Assignment # 5

Assignment # 4

Impressionism

Impressionism is a style of painting that started in France around the 1870s. During this time artist painted quickly to help capture the image that was being seen. Artist started to take their canvases outdoors and painted impressions of what the eye actually sees instead of what the mind knows. Artist painted using direct observation of landscapes and ordinary scenes in many weather conditions, seasons, and times of day. They studied physics of light and color to show different perspectives of light. Using small dabs of color and small strokes to capture light and mood of specific movement as well as the transition effect of natural light and color. Open from was also used during this time.

Post-Impressionism

Post-impressionism is a term that applied to many personal styles of paintings by artist living in France during 1885 through 1900s. Artist during this period showed form, symbolism, expressiveness, and psychological intensity in their paintings. Expressionist and formalist are two groups that artist were defined by during this time. Artist believed in free interpretation of nature and not too see things but to see through them. The elements that help define this period of paintings are bold simplified shapes and flat color areas. Strong use of line and color with lots of rhythm. Pointillism which is a system using tiny dots of color was also used during this time also known a divisionism. 

Assignment # 3

     The fourteenth through the sixteenth centuries of history was known as the renaissance period. Renaissance classified by classical art, learning and literature. During this time masterpieces were created by brilliant artist. Shift in beliefs were changed by an artistic movement called humanism. Humanism is a cultural and intellectual movement that followed the rediscovery of art and literature of ancient Greece and Rome. The four qualities that define renaissance art are linear perspective, volume, directional light and emotion.

 

     Madonna Adoring the Sleeping Child by Giovanni Bellini made during the early 1460s is an example of renaissance art. The medium used was temporal on wood. The dimensions are 28 1/2 by 18 1/4 in. This painting of Giovanni Bellini early artwork is important because he is known as the greatest painter of the fifteenth century Venice and one of the key figures in European painting. The child in this painting is a reminder of Christ’s death and sacrifice. Linear perspective and hierarchical proportion is used to highlight Madonna looking down on the sleeping child. Her hands symbolize prayer.  The directional light is located in the sky that is softening and highlighting Madonna and the child. The emotion on Madonnas face shows a bit of sorrow.

     The Baroque period took place during the sixteenth to seventeenth century. Artist used the same techniques used during the renaissance period and added more drama, emotion and splendor. The qualities that define baroque art shows energy and feeling, dramatic use of light, scale, and composition. 

     Virgin of Child with Saint Catherine of Alexandra by Anthony Van Dyck made during 1630 in Antwerp is an example of baroque art. The medium used was oil on canvas. The dimensions used are 43 by 35 3/4 in with added straps that are 44 1/8 by 37 in. The infant is Jesus responding to Saint Catherine, who is a former princess identified by the pearls in her hair and the martyr’s palm. Saint Catherine was in awe by the young woman because of her mystical marriage to Christ. The apples above the rose to the upper left refer to Christ. The formal elements that classify this painting as baroque art is the dramatic use of light and dark creates the illusion of depth of space, and makes the figures more realistic bringing out dimension. The ornate painting makes the viewer almost want to touch it because of the vivid realism. The energy and feeling is strong as the viewer sees the admiration and emotion of all the figures as it tells a small story. Composition of the painting looks and feels complete as the elements come together.

Online Assigment # 2

When a piece of art has unity it makes sense. As a whole it looks balanced and all the elements and structure belong together. Artist can unify their work in a couple different ways. One way is color. Color can help balance out a piece of art by using a single color or complimentary colors. Even using a color scheme that is monochromatic or analogous or both can make a piece of art unified. The colors artist can use are endless. Another way to unify art work is shape and size. Shapes can bring dimension to a piece of art. Shapes can be geometrical or organic. Size can help add variety to art work and help us determine what our focal point is. Repetition is another way a piece is unified. If the element is constant and repeats it self multiple times it causes a balancing effect because all you are seeing is something that is constant throughout the piece. Artist can use multiple combinations of techniques to achieve a unified piece. 

                                                        Claude Monet’s Rue Montorgueil in Paris, Festival of June 30, 1878.

The arrangement of were the flags and people are creates unity. The flags that are placed on each side to help balance out the people. The size of the people and flags go from big in the front to small in the back. The colors of the flag and people are repetitive. The constant repetition of theses elements creates unity and variety on the canvas.

                                                                        Lavinia Fontana. Noli Me Tangere. 1581.

Asymmetrical balance is when both sides are not the same but multiple elements are balanced using size,color and form. An artist can uses these elements to create an asymmetrical balance. This is an example of an asymmetrical balance. The oil painting is not symmetrical because it is not the same on both sides. The left and right sides are different but the painting creates a balance as if it was symmetrical. The size of the form of the woman and man on the right side is larger then the three form’s in the back on the left side. The colors on the woman in the front created weight because of the warmth of the dress and the sky’s light helped by giving a glow like her dress. Similar in color but the sky is lighter then her dress. While the man in front does not disturb the painting because he also helps balance the tomb on the left in the back and his clothing helps brighten the painting just like the sky. The three figures in the back help balance out the front because of the size as well as the color. The right side is lighter then the left side and the left side is darker then the right. The women in the back with a red orange dress helps dye down the brightness of the man’s clothing. The darkness on the left also creates depth of space and the illusion of the painting looking like its dimensional. 

                                                            Ron Mueck (Australian, b. 1958). Mask II, 2001–2002. 

Scale can change the meaning of artwork because it can change the viewer point of view and create a different emotion. This appears to be a man sleeping but it actually a relatively large version of a man sleeping. This is realism that is extreme which is called hyperrealistic sculpture. This sculpture represents features of Ron Mueck face on a super human scale. The combined effect of accurate proportion and hyperrealistic detail of the human face looks as if the artist cut off a giants head and put it on a huge block. 

Online Assignment # 1

 
















 Relief of Queen Nefertiti, 1352-1356 BC is a relief sculpture carved in Karnak sandstone. The height is twenty-two centimeters and the width is thirty-two centimeters wide. This sculpture shows Queen Nefertiti raising her arm to symbolize her offering to Aten. On top of her head she is wearing an elegant wig. Above the wig originally was a towering crown of uraei, sun disk, two cow horns and two feathers. Behind Queen Nefertiti is hieroglyphs and in front of her it is said that the rays hitting her face and arm indicates that the sun disk was directly overhead. Her facial features are exaggerated like some of the pieces of Amarna art.


 
Parthenon frieze, Greek, 438-432 BC is a carved sculpture on a marble block that was placed by the corner of the west frieze of Parthenon where it turned on to north. The height is one hundred centimeters long. The horsemen appear as if they are moving at a fast pace but are pushing back so they do not ride off the edge of the frieze. The horsemen in front is twisting his torso to his fellow horsemen with his arm raised up and his hand disappearing to the back of his head. The clothing is draped and helps show the movement of this piece. The body is shaped in a strong manner that could possibly indicate strength and youth. 


Egyptian and Greek art techniques and style are completely different from each other. Relief of Nefertiti is telling a story that shows exaggerated features, symbolism of worship, and has words (hieroglyphs) written on the stone. The body portions are exaggerated like a cartoon that looks fun and interesting. The hieroglyphs on the side has meaning and shows that art can be communicated in words. Egyptian art has lot more to do with rituals, symbolism, exaggeration and story telling. While the Parthenon Frieze is natural. Depending on the viewer you can image the conversation these horsemen have exchanged and the possibilities are endless. Horseman clothing and the horses show movement as if this work of art is moving with you as you pass by it. Greek art shows more naturalism and shows movement which tells a story but can vary between viewers. Egyptian and Greek Art may be very different but if we compare the sculptures they both are telling us a piece of history and they are both sculpted beautifully.


Citations 
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/61.117

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/gr/h/horsemen_-_west_frieze.aspx