Blog #6

These six weeks of art changed how I perceive and look at art. Before this class, I never really looked deeply at art work to understand where they came from and why. I had a more superficial appreciation for art. Now I know that paintings during the Realist period focused more on the scientific because of the creation of positivism at that time. I can also look at a piece of art and figure out what they were inspired from. For example, I can make a connection between a piece by Monet and a piece by Pollock.

Although these paintings do not appear obviously similiar, there is a connection. Monet depicted the effects of light, not so much form. However, it is still apparent that this is a landscape. In Jackson Pollock's piece, there is a complete loss of form. The idea could be inspired by artists like Monet, but it is a little more extreme since there are no recognizable forms at all. Before this class, I would have just looked at these pieces as completely seperate works of art. However, now I am able to see that they are alike and that one inspired the other.

The class also taught me to not judge a piece of art right away. I found that when I know the background of the piece and what the artist is trying to convey, there is a meaning found that makes the piece so much more interesting. Even if it is not aesthetically pleasing, the idea can make a piece brilliant.

Blog #5 -- Manet

Manet is often called the Father of Modern Art and his influence can be found in many paintings. One obvious painting that Manet influenced is Nude with Apple by William Glackens (1910). Glackens painted this piece to look like a modern day Eve. He uses bright and vivid colors and a brushstroke that makes the painting appear a little blurred.




When this painting is compared to Manet's Olympia, there are clear comparisons. For one, the subject matter is very similar. Both paintings represent a female nude on a couch. They both show the female with an indifferent expression while staring down at us, portraying status. Therefore, Glackens imitated Manet's Olympia in its portrayal of a non-accommodating female nude. The painting technique is also alike. Although Glacken's use a more blurred brushstroke akin to his later works (ex: Woman with Fans), the color scheme is very much like the colors used in Olympia. The female is very pale in relation to the background which is relatively dark. Surrounding the female form are light sheets that make our focus in both paintings the female. Even the placement of the black cat is mirrored by the black shoe, and the flowers are represented by the flowers on the hat. While not identical to Manet's Olympia, Glacken was definitely inspired by the piece.

Supplemental for Week 5

The Impressionist artist I found most interesting was Mary Cassatt. She was brought up in an upper-class family where she was raised and expected to be a house wife. Even though her father and society did not approve of her pursuing a career, she enrolled herself in Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. She was not even discouraged when the male faculty and students were not supportive of her in her studies, and later moved to Paris to study by herself. Even though she had many obstacles against her success as an artist, Mary pursued her career and eventually had art work showed at the Salon and later with the Impressionists. Her subject matter was also different from most Impressionists since she focused on portraits rather than landscapes, especially portraits of domestic women and children (as seen in Breakfast in Bed above). She even represented her portraits in an unconventional way by showing the truth. Mary Cassatt is very inspiring because she pursued her dream even though there were obstacles and also took risks by painting in a new way that was rarely ever seen.

Blog #4 -- Art in Society

In today's society, art has the same purposes as it did in the periods we are studying, but in a less obvious and real way. We looked at the way art was portrayed as propaganda, and in the blog below, it is relevant that propaganda does exist. However, art is not always propaganda but just a means to portray a certain idea or message to the public. For example, in the painting in the left by Picasso that was mentioned in a voicethread, Picasso is making a statement on the chaos that was going on at this time in the 20th century -- war and revolution. Therefore, in this cubist piece, he is representing the chaotic world he is living in and trying to understand it. He is painting a message about the world he lived in, the fast-paced and disordered way of life, without the realism of the earlier centuries.

Another example of this idea is seen in Andy Warhol's Campbell Soup Can series (1962). Although not obvious of the message he is making, a closer look shows what he is trying to portray to society. He is making a commentary on mass production by presenting numerous soup cans to show the monotony of society. Art is a useful tool for painters to influence society through their works by portraying their ideas on the world in which they live in.

Blog #3 -- Propaganda

Louis XIV realized that he could use art to influence people internationally through propaganda. This painting by Rigaud is a perfect example of how art is used to influence people in a specific way. Louis XIV by Rigaud (1701) shows the monarch in elegant clothing while showing off his favorite feature, his legs. His gaze to the viewer makes him seem human even though he has such high status. This painting portrays Louis XIV in a light where he is a rich and powerful leader but also tangible to his people.



Similarly, in our newest election, the media used propaganda to portray Obama in a positive way to influence more votes. These posters were seen almost anywhere, shirts, buttons, etc. Obama's face is serious and concentrated while underneath his face is the common slogan associated with his campaign: CHANGE. By creating these posters, Obama and his supporters were portraying that Obama is very serious about his promise to bring change to the United States and that he is working for the American citizen. Like Louis XIV, creators of this poster wanted to use art to influence people in a positive way.



Unlike Louis XIV's idea of propanda, current art is often used to influence people negatively against a person or event. For example, there is a lot of negative propaganda regarding our former president, George W. Bush. The cartoon on the left is a perfect example. The artist is depicting George Lucas telling reporters that his character Darth Vader, who was an evil ruler and destroyed almost everything while trying to take over, is a metaphor for George W. Bush. He is even going so far as to say that this is obvious even without the shirt.

Propaganda is very prevalent in our current society. Artists often use there art to portray messages and influence the viewer in some way.

Blog #2 -- Mannerism

Between the early 16th century High Renaissance and the 17th century Baroque period there was a very controversial art style called mannerism. The Renaissance was a period of natural, balanced, and harmonious figures. Mannerism was pretty much the complete opposite of that. Although mannerism used very skillful techniques, it was typified with clashing colors, elongated figures (especially limbs), and bizarre themes. Subjects were often erotic and unsettling. Madonna with the Long Neck by Parmigianino (left) is a perfect example of mannerism. Madonna is elongated with her lower torso and legs made much wider, mirroring the vase by the youth on the left. There is also a lack of clear perspective. These aesthetic qualities as well as it not being clear what the theme is, make this piece a classic example of mannerism.

Needless to say, mannerism has not been given a good reputation. Up until recently, mannerism has often been considered a dirty word. However, I feel that with modern art which does not always grasp the concepts found in the Renaissance, mannerism has become a little more respectable.


After reading this description, I was instantly reminded of an artist I heard of during an art class in highschool. John Currin is famous for paintings laden with satire and provocative sexual and social themes. For this reason, he has been subject to much controversy and even has been said to be pornographic. Although people sometimes do not agree with his subjects, it is apparent he has a skillful technique. While all of this applies to mannerism, what stuck out to me the most was the way he distorted the female form. For example, in Thanksgiving (2003) (right), Currin has depicted three emaciated women around a large, uncooked turkey. The woman in the middle has an elongated neck like the Madonna piece and has an exaggerated opened mouth waiting for a piece of the uncooked turkey. The theme of this piece is unclear, like most mannerist paintings, because of the uncooked turkey. The piece also has the same unusual colors characteristic of this time period.

Another example is Currin's Park City Grill (2000) ( left). Like the Madonna and Thanksgiving pieces, this painting shows an elongated neck as well as a distorted male face. Although the theme of this piece is not as obscure, it still holds many consistencies with mannerist works of art. These examples helped me realize that the mannerist style is still alive today in modern art. Although Currin is often not respected for his work, the style is still not as controversial as it was in the past. This is because with modern art, there are so many different styles and ways to portray a message besides literal and realistic depictions. Mannerism can therefore be appreciated for what it is and not just thought of as ugly.

Blog #1-- Reflecting Values of Society

Jan van Eyck's painting, Giovanni Arnolfini and His Wife, Giovanna Cenami, is a piece that is extremely relevant today. This relevancy is not just because of hidden symbols that are often found in artwork today, but because of the way it reflects the values of society at that time. In the 15th century, women were seen as being submissive and passive while men were superior and dominant. It is no suprise that van Eyck depicted these stereotypes within his painting. The stance of the man with his hand raised is very strong and erect, indicating that he is the superior to the woman who is hunched over and slightly looking down. Also, as indicated in the voicethread, the woman is closer to the bed while the man is closer to the window. This demonstrates the stereotype that woman belong at the home while men are centered outside of the home in the public, working sphere.

Everyone holds stereotypes, whether intentional or not, due to conditioning they experienced as children. These assumptions are often subconciously expressed, especially in art work and the media. Therefore, art usually reflects the values of society.

Presently, stereotypes are very prevelant in the media. For example, this Vogue cover from April 2008 is very similar to van Eyck's piece. LeBron James is almost beast-like by his stance and facial expression, indicating his dominance and agression, two typical gender stereotypes of males. He is also wearing athletic clothes and dribbling a basketball, emphasizing his athleticism. On the otherhand, Giselle Bundchen is wearing a pretty dress and smiling. She is also being held by Lebron, demonstrating her submisseveness to the dominant male. Whether intentional or not, this magazine cover depicts the hidden stereotypes that many people still maintain. While we are not as open about these biases as people were in the 15th century, they still come out subconciously. Therefore, despite the time differnce, connections can still be made with van Eyck's piece and current artwork today because art will always reflect the values of society.