Impressionism & Post-Impressionism

Impressionism was a 19th century art movement. Characteristics of Impressionist paintings during this time include visible brush strokes, open composition, and emphasis on light. Some artists during this time were Claude Monet, who did paintings like "The Haystack, End of Summer and Rouen Catherdral, and Renoir who did paintings like, Moulin de la Galette, dance in the city, and Luncheon of the boating party. 

Post-Impressionists extended Impressionism while rejecting its limitations: they continued using vivid colours, thick application of paint, distinctive brushstrokes and real-life subject matter, but they were more inclined to emphasize geometric forms, to distort form for expressive effect, and to use unnatural or arbitrary color. Some artists during this time were Vincent Van Gogh, Georges Seurat, and Paul Cezanne. 

NYC Field Trip

On May 6th the art history institute went to New York City to visit the Museum of Modern Art, and the Witney Museum. At the Witney we studied a painting called " Woman and Bicycle" By Willem de Kooning. We studied the painting, then each took the time to interpret the meaning of it. Another art work we focoused on was "Three Flags" By Jasper Johns. After we left the Witney, we traveled to the MOMA. At this museum we saw artists such as Andy Warhol and Claude Monet. 

Neo-Classicism & Realism

Neo-classicism is a more classic style of art that goes back to the Greek and Roman styles. It began in the 1760s, reached its height in the1780s and '90s, and lasted until the 1840s and '50s. Neo-classicism came after the french style of Rococo. One painting from Neo-classicism that is very popular is The Oath of Horatii by Jacques-Louis David.

Realism is a visual art style that depicts the actuality of what the eyes can see. Realists render everyday characters, situations, dilemmas,

and objects. The earliest Realist work began to appear in the 18th

century, in a reaction to the excesses of Romanticism and Neoclassicism. American Realists included the painters Thomas Eakins, and Henry Ossawa Tanner, both of whom studied in France.

Romanticism

Romanticism originated in the 18th century in western Europe. The movement stressed strong emotion as a source of aesthetic experience, such as horror and awe. Some Romantic paintings was The Third of May, by Francisco Goya. This shows the dramatic scene as a man surrenders to soldiers and men are lined up to be killed. Another dramatic painting that was made during this time was The Raft of Medusa. This shows the highs and lows. and the bottom you see death and sadness, and dark images. And at the top you see light, and hope, as the flag is being waved.American Romance embraced the individual and rebelled against the confinement of neoclassicism and religious tradition. The Romantic movement in America created a new literary genre that continues to influence modern writers.

Baroque & Rococco Art

Baroque started roughly at the beginning of the 17th century in Rome, Italy. Baroque style was all about everyday like with everyday people. the color was very earthly, and the main subject was usually the brightest spot on the painting. There was also emotion in the body language and faces.

Baroque art was considered an insult. Artists didnt paint the rich and the beautiful, but the everyday hard working middle class. Some famous artists during the Baroque style was Giuseppe Cesari, and Caravaggio.

Rococco Art was about delicate colors and curving forms, while decorating their canvases with cherubs and myths of love. Landscape scenes were common in Rococo paintings. The art work was about the joys of life. Jean-Antoine Watteau, who was born 1684 and died 1721 is generally considered the first great Rococo painter.

Pysanky Egg Art

During this week we learned about Pysanky Eggs and made them. Ukrainian Easter egg decorating (pysanky) involves a complex and delicate process that can turn farm-bought eggs into vibrant works of art.

Renaissance Era

During this week we studyed the Renaissance Era. The Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" in Italion was from the 14th century to the 17th century. In the art world, linear perspective became a popular style for painting. Leonardo de Vinci was one of the many artists to begin perfecting the human anatomy. One of the many paintings that portrayed this was Michelangelo's "The creation of Adam".

Byzantine Art

Byzantine Art work was very religious and structured. Constantine was the first emperor to leagalize christinanity. There were many religious pieces of art work with angels and people with halos around their heads. Like most artwork, people of high importance were always higher, put in front, or bigger then other subjects in the artwork to symbolize their importance. There were many significant arcitectures like the Hagia Sophia which was a dome temple that was supported by piers. It was combined by Roman engenierring and Greek design.

Asian Art

The Great wave off Kanagawa, by Katsushika Hokusai was published in 1832 and is one of many art works with mount Fuji in the background. The style of art is woodblock print.

There were many different styles in chinese art as well. The Shang Dynasty, which was the first dynasty of the Bronze Age had many elaboarate bronze vessels that were used in sacrifices and funerary ceremonies. Hanging and hand scrolls were very popular throughout the dynastys. For instance, Travelers Among Mountains and Streams by Fan Kuan was a hanging scroll that showed chinese landscape and very small people. Chinese artist believe that nature was a better teacher than anything else. Artists would study landscape and effects of sunlight. Terracotta soldiers were another important chinese aspect in art. They were clay figurines that were life sized and meant to protect the leader's grave.

Greek & Roman Art

Greek art is generally broken up into three time periods, the Archaic, the Classical and the Hellenistic period. Their architecture had three different styles as well. Greek colomns were either made up of Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian. Greek art forms mainly consisted up of statues of different God's and Goddesses. In the picture to the left, is a statue of the Greek God Zeus, which was said to be the God of all Gods. He controls the sky and uses lightning as his weapon to punish other Gods. The class had an assignment to choose a God or Goddess that interested them. I choose the Goddess Nyx. The Goddess Nyx is night personified. Many people believe that she is evil because she gave birth to dark Gods and Goddess like Moerae (the three Fates), Nemesis (justice and divine retribution), winged Hypnos (Sleep) and His brother Thanatos (Death), Moros (Doom), The Keres (goddesses of violent death), And Oizys (Misery).