Red Lotus

 

Qi Baishi, Red Lotus, 1975.

Qi Baishi’s original name is Qi Huang. He was born in the year 1864 and passed away in the year 1957. Some of Qi’s major influences include the Ming Dynasty artist Xu Wei and the early Qing Dynasty painter Zhu Da. The subjects he usually paints are animals, scenery, figures, vegetables, etc. He began his interest in the arts of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal-carving in his own efforts. He began travelling in his forties. He met his mentor at the Shanghai School named Wu Chanshuo, who was a huge influence on him. Another big influence was Chen Shizeng. He mainly used heavy ink, bright colors and vigorous strokes. He was elected president of the Association of Chinese Artists and was the president until he passed away (“Qi Baishi,” n.d.). He mastered the ability of suggesting the essence of his subject with a few brief strokes (“Asian Antiquities,” 2012).

I chose this painting because it is a simple but beautiful flower. As I look at the painting, the red color draws my attention the most. He uses a contrast of black and grays along a long with red for the flower allowing all our attention to go to the flower.

Works Cited

“Asian Antiquities.” – Chinese Artists Chinese Painting,  Wu Changshuo,  Qi Baishi,  Huang Binhong,   Xu Beihong, Asian Art,. Asian Antiquities, 2012. Web. 24 July 2012. http://asian-antiquites.com/artist_biographies_pg_1

“Chinese Art Paintings.” Chinese Flower Painting. Wei Yang Chinese Art, LLC, 2007. Web. 24 July 2012. http://www.chineseartpaintings.com/4qbs001f.html

“Qi Baishi.” Paintings. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 July 2012. http://www.chinaonlinemuseum.com/painting-qi-baishi.php

Kassulo Kwenda

Kassulo Kwenda, Antognoni Brunhoso, 1993.

I decided to explore African paintings and came across this beautiful piece. It is by Antognoni Brunhoso.

Antognoni Brunhoso was born in Malange, Angola on January 7, 1962, which is one year after the start of the Angolan revolution and the struggle for independence. In 1975, he celebrated the independence of Angola in Malange and also experienced the beginning of the civil war. He moved to Luanda then Portugal and lastly, Amsterdam where he furthered his art (De Jonge, n.d.).

I selected this work because first of all, it is very colorful. It also appealed to me as I was scrolling through many other African pieces because there were animals, flowers, birds and a tree. It reminds me of going on a safari or the jungle. Although, you cannot see it well, but there is water. All colors blend together well.  I think it would be a perfect piece for a stain glassed window.

Works Cited

De Jonge, Enno. “Antognoni Brunhoso Cyber-Exposition.” Antognoni Brunhoso Cyber-Exposition. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 July 2012. http://www.africaserver.nl/virtual/exhibitions/antognoni/

 

3D Pavement Art

Paintings that make people’s eyes go 0_o. This is what I chose, 3D pavement art. I chose this because they are very realistic and it definitely tricks your mind into thinking the illusion real. Julian Beever is one of the artists that create 3D illusions on sidewalks.

Julian Beever started painting in began pavement art as a busker, drawing in different countries including the USA, Australia and Europe to fund his travels and began anamorphic pavement illusions in early 90’s. He developed his 3 dimensional or “anamorphic” pavement drawings out of curiosity and a love of the medium. These became well known in early 2000’s and commercial commissions followed (“Julian Beever,” 2012).

 

Justin Beever, Coke.

Justin Beever’s work Coke is a great illusion because it looks like there’s actually a big bottle of Coke there. The reflection of the bottle also looks very realistic.  

 

Justin Beever, Portable Computer, The Strand, London.

A Sony Vaio on concrete! This definitely is an eye-catching 3-D painting. It looks as if I can just lay there on the cement and type! I probably would too.

 

Justin Beever, Make Poverty History.

I like this painting because the earth is very well painted. The colors are almost identical to a real globe and the continents are perfectly drawn.

 

Kurt Wenner, Ghetto.

I like this painting because it reminds me of Greek mythology and the Renaissance. The painter also uses great tenebrism.  

 

Kurt Wenner, The Last Judgment.

I definitely like this painting because it’s one of the most popular paintings of The Last Judgment. It was signed to be Sacred Art by the Pope.

Kurt Wenner, Echo and Narcissus.

I love this picture because it looks like he’s swimming and it also has a reflection of him. It also reminds me of Greek mythology and Renaissance art.

All these works put together are a very creative use of art. It reminds me of the ceiling Fresco with Trompe l’oeuil done by Andrea Pozzo.

Works Cited

“Kurt Wenner, Master Artist and Master Architect.” Kurt Wenner, Master Artist and Master Architect. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 July 2012. http://kurtwenner.com/index.htm

Dutoit, Nancy. “Julian Beever | Official Website.” Julian Beever | Official Website. N.p., 2012. Web. 13 July 2012. http://www.julianbeever.net/index.php?option=com_content

Dreams

Jacob Lawrence, Dreams #1, 1965.

Jacob Lawrence was the first American artist of African descent to receive sustained mainstream recognition in the United States. His success came early at the age of twenty-four but lasted almost uninterrupted until his death in June 2000. His renown is mostly in his Migration series, in which he documents the migration of blacks from Africa to America, focusing mostly on their history in the South (“Eyeconart…,” n.d). Lawrence repeated motifs, shapes, and words throughout his narrative series. In The Migration Series, the repetition of an enlarged single spike or nail, chain links or lattice, hands, and the hammer act as refrains in the lives, experiences, and struggles of African Americans (“Jacob Lawrence…,” 2002).

The title of this painting caught my eye: Dreams #1. This painting was influenced by African Americans. The title, along with the picture, has a lot of significance to it. African Americans had experienced so many struggles and to name a piece of artwork Dreams probably meant a lot to the artist and the people. Also, the detail that first caught my eye was the primary colors used: the red, yellow, white and black colors. The painting displays Lawrence’s superlative knowledge of color, which is striking in its economy and elegant simplicity. The face of the man seems to be as if he is suffering or in agony.  The yellow bars suggest the bars of a jail cell. The nightmare is also embodied in the devilish figures framed in the rectangles formed by the brass bars of the bed, which they cannot escape (“Jacob Lawrence,” n.d.).

Works Cited

 “Eyeconart: The Harlem Renaissance.” Eyeconart: The Harlem Renaissance. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 July 2012. http://robinurton.com/history/Harlem.htm

“Jacob Lawrence.” Jacob Lawrence. New Britain Museum of American Art, n.d. Web. 03 July 2012. http://www.nbmaa.org/timeline_highlights/essays/lawrence.html

“Jacob Lawrence: Exploring Stories.” Jacob Lawrence: Exploring Stories. Whitney Museum of American Art, 2002. Web. 03 July 2012. http://whitney.org/www/jacoblawrence/art/painting_method.html

Impressionism

 

Vincent Van Gogh, Starry Night, 1889, Saint-Remy, France.

 

Claude Monet, Le Bateau-atelier, 1876.

Impressionism “depicted a fleeting moment, an impression,” Impressionism was characterized by sketchy lines, loose brush strokes and dabs of color that blend together. The favorite subject matter was: the transitory effects of light and weather; the amusements and pastimes of the middle and upper classes; pleasant moments; and did not focus on traditional subject matter such as history and classical antiquities and religion. Frequently the painters worked outdoors (“Art Music…,” n.d.).

Van Gogh’s painting Starry Night is a perfect example of Post-Impressionism. The bright stars and moon, the way the wind is moving, it’s all so free and peaceful. The city below, perhaps, demonstrates serenity. Also, the thing that interests me the most is the brush on the left side. This sky keeps the viewer’s eyes moving about the painting, following the curves and creating a visual dot to dot with the stars. This movement keeps the onlooker involved in the painting while the other factors take hold (“Vincent Van Gogh: Starry Night,” n.d.). Van Gogh’s paintings were supposed to present emotion: dramatic, lyrically rhythmic, imaginative, and emotional (Vincent Van Gogh: Biography,” n.d.).

 

Thomas Moran, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, 1872.

 

Thomas Cole, The Oxbow, 1836.

Romanticism is different from Impressionism. Like the Baroque era, artists wanted to elicit emotions and feelings. The favorite subject matter was mists, fantastic, exotic, world of dreams, and fabulous landscapes. Horrible tragedies and injustices were also ideal Romantic subject matter. Romantic painting was noted as a floating, inexact style, or attitude. The artist was seen as creator that reflected God’s power in their genius (“Art Music…,” n.d.).

Thomas Cole and Thomas Moran were in the Hudson River School during the Romantic Era. The Hudson River School mainly focused on landscape paintings. Many of these paintings were realistically descriptive and features tranquil and beautiful pastoral settings where nature and man existed peacefully. They held a reverence for nature as a manifestation of God. The techniques that the painters used for creating the illusion of light was known as luminism (“Art Music…,” n.d.).

Comparing these paintings from the Impression and Romantic eras, we can definitely see the differences. The technique is very different. In van Gogh’s painting its so freehanded and sketchy, while in Moran and Cole’s paintings, the strokes are so carefully detailed.  In Moran and Cole’s paintings, we can see how clear and vivid everything is.

Although Romantic paintings were more clear and detailed, I would have to stay I like the Impressionistic style more. It’s so abstract and all the colors are put together to create a masterpiece. I would prefer a more creative, imaginative painting than a detailed picture of a landscape.

Works Cited

“Art Music Theater F200.” 5.4- Visual Arts in the Romantic Era. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 June 2012. http://amtf200.community.uaf.edu/2009/04/24/03-visual-arts-3/

“Oil Painting Reproduction Studio.” Oil Painting Reproduction Studio. N.p., 2004. Web. 21 June 2012. http://www.huntfor.com/absoluteig/gallery.asp?action=viewimage

“Vincent Van Gogh: Biography.” Vincent Van Gogh Gallery. N.p., 2012. Web. 21 June 2012. http://www.vangoghgallery.com/misc/bio.html

 “Vincent Van Gogh: Starry Night.” Vincent Van Gogh Gallery. N.p., 2012. Web. 21 June 2012. http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/starryindex.html

5th Symphony

Ludwig Van Beethoven. 5^th Symphony. 1804-1808. Vienna, Austria.

Ludwig Van Beethoven was born on about December 16, 1770, in the city of Bonn (“Ludwig Van…,” n.d.). His career had three distinct periods. First period was until 1802 and is where he wrote conventionally, following Haydn and Mozart. Second period, the Heroic period between 1803 and 1814 is where his works become more dramatic and longer in length, and the famous 5^th Symphony is from this period. Last period is where he explored new territory, departing from Classical constraints and his greatest symphony, the 9^th Symphony, is considered the first symphony of the Romantic era. Some of his works include 3^rd Symphony, 8^th Symphony, and 6^th Symphony. He started losing his hearing at about 20 years old, however, he kept composing (Prevot, 2001).

The 5^th Symphony was written between 1804 and 1808 and finally performed in Vienna in 1808. It comprises of four movements: opening sonata, an andante, and a fast scherzo which leads attacca to the finale. He dedicated this work to Prince Franz Joseph von Lobkowitz and Count Razumovsky (“Symphony No. 5…,” 2012).

This work is considered a natural continuation of Symphony No. 3, “Eroica”, because it approaches the same themes and it expresses the relationship between particular and general (“Beethoven’s Symphony…,” n.d.).

It is related to the middle period because during this period, there was a widespread demand for arts.  Also, the key of the Fifth Symphony, C minor, is commonly regarded as a special key for Beethoven, specifically a “stormy, heroic tonality” which was the center of many themes during this era. It is thought to symbolize “fate” knocking at the door (“Symphony No. 5…,” 2012).

I like this piece of the 5^th Symphony by Beethoven because it sounds like a mystery is going on, or sort of like it is telling a story. I mean, when I listen to it without watching the YouTube video, I think of it as a story being told using fast-paced and slow-paced music. Fast-paced would indicate like a chase or a mystery of some sort. When it is slow-paced, I think of it as a place of finally resting or taking a break. I have heard this piece many, many times in different cartoons, TV shows, and the radio.

 

Works Cited

“Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. The Destiny Symphony.” Beethoven 5th Symphony|Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5| The Destiny Symphony. All About Beethoven. Web. 07 June 2012. http://www.all-about-beethoven.com/symphony5.html

“Ludwig Van Beethoven Biography.” Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 07 June 2012. http://www.biography.com/people/ludwig-van-beethoven-9204862

“Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven).” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 06 June 2012. Web. 07 June 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._5_(Beethoven)

Prevot, Dominique, and Hannah Salter. “Biography: Beethoven’s Life – Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Website – Dominique PRÉVOT.” Biography: Beethoven’s Life. Dec. 2001. Web. 07 June 2012. http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Bio/BiographyLudwig.html

The Astronomer

Johannes Vermeer. The Astronomer. 1668. Louvre, Paris.

Johannes Vermeer is a Dutch painter born in the year 1632. He is thought to stay in his hometown of Delft for most of his life. He mostly painted works of women, although he did paint a man in these two paintings.“The Geographer” created in 1668-1669 is thought to be a pendant to “The Astronomer.” It is thought that the same person is in both pieces, possibly Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. A few of Vermeer’s works include “Girl with the Pearl Earring,” “The Music Lesson,” and “The Girl with the Wine Glass” (“Johannes Vermeer,” 2012).

“The Astronomer” is a great piece. I like it because it contrasts light from dark, which is a work of tenebrism. It also displays the light from the window, which he displays so perfectly on the face, table, and wall. He displays the shadows on the wall from the dresser so accurately. It also captures the quietness, peacefulness and concentration of his profession, something very unique and special. The book on the table is Metius’s “Institutiones Astronomicae Geographicae.” It is thought to be on Book III, seeking inspiration from God. The painting on the wall is of Moses, which is thought to symbolize knowledge and science (“The Astronomer,” 2012). This painting is very inspiring because how it represents how much we have discovered and acquired in science today.

“The Geographer,” below, is thought to be a pendant to “The Astronomer.” They are very similar. First, it is the same model. The globe, books, dresser, clothing, and table cloth are all in the picture. Also, there’s a signature or date as well (near the globe in “The Astronomer” and on the wall in “The Geographer”). They are both studying and thinking. Vermeer symbolizes the expansion of scientific knowledge so significantly, in both “The Astronomer” and “The Geographer.”

Works Cited

“Johannes Vermeer.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 06 June 2012. Web. 06 June 2012.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Vermeer

“The Astronomer (Vermeer).” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 May 2012. Web. 06 June 2012.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Astronomer_(painting)

“The Geographer.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 May 2012. Web. 06 June 2012.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Geographer

Madonna and Chancellor Rolin

Jan van Eyck. Madonna and Chancellor Rolin. 1435. Louvre, Paris.

Jan van Eyck was active in the time of the Northern Renaissance and is considered one of the best artists of that time. The date of his birth is unknown (possibly before 1395). He moved to the city of Bruges, which was the favorite city of the Dukes of Burgundy. He entered service for the powerful and influential Philip the Good (“Jan Van Eyck,” 2012). The Medici Family also opened up a branch of their bank in Bruges, which opened many doors for opportunities. The Medici family also supported many painters and architects. Van Eyck is credited with the invention of the oil-glazing technique, which replaced the earlier egg-tempera method (“The Northern Renaissance,” n.d.). A few of his paintings include “Portrait of Giovanni Amolfini and his Wife,” “The Ghent Altarpiece,” and “Madonna in the Church.

This artwork “Madonna and Chancellor Rolin,” illustrates the influence of royalty on van Eyck. In the picture is Chancellor Rolin, Duchy of Burgundy. This painting first caught my eye because of the angel placing the crown onto the Virgin’s head. The baby is on “platform” on the Virgin’s legs, which means it is on the “Throne of Wisdom,” while being blessed by Rolin. The book is thought to be the “Book of Hours,” a devotional book (“Madonna of Chancellor…,” 2012). Eyck shows in great detail the beautiful architecture: the carvings on the walls, the tile on the floor, and the glass windows. Of course the scenery outside is gorgeous: the children enjoying the view, the town to the left and right, the mountains, the river and the bridge. The features of their clothing are in fine quality, as well as the hems of each robe.

Works Cited

“Jan Van Eyck.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 May 2012. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_van_Eyck&gt;.

“Madonna of Chancellor Rolin.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 May 2012. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_of_Chancellor_Rolin&gt;.

“The Northern Renaissance.” The Northern Renaissance. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://robinurton.com/history/Renaissance/northrenaiss.htm&gt;.

Intro —

Hello! I’m Marceline Lee and I’m looking forward to this class! Very exciting 🙂