Preferences and Perspectives - The Romantic Era

 Realist and Impressionism Art

There were several different styles and classifications of art that were used during the 1800s, so people have chose to classify art that was made in the 1800s as the Romantic era. Two of these many art styles were the realism, and the impressionism art styles. Realism art depicts ordinary subjects as they look in real life, such as animals, and people doing activities that they regularly do. Impressionist art pieces, on the other hand, are not as detailed, because they are often made up of large dabs of color, that are blended together. Impressionist paintings are sometimes used to depict people, but they are often times used to depict a piece of landscape, or some buildings. It is explained that realist art was created "to convey a truthful and objective vision of contemporary life," while impressionist art "emphasizes an artist's immediate impression of a moment or scene" (Finocchio, 2004; Gersh-Nesic, 2018). I personally prefer realist art, because it is cool to see such detailed art, of different scenes. I do not like impressionistic art quite as much, but it is cool to look at, sometimes. 

Realism

    Snap The Whip:

The oil painting, Snap the Whip, was painted by Winslow Homer in New York in 1872 (metmuseum.org). This painting was made to show a group of young boys, as they are having fun playing a game with one another in the outdoors. The painting was also made to show how the boys work well with one another, and that they have good coordination (metmuseum.org). This was shown, so that people would be able to see that the younger generation will have people who work well with one another. I personally enjoy this painting, because it is a very realistic painting of a group of boys, who are running around, playing a game with one another outside on the grassy field.

Color

Winslow Homer uses color in his painting to make it look more realistic. He uses color to create shadows of the boys being cast on the ground, so that it looks more realistic, and so that the painting has a third dimension. The shadows were used to show depth, since they were being depicted to be slightly behind the boys. Homer also uses color in his painting to show mood. He uses bright, white colors for a number of the boy's shirts, to show that they are happy.

Lines

Winslow Homer uses lines in his painting to convey distance, and the feeling of calmness. The schoolhouse in the background is made up of horizontal lines, where the horizontal boards are touching one to another. The schoolhouse was created this way, to give us the impression of distance, since we are looking at such a large field of grass. These lines are also used, so we can know that it is peaceful, and calm outside.

Texture

Winslow Homer does a good job at depicting texture. He did a good job with painting the grass, by using a bunch of small strokes, made up of lighter and darker colors. By depicting this somewhat detailed grass, we are able to remember the feeling of soft, coarse grass under our feet.

    Col. William F. Cody:

The oil painting, Col. William F. Cody, was a portrait which was completed by Rosa Bonheur in 1889, in the city of Fontainebleau, France (McClure 2014). This painting was designed to embody "the freedom and independence of the United States." (McClure 2014). I enjoy this painting, because it is a peaceful painting of a person riding a horse on a trail, through the woods.

Color

Rosa Bonheur uses color in her painting, so that it looks more realistic, and so that it has a third dimension to it. Color is used to create shadows both under, and back to the right of the horse, as well as on the horse, so we can see that the sunlight is coming from above, and from the general area of where the horse is looking. This creates a third dimension, because it helps us to see that the back legs of the horse are located behind the front legs of the horse, where it also helps us to know that the horse's neck is behind the horses head, and that the back of the horse is located behind the rider's left leg. 

Lines

Rosa Bonheur uses lines in her painting to convey different feelings. The horse, as well as the man's clothing are made up of curved lines to convey comfort and ease. The painting was designed this way, to show that the man is in a peaceful, comfortable mood, where he is able to relax, as he takes his horse for a ride through the trees.

Shape

Rosa Bonheur uses silver circles on the saddle and on the stirrup that the man's left foot is sitting in, to give us the feeling of continuous movement. It was designed this way, to further the idea that the horse is walking.

Impressionism

    Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge:

The oil painting, Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge, is a 35 5/8 by 35 5/16 inch piece of art that was completed by Claude Monet in 1899, in the village of Giverny, France (artmuseum.princeton.edu). Monet created a garden on his property, which he ended up using to create a numerous amount of paintings. I like this painting, because it looks really cool. It is cool that there is a fun, arched bridge going over the water that has water lilies. Not only are there a bunch of water lilies in the water, but there are also tall, flowery trees, and tall, green grass that surround the bridge.

Lines

Claude Monet used lines in his painting to convey different feelings. He created the arched bridge in his painting, by using a number of curved lines to convey comfort and ease. He does this, so we can know that we can be comfortable and at ease, while admiring the beauty of the streams, the flower lilies, and the trees that can be found outside.

Texture

Claude Monet uses Texture to make his painting look better. He creates physical texture in his painting, by creating layers of paint in specific parts, so we can easily see some of the individual stems and leaves that can be found in the painting. Monet creates less texture in his painting, so the surface that he is creating is smooth. He does this so we can know that there is water in the painting. Because of this technique, we are able to see that there is water flowing beneath the bridge. There are a bunch of water lilies on top of the water, but the water that can be seen is a reflection of the surrounding area.

Color

Despite the fact that this oil painting is not very detailed, Monet was still able to use color in it, so that it looks more realistic. He uses a dark blue color, to depict that there is a shadow being cast on the right side of the bridge. He also uses this same color on the bottom of the bridge, so we can know that it is not being hit by light in that spot. This helps us to realize that there is a third dimension to the painting, and to the bridge, since we can see the bottom of the bridge, which must be facing downward, since it is not being hit by light.

    Starry Night Over the Rhône:

The oil painting, Starry Night Over the Rhône, was painted by Vincent van Gough in 1888, in the city of Arles, France. Vincent van Gough painted this picture, because of his interest in "the effects of light at night." (artincontext, 2022). I find this painting to be pretty cool, since it is a depiction of a peaceful river at night, with all of the stars that are in the sky. It is also cool how he had the light reflected onto the water.

Color

Vincent van Gough did a good job of using color in his painting to make it look better, which also makes it look more realistic. Gough used yellow in his painting on parts of the water, to depict lights, as explained above, which were being reflected off of the water. This helps us to know that the water is smooth, and calm. 

Shape

Vincent van Gough uses shape in his painting to give us the feeling of movement. He uses circles to depict the middle of some of the stars that can be seen in the painting. He unintentionally does this for two reasons. He uses circles to convey that the stars are always moving, as well as to show that the river is always flowing, even though it is calm.

Lines

Vincent van Gough uses lines in his painting to convey different emotions. The shore is made up of many smaller lines, but they are combined to create the shore, which is basically just a big, curved line. It was made this way to depict comfort, since a person can watch the peaceful river and the stars in the sky, while relaxing in comfort.

References

Artincontext. “‘Starry Night Over the Rhône’ - Van Gogh's Star-Filled Painting.” Art in Context, 13 Oct. 2022, https://artincontext.org/starry-night-over-the-rhone/#:~:text=Starry%20Night%20Over%20the%20Rh%C3%B4ne%20was%20painted%20in%201888%20when,bank%20of%20the%20Rh%C3%B4ne%20River.

Finocchio, Ross. “Nineteenth-Century French Realism.” Metmuseum.org, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Oct. 2004, https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/rlsm/hd_rlsm.htm#:~:text=The%20Realist%20movement%20in%20French,objective%20vision%20of%20contemporary%20life.

Gersh-Nesic, Beth. “Impressionism Art Movement: Major Works and Artists.” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 18 Dec. 2018, https://www.thoughtco.com/impressionism-art-history-183262.

McClure, Nancy. “Treasures: Rosa Bonheur's William F. Cody.” Center of the West, 11 Oct. 2014, https://centerofthewest.org/2014/10/11/treasures-rosa-bonheurs-col-william-f-cody/.

“Snap the Whip.” Metmuseum.org, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/11140.

Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge (Claude Monet), y1972-15. Princeton University Art Museums Collections Online, https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/collections/objects/31852.