Formalism

Wassily Kandinksy (1866-1964)

Black And Violet-1923

oil on canvas; 20 x 24 inches

[could not find size.]

This painting is a form of formalism. It uses many different shapes and contrasting colors to make different sections stand out and make the painting very interesting. Kandinsky also used a lot of lines, bold and skinny, making the painting more fun to look at. This picture is definetaly an abstract piece.

During this time, Kandinsky was teaching art, while keeping up with his studies of art.

-This is not supposed to be my opinion, but Black and Violet is my favorite painting.

http://www.chess-theory.com/images1/08031_wassily_kandinsky.jpg

Realism: The Potato Eaters =]

Vincent Van Gogh, Dutch (1853-1890)

The Potato Eaters, 1885

oil on canvas; 82 x 114 cm.

Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

This painting is a form of immatationalism, Vincent Van Gogh painted exactly what he named his painting: The Potato Eaters. Vincent was poor, and he saw people looking exactly like this during his lifetime. Vincent used many dark colors, to show a sad emotion and that it may not have been the happiest time for these people. Color was also used with the lamp, giving the room some brightness. He also used line in the painting, using different thicknesses to help support the light. This was also used to detail the doors and the ceiling. Another element used was shape, with the dresses' unique shapes.

In the summer of 1882, Van Gogh was beginning to experiment with oil paints. He was also influenced by impressionist paintings, and became one. During 1885, he painted still life, landscape, and figure. This painting would probably fit into the category of figure, showing a real possible scene.

http://www.metmuseum.org/TOAH/HD/gogh/hd_gogh.htm

A Culture Other Than My Own

Boris Kustodiev (Russian) 1878-1927

Maslenitsa, 1919

oil on canvas, could not find size.

Isaac Brodsky Museum, St. Petersburg

This is named after a large carnival in Russia, that takes place before the Russians fast. That is probably what he was trying to show in this painting. This is an example of surrealism, showing an event that really occurs and what it would look like. The painter used lote of white, which would tell that it is probably cold and snowy.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Maslenitsa_kustodiev.jpg/800px-Maslenitsa_kustodiev.jpg&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Maslenitsa_kustodiev.jpg&h=581&w=800&sz=188&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=33Bjw32lwm0CeM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmaslenitsa%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

My Own Culture [Jewish]

Yoram Raanan (American) Born 1953

The Prophet

Acrylic painting on canvas; 47" x 34"

could not find.

This painting is probably a form of emotionalism, though also my own culture. With its varied colors and mysterious look, this painting is very tensing. It is pretty much all line, just with different colors. This must be a newer painting, because it was very hard to find. Raanan was also very inspired by his nature surroundings. This abstract piece could possibly be represent something that Raanan saw outside, it looks like the sky, hills, and possibly a person or other creature.

http://artcnet.com/New_Works/Raanan/prophet.html

Edgar Degas (French) 1834 -1917

Dancers Practicing at the Bar, 1877

Mixed media on cavas, 29 3/4 x 32 inches

The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, New York, U.S.A.

                      I like this painting, and many more from Edgar Degas. I love to dance, and he would paint exactly that. [Not me] Though many people thought of him as an impressionist, he preferred to be called a realist. Edgar Degas painted many of the things he saw, including normal people. He was really mostly known for all of his paintings of ballerinas. There were even books all about him and his passion of painting ballerinas and related ballet itms and scenes.

Emotionalism

Claude Monet (French) birth:1840,death:1879

The Red Kerchief: Portrait of Camille Monet 1873

Oil on canvas, 79.3 x 99 centimeters

Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland U.S.A.

I think that this painting may be either realism or emotionalism, though more emotionalism since the girl's expression and the colors used make her look sad and lonely. It is supposed to be a portrait, and also makes me feel sad when I look at this. The colors are somewhat dark, giving the painting quite a lonely feeling. The painting is not very detailed, and looks sort of rough. The shape is also impotant, making the walls look more detailed and the girl look like she is moving with the assistance of color. Line is used to make the window look very finished, and to elaborate on the girl's clothing. 

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.monetalia.com/paintings/monet-the-red-kerchief.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.monetalia.com/paintings/monet-the-red-kerchief.aspx&h=420&w=338&sz=56&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=55_goRK39nri8M:&tbnh=125&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bred%2Bkerchief%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

Faith Ringgold's The Sunflower Quilting Bee At Arles

Faith Ringgold (American) b. 1930

The Sunflower Quilting Bee At Arles-1991

Acrylic on canvas, tie-dyed, pieced fabric border, 74 x 80 inches

Private Collection

This painting was by Faith Ringgold. She was born in 1930, and is still alive today.

Her work was very unique, partly because her paintings were always bordered by some kind of quilt pattern. She would also base her work on events that were happening or that had happened, including The Undergoround Railroad. [Harriet Tubman] Faith would also sometimes include a story on her painting, in small print ontop of the border.

This piece of art is similar to Vincent VanGogh's art, since he painted many pictures of sunflowers. Faith's painting is dominated by sunflowers, which are on the tablecloth and surrounding the people.