Romantic Era

 Art Nouveau and Realist

Art Nouveau

I have chosen to do my comparison with Art Nouveau and Realist. I find something interesting in the Art Nouveau Artworks where Realist I am not too fond of. 

My first two pieces will be from Gustav Klimt. I have chosen him for his unique style. After almost dieing myself both of these paintings bring to me important things. Death, the circle of life, and making it through the stages of life. 

This painting Is called Death and Life by Gustav Klimt in 1910/1911 a couple years before the world was set on fire by the Great War. This painting is kept in the Leopold Museum. This painting brings something we all think about death. The painting on the left is very dark a skeleton armed with a club that is approaching the people holding onto themselves while almost grinning, waiting for them to open their eyes. 

On the right side is life. It has naked body parts that alternate with beautiful almost quilt-like colored decoration or ornamation. Every age group is represented.  There is a mother with her young child, a pair of lovers, and an old woman. Which shows a symbolism of life. They lay there and don't open their eyes while death is near. Like to ignore it. But also like they are looking within. For strength? Bond of each other holding them together? Or accepting their fate? Death might be able to come in and take life itself, but humanity as a whole though will always be able to elude his grasp. The contrast provides the impression that the presented characters in the painting are good and bad. Now this painting definitely brings out the deep emotions I have when thinking that death is always knocking at the door waiting for your time. 

This stunning painting is called The Three Stages of Woman and was painted by Gustav Klimt in 1905 with oil on canvas. Klimt's vision is rooted in the relationship between erotic power and the fatality of death. To me, there is something elegant in this painting. It brings the cycle of life. There is three figures in three different stages of life. The woman on the left looks very realistic and kind of expressive style. It is very different in contrast to the other two figures and backgrounds. The old age of the woman on the left is portrayed with beautiful accuracy and with careful detail. She stands with her head bowed and seems ready for her fate. Yet beside her is a young woman wrapped in a veil, you can tell she is happy from her face and maybe joyful of her age and life. She looks like a seductive woman. She looks like a young mother in her prime. She is heavily stylized with wavy hair and curvy soft shapes and strong contours of her body. Yet in her arms is a sleeping baby. Who looks much like her beautiful mother and seems happy, the mother supports her young child in a loving embrace. The background is dark and black, which is rare in Klimt's works. There is also a little gold and bronze./ The ornamental motifs around the two figures have different qualities. They reinforce the conflict one has between old age and death, represented by dark spots and the youth and child characterized by softer and delicate colors. There is light and dark in the background. The decorative circles are reminiscent of cells, maybe it could be an ova, but for sure it's a representative symbol of life and energy, while the black brings with it death. This brings out an emotional feeling of life and to not take if for granted.

I feel Gustav Klimt's message with his works is trying to light the cycle of life. We all come into life naked, we die naked and we all go through it and each stage has its own beauty.

Realist

This painting is called The Stone Breakers by Gustave Courbet. It was painted in 1849. Unlike my first two paintings which don't look realistic this painting Courbet wanted to show what was "real", so he painted two men doing real men's work. His Stonebreakers represented workers, as he had seen them, in monumental form.  Realism was a broad cultural movement in the 19th century that had its origin in literature and philosophy. In painting, its most prominent representative was actually Gustave Courbet. This painting it shows one man too old for back-breaking hard labor and one too young, which in turn shows the hardship and the exhaustion that the men endured at the time. Courbet made use of great line work, color, and composition but his brushwork is a little rough in this painting. This brings on the emotions of hardships and I feel that these guys are a slave to their work. 

The Stonebreakers was actually destroyed during the bombing of Dresden in 1945, and was one of his best works. 

This painting is called Woman in Waves by French realism painter Gustave Courbet in 1868. It is painted in oil on canvas 25 3/4 in x 21 1/4 in. It is now stored in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This painting is very realistic and you can see the different tones of her skin and the underarm hair. Between 1864 and 1868 Courbet took on a series of female nude paintings. This was actually painted at Pont-Aven in Northwest France, she seems to be throwing herself into the sea which at the time is a metaphor for a modern European woman who is forsaking civilization and going to abandon herself to the most natural instinct, primal. Courbet is considered a Symbolist. He makes sure to use soft color tones and curvy and gentle lines. This makes me feel very feminine and that you should always feel good in your skin. This would be a neat one to have in the bedroom at home. 

I think the message Gustave Courbet is trying to say is his art insists on the physical reality of things that he has observed and wants to bring them to light. Like the two men old and young still a slaves to their work in both stages of life. He wants to bring out the truth to his paintings.

Death and Life, 1908 by Gustav Klimt, www.gustav-klimt.com/Death-And-Life.jsp. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024.

The Morality and the Art of the Classical Era

Today I have chosen to do my blog on The Morality and the Art of the Classical Era. What does this mean? What does this represent? Well follow along and I'll share with you my view as I see it.

Art throughout the 18th century made major changes. They were on their way to braking from tradition. This was called the Enlightenment period and artists and critics were emboldened to demand greater naturalism or realism in art, in style and subject matter. They gave up ideals of perfect balance, unity and harmony and moved on to focus more on showing drama, and lots of emotion. In the Classical Era, we are going to talk about two types of art. The Rocco and the Neoclassical which was the anti-rococo. Both are different, yet so very important. Through the artwork that I am showing you today, we will see different types of morality. And how the painter shows you this through their artwork. 

Morality is shown in different ways throughout. But in the Rococo period which came first, it wasn't popular. When it came to the neoclassical era it played a huge part in their artwork. This is one of the biggest differences between both of these styles. The Rococo style originated in Paris, France in the early 18th century. But not long later it was adopted throughout France and later in other countries. Neoclassical originated in Rome, a much different culture and country in the mid-18th century. Based on the ancient Greek and Roman models.

Rococo style shows scenes of love, nature, youthfulness, lightness, and elegance while there might be some drama. French ideals. Many of the artworks in this period show aristocratic women out in the forest or meadows enjoying different activities. The visual arts within the Rococo period went beyond interior decoration and this style of the period shows in the paintings and sculptures.

The first piece I have chosen is considered to be one of the masterpieces in the Rococo period. I think it is a great symbol of the period. 

History

This is an oil painting painting is called The Swing or Happy Accidents on the Swing by a French artist named Jean-Honoré Fragonard. The Baron, Saint-Julien wanted to have a painting made of him with his mistress. It was painted in London, United Kingdom in 1767. It is displayed in the Wallace Collection at the Hertford House, Manchester Square London.

Analysis

This is a typical Rococo setting, showing something peaceful, an outdoor setting with trees and some brush showing the happiness of the aristocrats. I want you to look at this picture. She is on a swing and is being flirtatious, and mischievous while she throws her shoe off toward her lover. While he is in the bushes, he looks like he is looking right up at her dress, at her legs? Or something more? Did this shock him so he fell into the bushes? Do you see the sculpture up in the top left? A Putto, which is known as a symbol of love, has his finger to his lips, telling us to shhh. Inviting the spectator into their secret? What about the guy on the bottom left in the dark? The Swing is a symbol of sexuality and erotic love. It also depicts individual freedom to me as she is on the swing. Frogard draws us in with the visual humor, double entendre, and loaded symbols that reward you if you choose to look closely. The lighting in the artwork is coming from the upper left-hand corner and comes down to the woman making me think it is trying to show light on her. Some diagonals help to direct the focus in a baroque style though that leads into the Rococo style. This painting shows some themes from the movement like the power and influence of the aristocracy, pastel colors that have a painterly style, lingering Baroque characteristics, shows sexual, mischievous love. These are themes that are usually spread out. But it is neat to see them all here too. This is an interesting painting and brings some interesting emotions but I wouldn't want it in my house. 

The second piece I've chosen stunning piece of artwork is called Oath of the Haratii and was painted by Jacques-Louis David.

History
 It was painted with oil on canvas in 1784 and is 3.3 x 4.25m in size. It is on display at the Louvre in Paris, France. The story of Oath of the Haratii came from a Roman legond came from a group of Romans and a rival group from a town not to far away called Alba. During this time they didn't want a war so they elected some representatives to find a solution. The Romans select Haratii and Albans choose three brothers. In the painting, it shows Haratii taking an oath to protect Rome.

Analysis

This painting was a royal commission and was manifested for the new style, neoclassicism. Look at the artwork, you can see patriotism, action, reason, and some self-sacrifice. While I look at it it gives me intense emotion. You feel what this guy is getting ready to do. Pay the ultimate price to his people and country. Something that hits close to home for me. As my husband spent a year and a half in Bagdad and Mozul for the Iraq War. I feel that this painting is a perfect example of how neoclassical paintings were meant to bring a spark to the people to do the right "moral" thing when it comes time. This type of artwork has yet to go away through the centuries. You can even see it today. Morality is shown through the years in different ways in artwork and other things. This also shows Greek and Roman influence through their attire. There is three elements in the picture. The father, sons and the women. The painting is split between the father holding the swords and the brothers and the women who are holding eachother since they resigned to their fate. But the focal point is the swords that old Horatius is about to give to his sons. David highlights enlightenment ideas with strong angular male features and passive curving features of the women.  It has strong, raking light, and has clear definitions of space to emphasize moral principles, unlike Rococo paintings. 

I think this painting is beautiful. I would love a copy of this in a living room. I love the patriotism and moral meanings in this painting. 

For my third choice, I have chosen Death of Socrates by a French painter Jacques Louis David. 

History

This artwork was painted in 1787 in oil on canvas and is 129.5 cm x 196.2 cm.  It's part of the neoclassical style. This is the only one of the three I've chosen that is displayed in the U.S. Its location is the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Rather than a royal commission, David received a direct private commission for the work in 1787 from a wealthy Charles-Michel Trudaine de la Sabliére, the youngest of the Trudaine de Montigny and around 20 yrs old at the time. The story behind is Socrates has been convicted of going and corrupting the youth of Athens by introducing weird and strange gods, so they have sentenced him to die by drinking a drink that is poisoned with hemlock. So Socrates sees that he can use his death as a final lesson for his pupils instead of running away and fleeing when a chance comes along. 

Analysis

David uses color in this painting to bring out emotions and highlight them. For instance the color red is dimmed in the edges of the painting but vibrant in the center, which is the man holding the poison. The message is that it is noble and moral to stand up for one's own principles and beliefs. The painting is so dark overall but there is intense lighting that provides the main visual contrast. Socrates is painted with a white robe surrounded by his students and followers who show emotions of distress in the face of his possible death. His flesh and the robe are shown with light, which shows contrasting high value. There is horizontal and vertical placement of lines. There is a system of right angles on a grid structure that helps to enforce the rational decisions of Socrates's actions. Moralizing themes were again popular throughout this era. Socrates was given a choice to renounce his beliefs or take the poison and he chose to take the poison. This painting plays upon morality. Moralizing themes were immensely populor in the tumultuous period that preceded the French Revolution.

This is another interesting painting that brings out emotions in me again, and you just feel for Socrates. I think this would be something I might like a print of in an office or something like that. 

Rogers, and Gough Hartley. “Chapter 14: Rococo and Neoclassical Art.” Chapter 14: Rococo and Neoclassical Art, BYU Open Learning Network, 1 Jan. 1970, open.byu.edu/history_of_the_fine_arts_music/rococo_and_neoclassical_art. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024

Bruckbauer, Dr. Ashley. “Jean-Honoré Fragonard, the Swing.” Smarthistory, smarthistory.org/jean-honore-fragonard-the-swing/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.

“The Death of Socrates (Y1982-82).” Princeton University, The Trustees of Princeton University, artmuseum.princeton.edu/collections/objects/32792. Accessed 20 Mar. 2024.

Hale, Charlotte, and Silvia A. Centeno. “The Death of Socrates: New Discoveries.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 5 May 2022, www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/articles/2022/5/the-death-of-socrates-new-discoveries. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024

McCoy, Claire Black. “David, Oath of the Horatii (Article).” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/later-europe-and-americas/enlightenment-revolution/a/david-oath-of-the-horatii. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.