Literature, Arts, and the Humanities: Analysis and Interpretation

Literature, Arts, and the Humanities: Analysis and Interpretation
A1. Earlier Historical Art Period - Impressionism
Impressionism has been considered the first modern movement in painting. It started in the 19th century and was developed in Paris. Impressionist paintings are work produced between about 1867 and 1886. Its influence spread throughout Europe and eventually the United States. “Its founding members included Claude Monet, Edgar Degas and Camille Pissarro” (Art, 2000-2014).
“Claude Monet's Impression, Sunrise exhibited in 1874, gave the Impressionist movement its name. A critic Louis Leroy accused it of being a sketch or "impression" not a finished painting. The original artists were rejected by the government-sanctioned exhibitions, or salons.
Short visible strokes are the style included in Impressionism. This may include dots, commas, smears and/or blobs. Paintings by Impressionists often show shadows and highlights in color. The style of loose brushwork gives an effect of spontaneity and effortlessness. Impressionism shows life in bursts of brief moments.
There was major political and social transition in central Europe that helped lead into the Impressionism period. This included the 19th Century industrial expansion. Farmers were forced to become paid labors in factories. Governments across Europe are exploring methods to balance the polarities of social right and material progress. Churches were trying to use new scientific knowledge and social theory against the ancient scriptures. In France specifically we see the emergence of political instability. France was experiencing various governments and various forms of government rising and succeeding another between the absolute monarchies that ends with Louis the XVI in 1789. Among these turbulent years France saw political outcomes that range from reign of terror, constitutional monarchy, a republic, a royal restoration and a socialist commune as well as the Napoleonic Empire.
A2. Later Historical Art Period - Post Impressionism “Post-Impressionism” as invented by Roger Fry as he prepared for an exhibition at Grafton Gallery in London in 1910” (Gersh-Nesic, 2014). “The show was called “Manet and the Post-Impressionists” (November 8, 1910-January 15, 1911), a canny marketing ploy to pair a brand name (Édouard Manet) with younger French artists whose work was not well known on the other side of the English Channel” (Gersh-Nesic, 2014). Other painters included in the exhibition were Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, George Seurat, Andre Derain, Maurice de Vlaminck, and Othon Friesz. Post Impressionists extended Impressionism while rejecting its limitations. They continued using vivid colours, often thick application of paint, and real-life subject matter. Post Impressionist artists were more likely to emphasize geometric forms, to distort forms for expressive effect, and to use unnatural or arbitrary color. With the use of vivid colors and definitive forms, their art was characterized by a aesthetic sense as well as abstract tendencies. The political and social events in France during the 1880s were a decade of extremes. “Shaped by rapid industrialization and economic growth, though subject to crises such as the depression of the mid-1880s, French society had also had to come to terms psychologically with its defeat by the Prussians in 1870” (History, 1979-1980). Industrialization brought in capitalism to the society with materialism as the key point. There was an attempt to outrage the art-loving public through revolutionary painting techniques. A3. Relationship Impressionism and Post-Impressionism refers to an influential artistic movement. This movement occurred in the 19th-century in France. It was started by a group of artist that wanted to open paintings up to a different approach. The artist in both used light airy brush strokes. The colors were more vivid with these painting. A3a. Similarities and Differences Similarities between Impressionists and Post-Impressionists are they both obtain real-life subject, distinctive brushstrokes, thick layers of paint and vivid colors. The artists in both periods painted contemporary landscapes and scenes of modern life.
The Impressionist painted in the open air and used a palette of pure colors. The Impressionist painters were concerned with way that light or sunshine lights up the subject-matter.
The main difference between both styles is that Post-Impressionism aimed to attain more form and structure, as well as more expression and emotion into their paintings. Post-Impressionists rejected Impressionism’s concern with the spontaneous and naturalistic rendering of light and color” (Online, 2007-2014). “Instead they favored an emphasis on more symbolic content, formal order and structure” (Online, 2007-2014). Post Impressionism artists did their paintings in an indoor studio and it could take hours to complete. A3b. Explanation Impressionism recorded nature in terms of light and color. Post impressionists wanted to express their meaning beyond the surface appearance; they painted with emotion, intellect, and the eye. The post-impressionism painters stressed their personal view of the visual world. Post- impressionism artists’ used both color and form to describe emotions and movement. “The Post-Impressionists rejected Impressionism’s concern with the spontaneous and naturalistic rendering of light and color. Instead they favored an emphasis on more symbolic content, formal order and structure. The Post-Impressionists also believed that color could be independent from form and composition as an emotional and aesthetic bearer of meaning” (Online, 2007-2014). A4. Comparison of Works I have chosen two paintings to compare “The White Bridge” by John Henry Twachtman and “Traces on Water” by Claudiu Presecan. I personally really like both of these paintings. They both contain bodies of water. I would prefer the second selection if I had to chose one. I like the vivid colors and the deepness of the water. The second painting is of a body of water that I would like to see in nature. It looks beautiful and peaceful. ‘The White Bridge’ by John Henry Twachtman (Twachtman). “The White Bridge” scene captures the blossoming of spring. It has loosely feathery brushstrokes of green and rich brown colors. The painting shows the peacefulness of the water. The bridge crosses over a body of water that has a reflective surface. The white bridge stands out sharply compared to the rest of the painting. The light, feathery strokes compose the bridge. There are what I would think may be trees in the foreground. “The artist used brushwork to unify forms on the surface of the canvas, as he had made an effort to integrate the bridge itself into the Cos Cob setting” (Chicago A. I., 2000, p. 94). ”Traces on Water” by Claudiu Presecan (Presecan). In this painting, the water is shown as an important element of nature. This shows a basic element of survival. The blue-green color as shows the mystery, depth, and calmness of the water. The color in this picture are more vivid than the painting by John Henry Twachtman. This painting shows the relationship between the eye’s perception of light and the painter’s representations of water, sky and the beauty of nature. “The lines and contours of Presecan’s paintings are more abstract and suggestive than in traditional Impressionist art” (Art F. ). This painting hints at the objects they represent rather than showing them realistically. A5. Influence of Later Historical Art Period “Post Impressionism artist developed a range of personal styles that focused on the emotional, structural, symbolic and spiritual elements that they felt were missing from Impressionism” (Post Impressionism - The Roots of Modern Art). Their combined contributions from the artistic roots of modern art for the next eighty years (Post Impressionism - The Roots of Modern Art). I chose these two periods because I enjoyed leaning about the types of painting I also like to admire.

Resources
Art, F. (n.d.). An Abstract Monet: The Post-Impressionist Art of Claudiu Presecan. Retrieved from An Abstract Monet: The Post-Impressionist Art of Claudiu Presecan: http://fineartebooks.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/an-abstract-monet-the-post-impressionist-art-of-claudiu-presecan/

Art, T. M. (2000-2014). Impressionism: Art and Modernity. Retrieved from Impressionism: Art and Modernity: Claude Monet's Impression, Sunrise (Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris) exhibited in 1874, gave the Impressionist movement its name when the critic Louis Leroy accused it of being a sketch or "impression," not a finished painting.
Chicago, A. I. (2000). Impressionism and Post-Impressionism in The Art Institute of Chicago . The Art Institute of Chicago .
Gallery, V. G. (2002-2013). Post Impressionism. Retrieved from Post Impressionism: http://www.vangoghgallery.com/influences/post-impressionism.html
Gersh-Nesic, B. (2014). Impressionism - Art History 101 Basics. Retrieved from Impressionism - Art History 101 Basics: http://arthistory.about.com/od/impressionism/a/impressionism_10one.htm
Hammerstingl, W. (1998). French Impressionism and Post Impressionism in the late 19th C. Retrieved from French Impressionism and Post Impressionism in the late 19th C.: http://www.olinda.com/Art/Impressionism/imp.htm
Online, O. A. (2007-2014). Impressionism & Post-Impressionism. Retrieved from Impressionism & Post-Impressionism: http://www.oxfordartonline.com/public/page/themes/impressionismandpostimpressionism
Post Impressionism - The Roots of Modern Art. (n.d.). Retrieved from Post Impressionism - The Roots of Modern Art.
Presecan, C. Traces on Water . American Art.
Twachtman, J. H. The White Bridge.