Alexjade

      In past posts in previous modules, I have given examples of art that are very pleasing to the eye; romantic and classical. It is colorful, radiant, and above all, cheerful. Even in pieces meant to take hold of darker elements, they still had a simplicity that was easy to gaze upon while dissecting its features. However, in this post, we begin to see war's effect on art. How the trauma of witnessing death firsthand can be incorporated into the paper. Gone is the bright and bubbly nature of the previous years, and now all you will see is death and decay. I have presented the elements of death in each piece here and how WWI played a significant role in the art of the early modern era.  Gassed by John Singer Sargent, 1919     In this piece, Gassed , by John Singer Sargent, we are witnessed soldiers returning from battle. As the name suggests, here we see the effects of chemical weapons and their impact on the soldier's bodies. As seen in the painting, most of these soldiers a

      In this post, I will compare two forms of art in the romanticism era, one, of course, being romanticism and the other being realism. Looking at their elements and the way artists use colors, brush strokes, and even imagery to display their work in the romantic era. In other words, these works often show real-life events or exaggerate them by romanticizing them.  Realism The Gleaners, Jean-Francois Milet     In this piece, we can see a depiction of three peasants tending the fields. This is an excellent example of realism, as this was the case in the early 1800s. We can see no exaggerated colors; these are real people who existed, ad the colors appear dull and unsaturated. For most, this was a painted description of rural life, a touch of nature sprinkled on the canvas. This can also display the turning of the seasons, as we can see in the browning of the grass and how misty the atmosphere is. However, what I believe can be interpreted from this piece is to give a realistic view o

      Morality played a significant role in the classical era of art. As some may not be as visible as others, art was meant to tell stories and to have a deeper meaning behind them. When you look at a piece, viewers don't just look at the main element, but upon further inspection, more intricate details are discovered. Facts that help further portray the true meanings behind the piece and its true morality. The pieces I chose display the easy transition between the Rococo and the Neoclassical eras while also displaying their hidden morals. As to not only view the main aspects of each piece but to engage yourself and see how each artist uses elements such as the color of clothing, light, shadow, and, lastly, metaphorical references to more profound meaning. The Love Letter , François Boucher      This piece, The Love Letter  by  François Boucher, is a beautiful display of the pastels and soft curves in the Rococo period for art. The gentle faces of the women tying their love lett

       The piece that I chose was Still Life with Lobster, Ham, and Fruit  created by Jan Davidsz de Heem. During this period still, life portraits were a popular form of art. As not only was it popular, but fruit and other types of food were the most common in this media. The fruit can be represented in a multitude of ways; fertility, youth, or more notably, life. The dinner portrayed is full of life and is fresh, seemingly untouched. However, the food is eaten in this piece, like others before it. It's left a mess and torn to shreds like someone gorged it without thought, finally leaving the rest to rot. Therefore, this now changes our metaphor. Rather than life, this food could represent death and decay. Not just death but it "characterizes the inevitable and undeniable mortality of our presence in the world," (Mark Mitchell, 2016) . To simplify, it's a realistic representation of our stance on life. How life can truly be not perfect.      This piece can also be co

  The piece listed above is Starry Night  by Vincent Van Gogh (1889).  Vincent Van Gogh is not only known for his work but also for his very prominent manic episode where amid a hallucination he severed his own ear and later offered it as a gift. Due to this, he began his year-long stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum. With his constant battles with mania and hallucinations, he would have very highs and lows in his mood, stability, and mental health. He was in a constant mental battle against himself for a year but he would always wright in letters about how beautiful the night sky was. However, he was never allowed to paint in his room, as most items are restricted in mental institutions.  This piece is a window into Van Gogh's mind, how he views the world and what he sees as beauty. The wavy swirls of light in the sky danced over the quiet town bringing a sense of ease. The tall dark tree looming over the buildings almost gives viewers a sense of dread. Seeing this tall, dark

  The Piece that I chose was the Mona Lisa as it is still very relevant today. At the time seeing an oil painting capture such realism was very influential and even inspired other artist to create similar works from Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa.  This painting was birthed in Florence sometime between 1503 - 1519. That such a simple painting that captures a women faintly smiling could cause such an impact on art in the Italian Renaissance era. Personally I would own a copy of this piece as I love the discussions still being discussed about this piece of art. How it influences the art world even today. Her smile is almost mysterious but calming at the same time. I also find it fascinating that a simple portrait of a simple women could be so beautiful. This piece is timeless.   As this painting became a treasure for many and has been stolen many times. Which is another reason why I would love a copy of this painting because it’s story is even more intriguing. Her smile is almost hypn