Impressionism and Post Impressionism

Monica Vazquez

HUA 101.1301

Professor Harmon

November 1, 2013

Impressionism and Post Impressionism

Describe the difference between these two styles and explain how European colonization changes art in this time period.

During the period of Impressionism artwork begins to change, instead of sticking to the romanticism and academic doctrines, artist began to paint based on what they saw in contemporary life. In 1874 they began painting outdoors. The artist started painting based on what they saw outside and it was mostly in constantly changing conditions. Some pieces of art are based on direct observation, and some pieces of art have many paintings where the artists are capturing different points of view while drawing the same scenery. During the Impressionist period the artists would use small dabs of pure color placing them close to each other so when the art piece is seen from far away you capture one complete image when the artist is done with his individual brush strokes. By doing this the artists capture a vibrancy that cannot be captured by mixing colors alone.

In 1885 the post impressionism period begins. While the impressionist period was about capturing the moment and sketching immediately, artist from the post-impressionist time period wanted to add personal expression and spiritual content. Artist like Seurat wanted to systemize the optical color mixing of impression, and at the same time he wanted to create a solid and form organization with simplified shapes. This method of painting is known as pointillism. The post-impressionist artist not only wanted to see nature, but they wanted to see passed it, they wanted to make their feelings and thoughts visible.

European colonization gave many artist new inspirations. One of the inspirations in this time period was the Native American female ghost-dance dresses. The Native Americans draw birds, an eagle, a pipe and a woman in their dresses. The birds are said to represent messengers to the spirit world, and the women believe this ghost-dance dress is supposed to protect from gun shots that were being fired from the Europeans during a massacre in South Dakota.

MET - Renaissance and Baroque Art

Monica Vazquez

HUA 101.1301

Professor Harmon

October 25, 2013

Renaissance- Baroque Galleries



     Mars and Venus United by Love created by renaissance artist Paolo Veronese is displayed today in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This Italian Renaissance painting was completed in the 1570’s and the medium used is oil on canvas. The painting of Mars and Venus United by Love is 81 inches long by 63 inches wide. During the renaissance you begin to see warmer colors added to the paintings, the background begins to appear as if there was space, and Venus has some facial expression unlike the other serious artworks previously done. Mars and Venus United by Love appear to be more realistic and it focuses on mythology instead of holy images from bible.  Venus appears to have a small smile on her face; it looks like she is happy to be with her lover and cupid.  Things appear to be bigger in the foreground then they are in the background. The sky’s horizon point can be seen on the left side of the painting, making it look more realistic than most of the previous artworks that did not capture space.

 



     The painting of Samson Captured by the Philistines was an art piece done by an artist of the baroque period, Giovanni Francesco Barbieri who was known as Guercino. The art piece of Samson Captured by the Philistines dates back 1619, Guercino’s medium was also oil on canvas. Art in the baroque period is asymmetrical, very dramatic and has contrast in light and dark. All of these features are also found in Samson Captured by the Philistines, most of the light is focused on Samson’s back. Although we cannot see Samson’s face, as his back is to us in the center of the painting his emotions are clear to us as we see him try to fight off the Philistines. Delilah also has some light focused on her but as we reach the top right side of the painting, the Philistines are darken making the top much darker, taking the in the contrasting dark part of the painting. The top left side of the painting has dark clouds, suggesting a dramatic intense atmosphere, one in which we can see the deceit and betrayal Delilah has brought on to him.

 

Simon Schama’s Rembrandt

Monica Vazquez

Professor Harmon

HUA 101.1301

October 25, 2013

Simon Schama’s Rembrandt

1. Describe the portrait of the fur merchant. Why is he “the business man’s hero”? 

     The portrait of the fur merchant is portrait of the merchant wearing one of his own fur coats. In the painting his fur coat is captured very detailed, each hair of his coat looks very realistic, almost as if were a real coat and not a painting. The look on the merchant’s eyes is described as sharp and his features are very clearly detailed. His head is tilted slightly and the shadow behind it makes him appear thoughtful. The bags under his eyes make him look tired, it looks so realistic that we can imagine this is exactly what he looked like.

     A reason he can be the business man’s hero is because of the way he is captured. He is captured like a hardworking man who has deprived himself of sleep in order to produce work to be proud of. He’s portrait captures him as a working man, yet he proud to show off his fur coat which he has worked so hard to make. By capturing him this way Rembrandt creates “the businessman’s hero” in his portrait.

2. What is the mood of the portrait of the 83 year old woman?

      In the portrait of the 83 year old woman, Rembrandt projects the mood of melancholy and vulnerability. Her droopy eyelids and her sad eyes soften the face of this 83 year old woman. “She awaits to meet the accountant in the sky,” she looks uncertain of something, almost as if she fears that her time of death is near. 

3. What is Rembrandt communicating in his painting of Sampson& Delilah?

Sampson and Delilah is a portrait of love and betrayal. While most artist paint him nude, he dresses him, making him more vulnerable and sensitive. The knot on his waist is a representation of him and his lover, almost as if it is tying them together. The man in the back is coming for Sampson while Delilah holds him. Together the piece shows both tender love and brutal betrayal

Renaissance and Baroque Art

Monica Vazquez

HUA 101.1301

Professor Harmon

October 18, 2013

Renaissance and Baroque Art

1. Why was the Medici family so important in the development of the Renaissance?

The Medici family plays an important role to the development of the Renaissance because of the greatest artist and thinkers they hire and protect. In return they will create many important works of art that the Medici sponsor. One very important work of art is the Dome created by Brunelleschi that would not have been completed without the help of the Medici. Another significant work of art was done by Donatello, another hired artist and close friend of Cosimo de ’Medici.
2. Why was Donatello's David so revolutionary?

The bronze sculpture Donatello creates of David is so revolutionary because of what it represents. Since ancient Rome it is the first nude sculpture that is also free standing. It was also frowned upon by many in the renaissance because the statue is said to celebrate young David’s sensuality.
3. Describe this sculpture in detail.

The sculpture of David created by Donatello depicts a young teenager, wearing nothing but his hat and boots. Young David is looking down so part of his face is covered by his hat. One of his hands is on his waist while the other is holding a sword. He is standing on top of a helmet that is supposed to have Goliath’s head inside. Standing on Goliath’s helmet is a way of showing David’s victory. Coming out of the helmet is a long feather that goes up most of David’s thigh. This symbolizes David’s sensuality as the feather caresses his leg.

 

Assignment 3 - Color Theory

1. Analogous optical mixture

2. Complementary vibration

Intro Design Principles

Monica Vazquez

HUA 101.1301

Professor Harmon

October 9, 2013

Intro Design Principles

1. How does an artist create asymmetrical balance?

     To create asymmetrical balance in a painting the artist will have a difference in color balance on opposite sides of his or her painting. Thomas Cole’s painting The Oxbow is an example of asymmetrical balance. In his painting the top left is cloudy with dark colors along most of the left side. The right side shows land in a light yellowish color with clear bright skies. While one side is dark and appears to be shadowy, the other side is lighter and it seems as if it were sunny. Since warm colors are heavier than cool colors the yellowish land on the bottom right it is able to balance out the darkness on the other side of the painting.

2. Describe several ways used to unify an artwork?

     To unify an art piece, the artwork should be balanced. Several Circles, by Wassily Kandinsky uses many circles of different colors and sizes to create unity in his painting. The repetitions of dark and light colors he uses balance each other out, creating a piece that makes all elements fit in with each other. By doing this it seem like everything belongs together creating a balanced composition.

3. How is scale change the meaning of an artwork?

     Scale and proportion change the meaning of artworks depending on the scale that is being changed. In The Great Wave off Kanagawa created by Katsushika Hokusai the people that are in the boats appear smaller than a human being could possibly be. The boats also look small compared to the giant wave that is about to attack them. The wave looks mighty and powerful compared to the tiny people on these two boats going towards it.  The size of the sea, the boats and the people depend on the artist. Although this is not how big a person really is, the size relation changes the meaning of what is out of scale. Making something look bigger or smaller than what it should actually appear changes the perspective in that art piece and what it’s representing.

Ancient Egyptian and Greek Art

Monica Vazquez

HUA 101.1301

Professor Harmon

September 4, 2013

Antiquity:  Prehistory, Egyptian and Greek Art

     Ancient Greek art is well known for its accuracy in their sculptures during what is now known as classical Greece. Most sculptures have accurate ratios, and use both relaxed and modest poses. Kouros is an ancient Greek sculpture from the archaic period that dates back to 590-580 B.C. This marble statue is a free-standing sculpture that represents male youth. Ancient Greek art tries to capture the person being carved on a stone in the most natural ways possible. These sculptures are life size and are very aesthetically pleasing due to the actual mathematical calculations done in order to achieve creating ideal sculptures. Like most ancient Greek sculptures Kouros is naked in a front facing position with his weight being evenly distributed. The statue of Kouros also has with his arms straight on his sides, and his left foot slightly forward similar to the sculptures of the ancient Egyptians.

     The ancient Egyptians were surrounded by the desert on both sides of the Nile River, not only did this prevent outside influences from coming into their community, it also helped maintain their own distinctive styles. One thing the ancient Egyptians are well known for is the symbolism in which they believe in. Some important symbols are the statues of pharaohs; they represent ancient rulers with great strength and power. The kneeling statue of Hatshepsut belongs to the period of the New Kingdom. Hatshepsut is an originator of ancient Egypt during Dynasty 18. The statue of the female pharaoh Maatkare Hatshepsut is made of granite and is about twenty-eight inches in height. Hatshepsut, like other pharaohs wears the cobra on her headpiece which signifies that she is a pharaoh.

 

Kouros

The Kneeling Statue of Hatshepsut

Africa, Oceana and the Americas

Monica Vazquez

HUA 101.1301

Professor Harmon

September 27, 2013

Metropolitan Museum of the Arts: Africa, Oceana, and the Americas

     The Gable Ornament originates from the Big Nambas people, who originate from the northwest of the Malakula Island, a part of Oceana in the mid-20^th century. The Gable Ornament is made out of fern wood, just over three feet in length and a foot in width. This ornament is called “P’naret” to the Big Nambas people. These intriguing ornaments made of wood were kept in the men’s ceremonial houses. They were put there believing that these sculptures of the ancestors could punish them through supernatural forces if one of the men entering or leaving the ceremonial house had broken or violated one of their laws. These wooden ornaments are usually carved with the faces of the founders of the ceremonial houses. Although the carvings represented the founders the faces are always drawn in a disproportionate way. The nostrils are carved to take up a large portion of the carving. The lips are drawn very low at the end of the sculpture leaving little to no space for the chin. The eyes are small and are being covered by the big and uneven cheekbones, one to be larger than and rounder than the other.

     In the Mesoamerican collection the head of the rain god comes from the Mayan-Toltec belief in the 10^th and 11^th century. The Yucatan peninsula was native land of the Mayans, and Tlaloc was the representation of the rain god, who is important if the country of Mexico and the Mayan-Toltec area.  The head is made of limestone, carved out to represent a male figure with detailed features. The eyes are drawn slightly bigger than normal with what appears to be facial jewelry around the eyes, forehead, and his ears. His teeth are also drawn very neatly showing just the top of his teeth with his mouth slightly opened. Although the nose appears to be slightly damaged, the head of the rain god Tlaloc appears to be remain in good condition after so many years.

The Rain God Tlaloc

                

                              The Gable Ornament