Mini essay 1

      Art. What is art? Art is deferent, person to person. In Friday's class we watch a movie about a cave that had many drawings all over the walls. And that got me thinking about, what is art?  Art is not only something to look at and admire. Art comes with a history and messages that that the drawer wanted to display. Two periods of art that shows this are Egyptian, and Greek art.

            
                  The image here is of a hippo. It was made during the Egyptian art period. Many of us know what a hippo can do, and I'm sure no ones wants to miss with one. Hippo are strong animals and during their time was hunted for sports. Every time a hippo statue was made they would brake off the leg to make sure it wouldn't as dangerous in the afterlife. The pattern on the body of the hippo would be that of river plants and marshes. The reason that these were add to the body of the hippo was, because that was the habitat of the animal.

This a piece of art that didn't make whole through out time. Even with the minor defect of missing the nose, it still show off the great work the Greek artist made. As well as show the present all the detail that went into making the statue. The statue was made with marble around the time they started to import marble.

There were a lot of difference that both art period had. For one Egyptian art focus on symbols and power. Power meaning high ranking people. Such as the pharaoh taking a step forward in a statue or drawing.  While the Greek love to show great details in there style. They love to show many different types of details such as pain and suffering.  They never really showed off symbols instead they focus on show great detail such as the face, hair, body, foot, and clothes. While the Egyptian pieces were done with almost no detail.

 

Impressionism and Post Impressionism

In 1874 a group of artist who were denied to show in the Salon establish their own independent exhibition, of their own work. These artist didn't like doctrines and romantic ideals, so instead they turn to the portrayal of contemporary life. They would take their canvas outside and would paint "impression" of what the eye saw instead of what the mind knows. The down side to drawing like this is all the condition you have to go through. This kind of art would look like the beginning stages of a sketch.

An example of impression is the drawing by Claude Monet.

                                   This  drawing is called "arrival of the normandy train". In the drawing instead of being focus on the human drama with the arrival of the train he choose to focus on the lighting of the area. And it show in the drawing. You can see the people but the eyes doesn't really focus on them like other art works might. He plays with the tones of light. Under the glass roof you can see that its a little darker than the sky, and the reason for that is because of the steam the train would shoot out.

The other style of art being Post Impression. Post Impression is the style of art that came after impression around 1885. This was not one style as it didn't have a style, instead they would work on from the work impression did. Many believed that impression was more sketchy drawing than  solid drawings. Others said it didn't have room for personal expression or spiritual contents. This was time of drawing with personal expression, or with some kind of feeling.

Vincent Van Gogh The Starry night 1889. Oil.

This is a great example of post impression. It shows how it and impression are very different, yet still have the same kind of feel to it. It shows the same kind of style as the drawing "arrival of the normandy train" showed. For one you know that the house are there but your eye will always look at the starry night. Also the tone from light to dark really shows off the beauty of the drawing. The mood I would saw it is a calming place to be. I feel relax looking at the drawing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance

1. Why was the Medici family so important in the development of the Renaissance?
A question ask a lot is "Would the Renaissance have gone in a different direction without these "Fathers of the Renaissance ?" The answer being yes. If it wasn't for the money that the father got because of business moves and sell, the artist would have to worry for money. They support a lot of the artist of the renaissance.


2. Why was Donatello's David so revolutionary?
Because it was the first time since the Roman's, that anyone try to make a freestyle nude man.

3. Describe this sculpture in detail.
It shows the aftermath that happen between the fight of David and Goliath. The statue is made out of bronze. It show David with pride, next to the sword that one belong to Goliath, as well as the head of goliath on the floor.

Assignment #2-

1. How does an artist create asymmetrical balance?
Symmetrical balance used to show the near or exact off lefts and rights. While asymmetrical doesn't have the left and the right exact. It usual has one side in more details (with color or pattern) then it is counterbalance by a dark figure with only a small amount of light showing.





2. Describe several ways used to unify an artwork ?
Thing such as pattern, color and shape can be used to show off the art work. As well as the style that is used by the artist, like in the picture with the red room and the vines. Shapes are also used to, just like the photo with the mom and her child.
                                                    
3. How does scale change the meaning of an artwork?
Showing scale in an artwork can be used in many ways. If the scale of the art work is big it made to show off a meaning. Such as Michelangelo David it show the human and wonder it is. Or the big flowers below showing maybe some humor.

Simon Schama's Part 1

Hw#4

1.Describe the portrait of the fur merchant. Why is he “the business man’s hero”?  
The video describe the man in the panting as a hero. The reason for him being a hero is because he devoted his life into the business. The painting shows a man who is very tired, yet with a very sharp look in his eyes. That of a wise and experience man.

# 2. What is the mood of the portrait of the 83 yr old woman?
He knew what his customers wanted. So when looking at the 83 yr old woman, she looks to be depress. Why? The reason being, she looks like she knows it's almost time to leave the earth.

3. What is Rembrandt communicating in his painting of Sampson & Delilah?
What he likes to do is go past the mask that people wear. Making us want to feel sympathetic for them. And that kind of what he does here. Story of love and betraying.  For starters Sampson was naked in this painting instead he was dress and the knot showed how he was tied to his love. While Delilah was comforting him.