Toward the Modern Era 1870-1914

Based on Cunningham Chapter 18 The Growing Unrest

-Social and Political Revolutions replacing the old monarchies -Scientific and technological advances -Feelings of cheerfulness in the cities of Europe - Belle Epoque – Beautiful Age -superficial as feelings that war would break out -the collapse of the fabric of European civilization – pre-World War I Impressionism • Group of artists rejected by the Parisian Art establishment organized own exhibit which scandalized • One work: Impression: Sunrise by Monet was particularly “scandalous” and lent its name to a new movement – Impressionism • Impressionism became a revolution in art

Impressionism

• First attempt was to achieve a greater realism –advancing the original ideas of the Renaissance • Impressionists concentrated on the realism of light and color and not form • Desire to reproduce the impression objects made on their eyes –Often we “see” details that are not there or visible because they are usually there or supposed to be there Edouard Manet 1832-1883

-Paris is the center of new artistic activity -Manet shocks the art world and makes possible the Impressionist movement -Style of art (not the subject matter) shows Manet breaking with tradition -Scenes are focused and obscured at the same time The Luncheon on the Grass by Manet • 1863 – Paris • Caused a public outcry – rejected as the Paris Salon exhibition –Rare to have nude females WITH clothed men –Men are indifferent to the women –Figures are NOT 3-D well rounded but flat –Situation is what is important here –Color brilliance

A Bar at the Folies-Bergere by Manet • 1882 – London • Style changes from woman to those in the mirror –Sharp outlines and defined forms are replaced by blur of shapes and colors

Red Boats at Argenteuil by Claude Monet • 1875 Boston • Combining separate colors to reproduce the effects of light • Monet recorded all the colors of the water and boats and does not blend them –This is what the artist sees NOT what he knows or assumes is there. –Monet fidelity to visual perception –Monet’s friends called him “the eye”

Water Lilies by Claude Monet 1926 Paris -artist is guided by the visual factors and not what is intellectual -very Platonic -leading the way to modern art

Pierre Auguste Renoir 1841-1919 • Kept general principles of Impressionism but deviated somewhat • Wanted to reproduce Monet’s interest in the effect of light in patches of color BUT brought a human element to the art • Constantly exploring the world’s beauty – especially women as symbols of life • Women in Renoir’s works are full of warmth and charm Le Moulin de la Galette by Renoir 1876 Paris Renoir • Gallete has small patches of color achieving the impression of sunlight • Scene is very much belle epoque • Love, fun in all forms • Two Girls at the Piano –More Renaissance style with sense of impressionist light –Renoir emphasizes the positive side of life On the Terrace By Renoir 1881 Chicago Edgar Degas 1834-1917 • Showing intimate moments in people’s lives revealed by a small gesture, look, expression • -the universality of human existence – a psychological approach to the subject • Ballet is a favorite subject due to the movement and intensity Degas

• Frequently called a misogynist because his female nudes lacked the idealized qualities in Renoir’s works • His women are caught unaware in simple, natural poses –Often called “key-hole visions” –The subjects are “spied upon” The Tub By Degas 1886 Farmington CT Woman combing her hair By Degas 1885 Moscow Rene Rodin 1840-1917

• Impact of Impressionism on sculpting less as principles depend on light and color • Rodin – greatest of the age –In his works in bronze he reproduces the shifting light forms and shadows Monument to Balzac By Rodin 1898 – New York Bronze -exhibiting the violent force of creativity -one critic referred to this statue as a toad in a cloak The Kiss By Rodin Height 6’2” 1886 - Paris Marble The Thinker By Rodin 1902 – Paris -the icon of intellectual activity Post- Impressionism

• Very difficult period in art history to categorize –Artists here have only one thing in common: a rejection of impressionism –All have their own styles –Grouping together is just for historical convenience –Within this time period: • Seurat • Gauguin • Cezanne • Van Gogh Georges Pierre Seurat 1859-1891 • Scientific precision of painting thousands of tiny dots • Application based on strict theories of color • Geometric relationships of forms in space • A Sunday on La Grande Jatte –1886 Chicago

The Models by Seurat 1888 – Private collection 1848-1903

• Flamboyant and exotic art • Many paintings based on his experiences in Tahiti : primitive subjects in a very sophisticated way “We hail Thee, Mary” By Gauguin 1891 New York -Tahitian Madonna and Child -Western spiritual theme in a Polynesian setting We shall not go to the market today By Gauguin - 1892 Paris Two Tahitian Women By Gauguin 1899 Paris

• Tormented vision • Desperate emotions were triumphantly overcome via his art • His paintings are statements on the human condition • Starry Night (1889 New York) –Passionate frenzy, flickering forms –Movement in use of line and shape –Pessimistic?

Café Terrace at Night By Van Gogh 1888 Paris

The Night Café by Van Gogh 1888 – Van Gogh thought this was his Ugliest work – Terrible human passions – a place for the mad or criminal Vase with 12 Sunflowers By Van Gogh 1888 Paris Fauvism

• Early 20c.-violent mood intensified and artists displayed this: • Fauvism: –From the French “the wild beasts” –developed in France –Major change in use of color & line –Desire to discard all traditional value –Group ends up breaking apart –Matisse – most famous member Henri Matisse

• Leading spirit of the Fauves • Bold and brilliant color accents • The delight of visual sensation –Sacrificing realism • Flowing images express a positive mood of optimism – at odds with the times –Example: Joy of Life – people making music and love, bright sunlight, dancing Joy of Life by Henri Matisse 1906 -accentuating dreamlike unreality by using varying sizes -great flowing lines The Red Studio Matisse 1911 New York -Matisse’s works In a studio The Dance by Matisse – 1910 St. Petersburg (Russia) Expressionism

• Violent Northern European art form • Began in Germany • Express social and political unrest –Gloomy, foreboding, chilling works –Concerned with emotional impact –Using the power of color to express –Elicited strong emotions • Major artist: Edvard Munch –Morbid insecurity –The Scream – most famous painting The Scream By Munch 1893 Oslo Munch: “I hear the scream in nature” -Intense anguish -painted several versions of this subject Madonna By Munch 1895 Oslo Girl with Doll By Heckel 1910 New York