Impressionistic Beauty Friday, Oct 23 2009

Impressionism is a magnificent art form first developed in the late 19th century. Art was comprised on the general first impression of a scene. This form of art could capture a fleeting moment better than previous art forms because it allowed fast brushstrokes and less detailed images. Impressionism relied on the viewer to “fill in the gaps” or to visualize the whole picture.

Some of the most well-known impressionistic art is by Claude Monet. Monet’s Waterlilies have been copied and distributed around the world in many different forms. These enchanting water scenes are seen on prints, postcards, tapestries, and much more mediums.

Waterlilies, Green Reflection, Claude Monet, 1916-1923

Another well-known artist from Impressionism is Alfred Sisley. Sisley was one of the creators of French Impressionism. One of his most beautiful pieces is Misty Morning, 1874. This piece of art seemed to differ from most impression art as fog or mist was rarely used, Impressionism favored the light of day, and tended to be brighter. Many of Sisley’s works tended toward those of Monet. Sisley studied and favored the works of Monet. This would show more in the landscape paintings.

Misty Morning, (Fog, Voisins), Alfred Sisley, 1874.

I loved that while impressionism is known for its thick paint and fast brushstrokes, there is still an amazing sense of light and being. You can still see the shapes and shades of the image. There is exquisit detail in a very non-ordinary way that is not traditionally considered detailed.

Romantic and Realist artists and fans must have hated this new form of art. It goes against everything that has been taught about art. There is no definite lines, details, or finish. Art prior to Impressionism left no interpretation to the viewer. The artist painted exactly what they wanted you to see. While impressionism left some imagination to the viewer. Impressionistic art made you think. And as the Impressionist motto states “the human eye is a marvelous instrument,” there was a lot of art left to the viewer. We just have to appreciate art in the many different forms and allow ourselves to be open to change.

More wonderful information:

http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/c19th/impressionism.htm

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/glo/impressionism/

http://www.impressionism.info/info.html

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Ludwig van Beethoven Sunday, Oct 11 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0YCWZnpoO0

Ludwig van Beethoven, Romance No.2 in F Major, op. 50, 1798, Vienna.

Lugwig van Beethoven was a magnificent composer in the late Classical era. Beethoven was responsible for bringing music from the classical era in to the romantic with many great composition in both eras. I feel that this piece, Romance No. 2, shows the grace of classical music without some of the harshness of many of the other composers of the time. Romance No. 2 was composed in what was thought to be Beethoven’s early period. period in the composers life, up to about 1802, had great influences from Mozart and Hayden, with whom he studied under and appreciated.

Every movement in this symphony has a fantastic flow into each other. I felt the highs were just high enough to be noticed without creating a different mood in the compostition. I love the soft flow, almost like water flowing, that is created in this piece.

While much of Beethoven’s earlier music was dedicated to his patrons, nobility in Vienna, he worked to provide music to the public. He made his first public performance in Vienna. “He captured the attention of, and astonished, Vienna, with his virtuosity and his improvisations on the piano” (1). Beethoven created syphonies that would not only include his own works but also featured those of Mozert and other young composers. By the end of the 18th century Beethoven’s music was in great demand from the middle classes as well as the upper classes which had been funding his work. In 1809, Beethoven had aquired enough money to work as a freelance composer. Bringing music to an even broader range of people.

Beethoven also appealed to the public masses with his personal triumphs over tragedy. He supported his family from a young age due to his father’s drinking and lost his mother at a young age. He was soon the financial provider for his family. He would continue to produce amazing music despite these tragedies.

Beethoven’s music would be a center for many artists in the future. His works eximplify the ideals of the Calssical era.

Works Cited:

1. http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Bio/BiographyLudwig.html

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Young Woman with a Water Pitcher Friday, Oct 2 2009

Young Girl with a Water Pitcher 

by Johannes Vermeer

 c.1664-65, Holland
Oil on canvas, 18 x 16 in.

Young Girl with a water pitcher by Vermeer is a great example of the Baroque era. It symbolizes a rise in the merchant class. Many of the details of this painting represent wealth and travel. Holland had a magnificent  increase in the merchant class population, bringing a great amount of wealth along with it. Wealth and travel are both depicted in this amazing painting. The map on the back wall can depict great wealth and travel. The red carpet on the table would be a symbol of the wealth of this household as well, red was a color most notably associated with the wealthy. The leaded glass window and pearls in the jewelry box are just two more examples of the wealth of this rising merchant class state.

Vermeer had an amazing talent in optical effects in paint. The effects of the light seem to bring a sense of blonging to the images. I love the way the light seems to travel from the window down her arm. The light then continues down in to her sleeve. There is such a wonderful attention to the light and the natural direction it would be travelling. This painting is almost like a photo in the essence of light.

The Young Woman with a Water Pitcher is a beautiful combination of the rising merchant class, wealth, and Protestant culture.

More information:

Walter Liedtke, Vermeer and the Delft School, New York, 2001.

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