Explorations in Art

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Feminism and Post Modern Art

July 29, 2023

Women's Impact on the Post-Modern Art Era Introduction For a very long time, art had primarily been dominated by men. Similarly to topics like science and politics, this male-dominated theme can affect the public's perception of art. Although there is no single answer to when female presence increased in the art world, the post-modern era was a stepping stone for women in art. This blog features some of my favorite female artists and explores how they contributed to the post-modern era. Judith Baca Judith Baca is a Mexican-American painter, known best for her large murals and work in creating a welcoming and diverse art community wherever she is. It is important to note that Judith is not only an important female leader in the art world but also in the fight to create equality for all people and races. Judith's main focus for all of her work is to bring people together while connecting communities to the land around them. Matriarchal Mural: When God Was A Woman (Thirteen

Early Modern Era

July 19, 2023

The Great Depression's Influence on the Early Modern Era Introduction In the 1930s, the entire industrialized world felt the shock of the Great Depression. It began in the United States but was also very prominent in Great Britain and Germany. One of the most outstanding downfalls of the Great Depression was the stock market crash in 1929, which took years to recover from. Additionally, many lost their jobs and deeply suffered from unemployment. To combat this, the Works Progress Administration employed people as artists, which opened everyone up to a new outlook on art, music, and other cultural aspects that had been overlooked by many. Margaret Bourke-White: Pedestrians in New York City Margaret Bourke-White was an American photographer who spent the early part of her career photographing scenes from the Great Depression. Her goal was to show the harsh reality of life during this era, and she achieved this by combining her brilliant photographs with journalism. This photograph

Romantic Era: Photography and Sculpture

July 11, 2023

Photography and Sculpture in the Romantic Era Introduction The Romantic Era came after the Enlightenment and was an influential movement that integrated emotion and feeling into the adopted lifestyle of purely logical thinking. Artists began using their work to teach important topics such as injustice or emotional thinking. In doing this, freedom and equality became well-known to all. Landscapes, tragedies, and harmony between humans and nature were some of this time's most commonly seen works. This blog evaluates photography and sculpture in the Romantic Era. Photography In the 1800s, photography was a huge step in the learning curve of many different things. The first photograph was taken in 1821, and many more came quickly after that. This incredible art allowed people to capture and share moments that paintings or drawings couldn't. This is shown in Eadweard Muybridge's photograph The Horse in Motion. At the time of its creation, the visual of running horses was very

Art and Scientific Discovery in the 1700s

June 29, 2023

Art and Scientific Discovery in the 1700s Georg Dionysius Ehret (1708-1770) In the 1700s, many new plants and flowers were discovered, named, and drawn. This time period was when Carolus Linnaeus developed his classification system for naming plants and animals. Artwork specific to botany flourished because many artists were creating pieces based on Linnaeus' classifications. Through this artwork, scientific knowledge spread. Georg Dionysius Ehret was a German-born botanical artist that was very influential during the Enlightenment because he illustrated many of the plant findings of Carolus Linnaeus. Ehret combined beautiful artwork with scientific elements found by Linnaeus. Above is one of Ehret's works called Methodus Plantarum Sexualis in sistemate naturae descripta. Made in Leiden, Netherlands in 1736, this piece of art is one of many created by Ehret to show Linnaeus' botanical findings. It's very important because the art allowed people to visualize the new spe

Baroque Era

June 25, 2023

History The Art of Painting by the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer was created in 1666-69. There is no information on where this piece was made, but after his death, Vermeer's wife tried to keep the piece, but it eventually was bought by Adolf Hitler and is now held in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. This piece of art is very special because it's about transformation. The painter turns the subject into an allegorical figure, representing the model and Clio, the Goddess known as the muse of history. There is also a rare view of the work that goes into making a painting. Normally, we see finished art products, but here a point is made to show the intimacy behind the actual creation of the piece. Personal Opinion Although I would not buy this piece, I really like it. The details from the light bring a lot of beauty to the painting. The model also stands out very well because of the neutral colors around her. I also noticed how the artist is dressed up even though there is n

Italian Renaissance

June 15, 2023

Background The Tempest is an oil painting on canvas created by the Italian painter Giorgione between 1506-1508. This piece was one of the first to be considered a landscape painting during the Renaissance. Giorgione emphasizes the dark areas of the painting, which is very contradictory to the typical light paintings. I really love how the dark seems to swallow everything around it because it emphasizes the lighter parts. The most pulling part of this painting is the visual triangle. The man looks at the woman, who looks at us, while we look at the man. As Smarthistory points out, you become part of the painting. The interaction is very impressive because it makes the art feel like more than just a painting. My Thoughts I don't think I would own this piece, but it does pull my attention. I think the tension between the man, woman, and baby really captures my eye. Looking farther out, the lightning and seemingly windy weather are beautiful but worrisome at the same time as if saying

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