ART F200X: Faith's Blog

The Post Modern age of art is one of extreme variety and constant change. For the first time in the history of art, artists are no longer constrained by class, techniques, materials, or even the definition of what art is. Postmodern artists constantly challenge definitions and traditions, always pushing to do something unique. This has resulted in a surge of never before seen creativity in visual arts, ranging from the awe inspiring to the absurd. Today, everyone can be an artist, and they can do it any way they choose. A good friend of mine paints illustrations on book colors. Another friend embroiders. I create inks with pigments I find in nature, and write with a turkey feather quill (don't ask me about it, I'll talk your ear off). My mom hand makes furniture out of found items and scraps of wood. Almost everyone I know dabbles in photography, since modern phone cameras make it so easy. Artistic freedom is has led to artists all around the globe questioning how far we can re

     The Early Modern age brought upheaval and turmoil into the world on a level that had never been seen before. The first world war, lasting four devastating years from 1914 to 1918, saw a loss of over 16 million military deaths. Even worse were the civilian casualties, which tragically number at an estimated 37 million. To put that number in perspective, that's as if the entire population of modern day New York City was wiped out--eight times over.       This type of absolute carnage, pain, and suffering had never been seen in the world before, and delivered a fatal blow to the optimism of the Romantic period. Gone was the hopeful attitude of the Impressionists, instead replaced with the stark horror and emptiness brought by the reality of death. Faith in the goodness and nobility of humanity was quickly failing, as well as a belief in the importance of human life. After all, how important could life be if it was so quickly and carelessly discarded on the battlefield?       For

      The Romantic period was a time marked by intense and continuous change in nearly every circle. Scientific developments, political upheaval, and social unrest all contributed toward rapid and unceasing change in the art world. While the Romantic era was divided into many categories, I am going to compare the Realist and Impressionist styles.      Realism developed as a reaction against the emotional idealism of Romanticism. Instead of portraying intensely dramatic scenes, Realists focused on average people living out their everyday lives. Common subjects were the lower classes, peasants, farmers, and other working class people. Instead of trying to beautify their subjects, the Realists frequently painted them hard at work in gritty, unglamorous situations.      Take, for example, The Stone Breakers by Gustave Courbet.       Painted in 1849 in France, this work shows two French peasants, one young and one old, hard at work making gravel for the roads. The entire point of this work

 The Classical era was a time of dramatic change within the arts, along with society in general. With the advent of the Enlightenment, various scientific developments, and several revolutions, western civilization took an important step towards becoming the world we live in today.  This era was divided into two very different styles: Rococo, and Neoclassical. The Rococo style was characterized by a lightheartedness not in preceding times. For the aristocracy, it was a time of ease and freedom to engage in activities and lifestyles previously deemed frivolous or downright immoral. The Enlightenment changed a lot of that, bringing an increased emphasis on humanity's nobility and intellect. The result was the Neoclassical era, which focused on lines, history, and self-sacrifice.  ("Rococo Vs Neoclassical Art - Artst") The first half of the Classical era was characterized by the Rococo style of art and architecture. Rococo artists used light, pastel colors, curving forms, and

  The Baroque period was marked by a distinct departure from the traditional values and ideals of the Renaissance. Art was more emotional and captured moments in time, as opposed to Renaissance art, which prioritized stability and timelessness. Baroque artists were less interested in perfection, and more interested in showing real glimpses of human life, without the idealized beauty of the Renaissance. ("Renaissance Philosophy") The church played a major part in this shift. The Council of Trent (1545-1563) was a gathering held by the Catholic Church as a response to the growing threat of Protestantism. The importance and impact of the Council cannot be understated. It has been described as the embodiment of the Counter-Reformation. A myriad of topics were discussed at the council in an attempt to purge Protestantism from the land, including the arts. Realizing they needed to make Catholicism more accessible to the common person, church leaders began encouraging religious art

     Sandro Botticelli was one of the most influential painters of the Renaissance. He was known for using bright colors, a delicate touch, and conveying a depth of emotion that made his work stand out. Connected with the powerful Medici family, Botticelli was one of the most sought after painters of his day. As a teenager, Botticelli was offered a studio space within the Medici palace itself, an honor that launched the rest of his career. He even managed to befriend Lorenzo and Giuliano Medici, the heirs to the family legacy.  ("Medici: Godfathers Of The Renaissance. Botticelli | PBS")     Having a good relationship with the most powerful family in Florence ensured that Botticelli would have a successful career, and indeed he did. Over his lifetime, Botticelli created some of the most beautiful and well known paintings of the Italian Renaissance. The painting I have chosen to discuss today is not extremely well known, but it clearly displays Botticelli's skill and style.