Impressionism and Realism

A variety of styles emerged and made their mark in the 1800s. From exotic and dreamlike paintings to objective and factual depictions. Capturing the artists interpretation of a moment to a completely new and modern style, art nouveau. I found that there wasn't really a style that I didn't like completely, rather that there were things to draw from in each style. I choose explore some paintings in realism and impressionism.

Automatically I am drawn to realism, the mastery behind such detailed and lifelike paintings is incredible. I appreciate that the subject of the art pieces is focused on human life and that there is a message behind the art. Realism would be my comfort area, it is my familiar however at times I wish that I could see the artists style and creativity. 

Realism allowed the artist to paint a raw and truthful picture of life often shedding light on injustices in the political, social and economical systems. These events depicted may not have been as thoroughly explored if they hadn't been created. The artwork shed light on events and the lives of human beings and produced emotion/ 

Below is an oil painting on canvas entitled. "The Third of May" (1814-1815) by Francisco de Goya. 

This was done six years after the French came in and occupied Spain. The Spanish attacked the French soldiers on the 2nd of May and in response, on the third of May the French went into towns and killed suspected rebel Spanish citizens to assert their power and domination. Francisco de Goya was a Spanish artist and this art piece was a cry against war and a celebration of the rebellion. Your eye is drawn to the man about to be shot in white. The white and yellow attire sticks out from the muted palette of the rest of the art piece and I noticed that the light seems to be radiating from him. The man has indents on his hands and holds his arms up in the same position as Jesus did on the cross. This was revolutionary in the art world, giving people God like characteristics. 

In contrast the French soldiers are wearing dark colors and are on the darker side of the art piece. The soldiers are lined up in an upward diagonal line that gives the figures the two dimensions. Their faces are the only ones who are not visible giving a cold and heartless feeling. 

The fear and anguish is evident in the persecuted men's faces. Some cower over in prayer, others cover their face, not being able to see what is happening. Bleeding bodies are strewn out in the front closest to the viewer. This piece pulls at your heart and makes you feel anger after reading about the historical context of the painting. It also gives the piece more meaning and value.

Here is another realistic art piece, an oil on canvas entitled "The Hay Wain" by John Constable in 1821. It is one of the most popular paintings in British art and was very influential for its clouds and use of green for the vegetation, which the masters had been accustomed to using browns for. 

I noticed first the beautiful clouds. The direction of the brushstrokes and the colors and values used gives the clouds a very realistic quality. Directly below you can see in the grass and on the water a reflection of the patchy light casting from between the clouds. The blue behind the clouds gives the sky a vast presence.

If you look up close at the trees, you can tell that the leaves are not individually painted. But rather, bigger areas of paint were used. The lush green is refreshing, and many other hues of green are there to give dimension and show where the light is hitting or shining through the leaves.

In stark contrast to the natural shapes of the landscape, the houses shapes are angular. The red used compliments the earthy colors. Upon further inspection, you can start to see the red used in the roof of the house, down to the mud, and just a hint used in the trees. 

The Hay Wain was based off of a scene on the river Stour in Suffolk, England. In fact, this scene was from the neighboring property of Constable's father, Flatford Mill. While I appreciate the new use of lush green and the beautiful clouds, this piece doesn't quite resonate with me like Francisco Goya's piece.

While realism focused on the objective reality, impressionism focused on the responses that the art had on the viewer.

I am drawn to the imperfection in impressionistic art, which in my opinion gives character and personality to an art piece. I think this requires a huge amount of creativity and trusting the process which I admire. I am such a concrete and practical person, that it is such a breath of fresh air to experience a new way of seeing things. 

 

This is an oil on canvas entitled, "Impression Sunrise" painted by Claude Monet in 1872. This painting is what largely inspired the impressionist movement. The loose brush strokes were the total opposite of traditional arts rules, one of them being that brush stokes would be smoothed out and finished so that you couldn't tell that it was a painting. 

Claude Monet painted this outside at the port of Le Havre. He painted with a new style that for many, was not seen before, painting freely and quickly. In fact, an impression was like a sketch or a first draft. Claude Monet utilized this technique to capture a quick moment, the movement evidently seen with quick brush stokes.

The different gradients of color brings the dock and tree line into the distance and suggests a haze lingering about. In contrast the sun is a blazing orange that cuts through that haze and reflects beautifully on top of the sparkling water. The haze or mist in this piece is my favorite part of the piece, to think that this was achieved through different colors is amazing. I can feel the cool crisp air that is felt during misty mornings. It is also just impressive that this is all done in oil paint. The mist looks like it is done with water color

The loose brush strokes allow you to kind of piece together where everything is on your own, allowing the viewer to interpret the painting. They also give the water in the harbor motion. Looking at the brush strokes individually is not very pleasing, but given the big picture it works well. 

I definitely admire the raw talent and creativity that it takes to create impressionistic art, however this style would not be something that I would be able to do comfortably or with any kind of confidence. However I praise and am happy to appreciate the liveliness and uniqueness that this style brings.

Here is another impressionist painting, it is a oil painting on canvas entitled, "Bal du moulin de la Galette" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir in 1876. 

This scene depicts a cheerful and exciting scene of a popular dance hall in Paris. Pierre-Auguste Renoir liked to depict everyday life, and during this time it was common for middle class individuals to dress up and enjoy their time. This painting reflects a moment captured from the artists life. Some of Pierre-Auguste Renoir's friends are included in this piece. 

I can imagine that this moment was during or right before sunset when the sun gives off more of an orange color. You can see the simmers of light scattered through out the painting. The faces of the men and women also reflect off that golden sunlight. 

I also see the social factor reflected in this piece. The men and women are dancing and interacting with one another. In the front the woman in the in the black comfortably leans over the woman in the stiped dress talking to the man to the right. The feel of this painting is very light and fun which to me is evident by the blues, the movement of the people and the natural light reflected in this piece. 

Looking at the painting, besides the woman in the striped dress who seems to almost be looking at the viewer, your eyes don't really fall into one specific area. Rather, you see a few different movements throughout the painting. The fluid brush strokes gives the dancing figures a swinging movement. The dancing woman on the left in the white dress. The under part of her skirt is showing which gives me the impression that this was really taken in a fleeting moment.  

I find the only overall line structure to be the bench in the front angled slightly diagonally. I don't enjoy not having like a baseline, or line structure. I think that this painting is all over the place, which is cool in its own way, but not the most appealing to me. 

References

R. K. (7 July, 2019). My Modern Met. The First Exhibition of the Impressionists. https://mymodernmet.com/claude-monet-impression-sunrise/

Z. C. Goya, Third of May, 1808. Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/becoming-modern/romanticism/romanticism-in-spain/a/goya-third-of-may-1808

P. N. (16 July, 2002). Webmuseum. Renoir, Pierre-Auguste. https://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/renoir/moulin-galette/