets are ruffled and unmade, creating the allusion that the reality of life is unkept and flawed. “Olympia” was also a progressive painting, it was controversial because rather than staying with the Classical ideal, the real society of nineteenth-century Paris was exposed (428). I also noticed that the woman openly accepts the viewer and glares back. Her body is uncovered and she rejects modesty. The painting led me to believe that Realism style is like protests we see now against the perfect image of models in society, and the notion that women must be private and lady-like. The progressive art movement seemed to show people that women have the right to do or say as they please. On the opposing side, I compare Romanticism style to magazines and screenplays, similar to how many people picture the perfect life to be. In my opinion, Realism style artwork helps people stay grounded and less like they must live and look a certain way; the reality of life is imperfect and a winding road of happiness and sadness. 

Chapter 24 covered the Impressionist style, where painters captured their emotions and “impression” of a situation or moment of time. I noticed a lot of the artwork from this era was painted outdoors and the characters looked off-guard and in the moment. Similar to Realism style, it captured the true sense of the situation, but it also added the feelings of how the artists felt during the scene. According to the reading “Week 7 Overview”, the painters used the manipulation of light in different parts of the painting to “heighten their ability to capture the moments.” Page 435 shows an image of the painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir named  “Moulin de la Galette.” The painting depicts a leisure day at the Montmartre dance hall courtyard (435). Couples are laughing and dancing candidly. I liked this painting because it was bright and cheerful, showing the emotion of each person through their eyes. 

[thelavenderllama-blog]

I also thought this week’s chapters showed the realistic side of life. I liked how artists painted photos of people’s daily lives since cameras were still being developed. It is fascinating to see the history of life back then. I like your analysis on “Olympia” and “Moulin de la Galette.” It is intriguing to see the meanings in paintings from artists. 

[thelavenderllama-blog]

Chapters 23 & 24

 I was very intrigued when reading this week’s chapters. Chapter 23 talked about realism in the 19th century. One thing I found fascinating was that this was the start of cartoons and caricatures. I didn’t realize they were made so far back. I love watching animated cartoons, so it is interesting to see the origins of where it all started. 

 Another amusing thing to learn was the introduction of photography. I knew it started sometime in the 19th century, so reading about it in this chapter was cool. Looking back at the beginnings of photographs to today’s, I find it intriguing to see the progression of cameras as well as styles. It seems that back then mainly portraits were taken of people, such as Nadar’s photo of Sarah Bernhardt. Nowadays, people take photos of everything, saving memories. 

The Eiffel Tower was mentioned in Chapter 23 as well. I was surprised it only took 2 years to complete and that it was only meant to be a “temporary structure.” Its beauty is truly fascinating. 

Overall, Chapter 23 talked about the beginnings of many things. These include: photographs, cartoons and caricatures, and even skyscrapers. Learning the origins of these things that are in today’s daily life was really interesting to read about.

Chapter 24 stood out to me the most. It talked about impressionism. What I like about these paintings is that it shows people’s daily lives rather than portraits. In Claude Monet’s “Terrace at Sainte-Adresse”, it shows two couples relaxing by a river. Not only is the style of painting beautiful, but I like how it looks like a photograph. Many of the paintings I saw in this chapter looked like pictures to me, and I like how the artists wanted to show how life looked like back then. Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s “The Pont-Neuf” also shows this realistic image of the people walking around town in the early 1870s.

Another piece of art that stood out to me in this chapter was Auguste Rodin’s “The Thinker.” I have seen this sculpture before, but had no knowledge of who made it and when it was created. 

As mentioned before, the paintings in this chapter showed more of a daily life perspective rather than a portrait. One of these paintings, “The Daughters of Edward Darley” by John Singer Sargent, reminded me of the painting “Las Meninas” by Diego Velazquez. The girls in the paintings appear to be around the same age, but it’s interesting to see how the styles have changed, both in painting and in fashion. 

[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!

[thelavenderllama-blog]

I also think that it is interesting to see the different styles and details of art. I don’t necessarily have connections with architecture, but I think it is so cool to see the history behind each structure. The designs in the past never fail to fascinate me. Strawberry Hill is a very unique piece of art! 

[thelavenderllama-blog]

Chapters 19 & 20

This week’s chapters were fascinating to read as always. Chapter 19 talked about the Baroque style in different countries. I always like looking at the different types of styles and techniques each artist uses. What caught my eye in this chapter was the architecture. I find it so intriguing and full of history. St. Peter’s baldachino stood out to me the most. It looks as if it were made out of gold; looking at it reminds me of a palace. Another structure that caught my attention was St. Paul’s Cathedral. I couldn’t believe it when I read that it took 40 years to create! Looking at the photo, it feels as if I am seeing it in person. It truly is fascinating to see the differences between today’s buildings and the structures back then. 

Chapter 20 featured paintings that I have seen before, but didn’t know much about them. One of these paintings was “The Swing” by Jean-Honore Fragonard. The movie, “Frozen”, featured this painting during one of the songs:

(photo found on Google)

I didn’t realize it at the time, but this painting is significant. Looking at the painting in the textbook instantly made me think of that scene in the movie. Again, the architecture discussed in the chapter stood out to me. “Church of the Meadow” by Dominikus Zimmermann is very aesthetic. It is full of color and the church is graceful. 

[afaye2]

Early and High Renaissance Architecture

For chapter fifteen and sixteen I chose to focus on architecture because I originally wanted to become an architect going into college. I have always been interested in architecture, even if I changed my major. Architecture is a form of art that interests me and that is why I chose to focus on it for these two chapters.

In these chapters, it focused on the appreciation of the art of architecture. One quote that interested me was “Compared with the complexity of Abbot Suger’s search for perfect mathematical ratios based on musical harmonies, Brunelleschi’s concept of architectural beauty lay in basic ratios and shapes.” (pg. 245). This stuck out to me because the art or architecture comes in many ways. Some architects find the beauty in the complexity and some find the beauty in the basics. I think this in common in all forms of art, some people appreciate the complex and detail oriented parts and some people appreciate the basics in art.

One of Brunelleschi’s architectural plans, Santo Spirito, focuses on the basics. This architectural piece is symmetrical in the form of a cross and has a Gothic style to it. I found this structure interesting because it was simple in structure but I find the Gothic style more complex and I find the two together interesting. I got that sometimes two very different things can complement each other, even though you thought it might not have. The textbook describes this architectural structure as “… simplicity, harmonious proportion, and symmetry.” (pg. 247). 

Another architect that the textbook talked about is Donato Bramante, His architectural designs often have a round or dome structure to it. The Tempietto had a round shape and a dome top. This structure interested me because even though it was structurally different than the Santo Spirito is was similar in the space, not many people could be in the building at one time. It was also similar in symmetry, this, along with other architectural structures in this period.

What I got from these chapters was the different histories that the architectural design came from and the backgrounds of the architects. I found it interesting that the architects based their work on other architects and they made it their own. I think that studying other art and artists allow new artists to thrive, learn, and observe. Another thing I find interesting is the difference in the architectural designs between the early renaissance and the high renaissance. 

The art of architecture is different than a statue or painting, it is a lot bigger and often holds statues or paintings. I think the beauty of architecture is that sometimes it is overlooked, but is a structure that can be both appreciated and used. You can use buildings for many things, you can live in them, used them as museums, or as a place of worship. I think that understanding and appreciating the beauty of architecture is important.

I chose to focus on the architectural designs in this chapter because I have always had an interest in architecture. I was going to major in architecture in college but found something I am more passionate about. I still enjoy appreciating architecture and I am fascinated by different structures. I think that these chapters helped me to better understand the structures and the history behind them.

[thelavenderllama-blog]

I also enjoy the beauty of architecture, it’s truly fascinating! I like how your post went in depth about the architecture discussed in this week’s chapters. A sentence that stood out to me from your post was how some architects focus on complex structures and some focus on basic structures. Looking back at the different styles of architecture, it’s very interesting to see how architects model them!

[thelavenderllama-blog]

Chapters 15 & 16

This week’s readings discussed lots of things. I would like to talk about the points that stood out to me the most. In Chapter 15, it mentioned a few artists, such as Filippo Brunellschi, Masaccio, and Donatello. All of these artists’ work caught my eye because I have seen them before, but didn’t know who created them. Brunellschi worked on the Florence Cathedral Dome and the Santo Spirito. Masaccio made the popular “Holy Trinity”, and Donatello sculpted “David”. This chapter also talked about how state portraits became increasingly popular in Italy. It’s fascinating to see the difference between those portraits and the ones today.

Chapter 16 stood out to me more than the previous chapter. It discussed artists whose names I already knew. These included: Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo, and Raphael. Looking at these artists’ works, especially Leonardo da Vinci’s, in the chapter reminded me back when I was in high school. In art class I would see a handful of the paintings, but didn’t know much about the artists. I also found it interesting how Raphael painted himself in his work called “School of Athens”. 

[jmeier15-blog]

Week 2 blog post

In reading chapter 14, it was all about the Renaissance period and how it developed over that time period. I found that the paintings were interesting and was intriguing to see how different artists depicted very similar paintings with their own styles. For instance, the Madonna Enthroned painting by Cimabue and the Madonna Enthroned painting by Giotto. They are the same painting in general but each artists has their own way of representing the smaller aspects of it.

In the chapter, the paintings were interesting, however, I was more drawn to the sculptures. I found this odd for me as typically I like painting more than sculpture. I found that this era and style of art was not so much the style that I am drawn to. Whenever I am out driving or shopping or doing anything in my day to day, I like to look at different scenarios and scenery as what they would look like if I were to paint them or photograph them. Thinking of how would they differ from the actual moments I see visually is what draws me to art in general.

The sculptures by Claus Sluter, ‘Chartreuse de Champmol’ and 'Well of Moses’ are both very intricate in design. They are animated by the way the artist places the folds in the clothing and the way he brings realism to the statues as together they create a story.

In 'Chartreuse de Champmol’ he has Mary standing center gazing at baby Jesus while the others gaze at her adoring her child. Mary looks upon her child as though she sees no one else. I can relate to this statue in certain aspect. Having children myself, I can understand that moment shared between a mother and a new child. It’s as though the world around you disappears, the pain and fear from the past hours melt away as you gaze upon your newborn. There are even spectators that take in the moment of you and your new child, be it the father, your parents or anyone else close to you who was able to share in that moment. I believe that this moment is captured in this sculpture.

[thelavenderllama-blog]

I like how you mentioned artists viewing the same thing with different perspectives. I also found it really interesting to see the viewpoints by the two different artists. When connecting painting in your daily life, it reminded me of how the two artists painted the same thing, but with a different perspective. It’s truly fascinating to see the various types of styles, moods, and color.

[thelavenderllama-blog]

Chapter 14

This chapter discussed many topics about 14th century art/artists. The one section that stood out to me the most, though, was the International Gothic Style. The photos included in this section caught my eye more than the paintings discussed earlier and later in the chapter. Personally, I love seeing the different styles of architecture more than paintings. In this section, the book talked about Claus Sluter, a sculptor. I found it intriguing that he “transformed the representation of human figures.” 

This particular section in the chapter can relate to my life because, as I said before, I like to look at different architecture styles. When traveling, I always like to look for old houses, buildings, etc. I think it’s fascinating to see the beauty of each style. Learning about these styles is amazing. 

[oakesa-blog]

Week 1

Art interests me as an expression of the self and the ever-changing world around us. It is a dynamic self-reflection, a reimagining of what surrounds us and unites or divides us, representations of the wonders, adventures, and sometimes horrors that affect us as an individual and a species.

I am currently pursuing an AAS degree in Engineering technology. This course is not required but seemed interesting; there is nothing in particular that I hope to learn/cover/acquire. I am a lover of photography and all things colorful - Photography captures some of the most amazing things about our world, and bright mixes of beautiful color always bring me joy.

[thelavenderllama-blog]

I like how you explain art as a representation of everything around us. It’s truly amazing to see artists’ pieces and points of view. I also love the beauty of photography and colorful pieces!

The photo you included really caught my eye. I love all the colors in it! It definitely reminds me of summertime. 

[thelavenderllama-blog]

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: