Romantic Era Blog

Romanticism 

White Horse by John Constable 1819

John Constable - White Horse 

    Originally titled A Scene on the River Sour but was later changed to White Horse is a painting that depicts a scene of normal rural life. The painting was painted in oil paint on a canvas and was originally exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1819 and paved the way for Constable's artistic success. This painting has a prominence of detail in the way the vegetation is represented.

    Constable's painting, White Horse, reflects the romanticism of the English countryside due to its focus on nature. By emphasizing the nature's beauty with the vegetation show in various shapes, colors, and growth areas in various shade of green. As well as the natural world being displayed in such a manner that is evokes a sense of awe. White Horse not only showcases a landscape, but it also has a stark contrast between the atmosphere of the trees, the moody skies, and the depiction of the bright white horse that invites viewers like me to experience the tranquility of the landscape. 

    John Constable mainly focuses on the beauty of the ordinary life of those in the rural countryside. Constable himself grew up in the Suffolk countryside, and many of his works are based off places he knew personally. His personal connection he infuses to his work adds authenticity and emotional emphasis aligning with the whole idea of what Romanticism is. In White Horse, the natural lighting, the harmony between the sky, the figures, and the landscape reflect the ideas of Romanticism. 

Moonrise over the Sea by Caspar David Friedrich 1822

Caspar David Friedrich - Moonrise over the Sea

    This painting was painted by German artist Caspar David Friedrich in 1822. The painting is painted on a canvas with oil paints. It can be found at the Ale Nationalgalerie in Germany.

    Moonrise over the Sea is a perfect example of Romanticism as it captures the beauty of nature in an awe-inspiring way. With the vast open sea and the moon rising over the horizon reflecting upon the fascination of nature's mystery in Romanticism. The emotional response with the serene yet solemn atmosphere as three figures are depicted watching as the ships fade away in the distance. The three figures on the rocks add a touch of humanity, enhancing the emotional connection to the painting. The fading light of the setting sun, the figures gazing out at sea, and the ships in the distance all follow the ideals of Romanticism. The sea is a constant reoccurring depiction in Romantic art, as the sea symbolizes the power of nature as well as the mystery of the unknown. Friedrich's depiction of the sea and its vastness and the ability to capture the moon's gentle rise showcases the ever-changing aspects of nature. 

    Friedrich, like many other Romantic artists, had a deep personal connection to the landscapes he painted. His works often reflect his deep emotional and spiritual connection to nature, emphasizing the authenticity of his paintings.

Impressionism

Wheatfield with Crows by Vincent Van Gogh 1890

Vincent Van Gogh, Wheatfield with Crows

     Van Gogh's Wheatfield with Crows is one of his most famous and recognizable paintings, as it was one of his last paintings before his death in 1890. Van Gogh painted it with oil paints on canvas, and it is on display at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. 

    Wheatfield with Crows has elements that are distinctly post-impressionism. Van Gogh used vibrant colors to contrast the dark ominous sky in the background. This light effect creates a contrast between the wheatfield and the night sky. As well as the way the brush strokes of the wheat and the curved path are different adding a sense of movement to the painting. This amplifies the notion in Impressionism of the focus on specific moment rather than the importance of perfect detail. This technique is frequently used in Van Gogh's works as well as other paintings that use impressionism. The mundane nature of a wheatfield and crows is elevated by the emotional aspect of Van Gogh's style. By capturing the motion of the approaching storm and the formation of the crows flying away, Van Gogh creates a sense of urgency in the painting. It is aligned with impressionism's goal of conveying subjective experience through art. 

    In spite of Van Gogh's transition to a more post-impressionistic style with the vivid colors and dramatic expression, Wheatfield with Crows still contains key Impressionist elements.

  

Sara Holding a Cat by Mary Cassatt 1908

Mary Cassatt - Sara Holding a Cat

    This painting depicts a young girl in a pink dress holding an orange cat. Sara Holding a Cat is a portrait canvas painting, that was painted with oil paint. It can be found at the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. 

    This pastel painting of Sara Holding a Cat shows a young girl with a cat, enhancing the delicate simplicity of a domestic scene. This painting embodies the ideals of Impressionism through the gentle natural light and the general softness. This painting is such an intimate moment between a little girl and a cat. This painting features loose brushstrokes that showcases a livelier depiction of such a gentle scene. This is the case with other Impressionistic panting's as they focus more on capturing the essence of a specific scene rather than focusing on precise details. Sara Holding a Cat is a great example of Cassatt's skill as well as her ability to blend different techniques and themes of Impressionism with her unique depiction of a mundane everyday scene. 

My Personal Favorite 

    In my humble opinion, Impressionism is better than Romanticism. I say this because the emphasis of light and color within Impressionism paintings. As well as the overall softer tone displayed within Impressionist paintings. Although I do like the overall look of Romanticism paintings, I am naturally drawn to bright expressive colors, so in my opinion Impressionism is the better of the two.

John Constable Paintings, Bio, Ideas. (n.d.). The Art Story. https://www.theartstory.org/artist/constable-john/ 

Mary Cassatt (1844-1926). (n.d.). Www.christies.com. https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5561267 

Moonrise over the Sea. (n.d.). Obelisk Art History. https://www.arthistoryproject.com/artists/caspar-david-friedrich/moonrise-over-the-sea/ 

Van Gogh Museum. (2020). Wheatfield with Crows - Van Gogh Museum. Vangoghmuseum.nl. https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/collection/s0149V1962 

Wikipedia Contributors. (2024, October 17). Caspar David Friedrich. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspar_David_Friedrich#Landscape_and_the_sublime

Classical Blog

    For this assignment I chose to cover the theme of the growing economic power of the middle class during the 1700's. I chose this topic because the 1700's were a time of big changes for the middle class. Before the 1700's art was only for the wealthy people and it was unheard of for anyone of middle-class status to purchase. The 1700's changed that, suddenly the middleclass citizens had more wealth and influence on things, leaving the middle class open to a new world to navigate. 

Conversation Piece, A portrait of Sir Andrew Fountaine with other men and women, By William Hogarth 1730-1735

       I chose this piece by William Hogarth because, Hogarth was a highly influential artist during this time period. Hogarth was a product of rising middle class as he grew up low class but as made a living securing commissions from the wealthy such as Sir Andrew Fountaine. This scene is captured in a serene atmosphere, likely in a garden or in a place with elegant setting. This piece exhibits a relaxing atmosphere as it seems to show a group of individuals enjoying themselves in a social setting. There is a man in the foreground on the right displaying and making conversation out of his piece as well as two other men gathered around him in a sort of awe. On the other side of the painting there's two women in elegant clothing that seem to be conversing with themselves. The posture of the people in this painting highlights how the middle class showcased their newfound wealth. The painting reflects the relaxed aura surrounding the group as they have newly found access to formal events allowing them to view and interact with art piece. 

The Shepherdess by Jean Honore Fragonard 1750-1752

    This painting by Jean Honore Fragonard is an example of the Rococo style, a style that was favored by the middle class and is characterized by playful colors and elegant style. In this painting the Shepherdess is shown in lower-class attire, but the clothing looks to be elegant and frivolous. The middle class's newfound ability to afford items typically associated with the wealthy is reflected by the depiction of a lower-class folk but elegant appearance. Fragonard's paintings were often commissioned by wealthy members of the middle class with an interest in collecting art. The purpose of this painting was to highlight the growing influence of the middle class. In addition, the overall atmosphere of this scene illustrates how middle-classes romanticize rural life.

A Group Portrait of Family in an Ornamental Garden by Nicolaes Muys, 1740-1808

    As the third painting I chose for this assignment is this one by Nicolaes Muys, I chose it because it shows a family with the means to have a garden. The garden itself is a symbol of sophistication which highlights the middle-class's growing ability to have such luxuries that were previously exclusive to the wealthy. The figures in this painting are shown wearing lavish elegant clothing, their elaborate attire displays their ability to afford fashionable clothing. This painting is also an example itself as the family depicted in the painting had the means to commission Nicolaes Muys, a well-known artist at the time. Art during this time was a way for the middle-class people could display their wealth and increasing cultural importance.

Augustyn, A. (2019). Rococo | Definition, Art, Painting, & Characteristics. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/art/Rococo 
The National Gallery, London. (2020). William Hogarth (1697 - 1764) | National Gallery, London. Nationalgallery.org.uk.    https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/william-hogarth 
Watson, F. J. B. (2019). Jean-Honoré Fragonard | French painter. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jean-Honore-Fragonard

Baroque Renaissance Blog

 

The Assumption of the Virgin Mary by Peter Paul Rubens 1626, Located in: Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral, Antwerp, Belgium

    Peter Paul Rubens was a prominent artist in the 17th century. He was a Flemish artist who specialized in Baroque art style that focused on bold colors and movement within his works. Rubens worked for the Catholic church when he wasn't working as an artist. Many of Rubens' works were based off the bible and were mainly dedicated to the church or were commissioned by the wealthy. In order to make his paintings so flawless Rubens used traditional iconographic aspects to elevate the prominent religious elements and symbolism such as the ones found in The Assumption of the Virgin Mary. 

    Out of all the paintings I have seen of this Era, "The Assumption of the Virgin Mary" caught my interest. I was drawn to this painting because of the color scheme that is displayed throughout the whole painting. My main point of interest of this painting is there is almost a line from the top right corner and bottom left where the light meets the dark. As well as the way that the virgin is depicted ascending into the heavens through the light cutting through the otherwise dark background, it adds to the godly atmosphere of this painting. The way that the colors of this painting create a sense of depth within the painting with the use of complimentary dark and light colors that mesh perfectly together. The use of complimentary colors in general is a technique I find interesting as it creates a sense of harmony among the colors. Another technique that caught my eyes was the way lighting is coming in and shining on a specific people differentiating the divine and the common people with how bright or dark they are. With the most light surrounding the Virgin Mary and the angels around her to signify she is being taken by the divine light. 

    From my understanding the Renaissance focused more on classical ideal and bringing a sense of harmony to the artwork. While Baroque focused on expressing emotions and making the art piece tell a story without words. Peter Paul Rubens' artwork is a good example of Baroque, at least in my humble opinion. 

Work Cited

   “Assumption of the Virgin Mary, 1626 by Peter Paul Rubens.” Peter Paul Rubens, www.peterpaulrubens.net/assumption-of-the-virgin-mary.jsp. 

The Assumption of the Virgin. www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.46131.html. 

    Gurney, Tom. Assumption of the Virgin Mary by Peter Paul Rubens.   www.thehistoryofart.org/peter-paul-rubens/assumption-of-the-virgin-mary.