Romantic Era Blog

I have known about Realism for a long time even before I realized it was Realism. Some of my favorite literature and authors have been heavily influenced by Realism including The Stranger by Albert Camus and East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Additionally 19th Century Europe and the political tyranny, conquest, unification, and discovery makes this time period my absolute favorite to learn about. It's a derailing train I get to watch in slow motion with the understanding of how the events that occurred then impacted 20th and 21st century western civilization to create the world we live in now. I went into this unit believing that Realism would be my favorite unit in this course and I was correct. 

The Third-Class Carriage by Honoré Daumier was finished in 1864 France. This painting alone shows the deep empathy that is seen throughout the Realism movement. Daumier himself was born in Marseille but grew up in Paris forced to work by age twelve. His work reflects the understanding of the low class workers in France who had to endure the brute of poor working conditions and long hours of the industrial era while facing varying levels of oppression during the seemingly constant change in governmental power during 19th century France. Invasion, war, and censorship were explored throughout the Realism era. Daumier's thoughts on the treatment of the lower classes are evident in their depiction. We see the faces of the elderly woman and nursing mother most clearly. Their faces are illuminated through the window light revealing the dark lines on the elderly woman's face showing how decades of labor has broken her down. These dark lines are not only seen on her however, the young child resting on her shoulder can even be seen with these lines starting to form telling as to how Daumier views the evolution that will ensue throughout his life. The landscape is also much larger than foreground of this painting. It appears as though the richer middle and upper classes can be seen behind them. The linear perspective reveals a large separation between them even though physical distance doesn't appear to be very large. Those sitting behind them don't appear to be plagued with the same deep dark lines throughout their face and the shading of their skin gives them a much less pale complexion. 

 

Young-Ladies of the Village by Gustave Courbet is my favorite Realism painting I have found. Finished in 1852 in Paris it is another French painting that depicts a very different lifestyle of that time period, middle class rural France. What I most enjoy in regards to this painting is the exposure of rural life in France. Courbet himself is from a village in France that he chose to depict in this painting. When he first displayed the work in Paris he was ridiculed for the small scale of the cattle and the perceived ugliness of the woman. I am not sure what makes these women particularly ugly but I am enamored with the use of accurate shading. The shadows under the foot of the younger girl and how the umbrella and bonnets perfectly cover the faces of the other woman. The use of color in their dresses blends perfectly with the landscape creating balanced subjects between them, the animals, and the landscape. The jutting edges of the hills surrounding them juxtaposed to the much softer rolling hills the women stand on reveals Courbet's sentiment towards rural France. Protected and safe from the turmoil Paris has be subjected to the last fifty years. These women appear to be prospering and the less concerned with the mixing of different classes that we see in the Daumier painting before it. 

It is hard to have a preference in art style during the Romantic Era because Impressionist art has been so incredibly beautiful. My preference for Realism is much less in the stylistic choices and much more due to the story told among those pieces. 

I chose Poppy field by Edouard Manet due to its similarities to Young-Ladies of the Village. Finished in 1873 France the painting has many immediate similarities in landscape, subject matter, and time period and yet the painting lacks the commentary of Courbet's work. Frivolous is how I would best describe this Impressionist painting. Manet was born to a rich family in Paris and was deeply inspired by Courbet and Realism. The vast landscape of this work feels empty and dull to me. The use of rich oranges, greens, blues, and white fail to invoke emotion. The lines and brushwork are much looser than the hills in Courbet's work. France in the final quarter of the 19th Century is finally enjoying stability and a return to peace and prosperity. This impressionist work depicts that gracefully. There is little attention or detail on the face's of the subjects allowing their sentiment to be up for interpretation. Like the realist paintings this impressionist work is a fleeting moment in time but it is capturing the good times. It makes me think of our society today. Those who take a picture of their meal before they eat it or capturing the beautiful December Alaskan sunset. There is an understanding that this moment won't last forever but the underlying sentiment and important aspects of our lives are not captured in these pictures, it's simply for our own self indulgence. 

The final piece is another impressionist painting. The Dance Class by Edgar Degas was finished in France in 1874. 

When I first saw this piece I knew it would be a perfect comparison to the Realist The Third-Class Carriage painting. Both paintings capture this communal space showing them intermingled together. The main difference that is incredibly telling for Impressionism to me is the lack of structured classes. A dance class where everyone is subjected to wear the same attire and perform the same choreography side by side is starkly different from what occurs in a carriage. A carriage is a mode of transportation of people forcing people of different economic backgrounds together. Daumier highlights in his painting the voluntary separation between those middle class, upper class, and lower class people within the confined space. Impressionism lacks that awareness purposefully. The linear perspective in this painting with the long lines that create the room walls give the impression that there is no true foreground or background. Instead there is a long hallway room that fails to separate the subjects in anyway. The dabs of color pull each subject into the other which prevents the viewer's attention from being pulled into any certain direction. In Daumier's work the use of detailed lines was most used on the subject's faces unlike what is seen here where the most detail is seen in the instruments and the accessories in the girl's hair. These stylistic choices are intentional in capturing the beauty of collectiveness. The viewer should not be concerned with the lives the characters live outside this room but instead how they create a beautiful performance together. 

Works Cited

Edouard Manet and his Paintings Manet

https://www.manet.org/#google_vignette

Gustave Courbet The Met Museum.

https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/gust/hd_gust.htm

Honoré Daumier The National Gallery of Art. 

https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1209.html

The Dance Class The Met Museum

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/438817

The Monet Family in Their Garden at Argenteuil The Met Museum.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436965 

The Third-Class Carriage The Met Museum

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436095

Young Ladies of the Village The Met Museum

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/438820

Young Ladies of the Village Artvee

https://artvee.com/dl/young-ladies-of-the-village/ 

Classical Exhibit

The first painting I have chosen for this blog post is The American School by Matthew Pratt created in 1765. Matthew Pratt was an American artist from Philadelphia in the 18th Century. He like many artists at that time came from a middle class background and was fortunate enough to attend an apprenticeship under his uncle. He went on to gain prominence mainly painting portraits. 

This piece immediately stood out to me as the art style reminded me of the Baroque style. The dark background and muted colors stood out to me as traditional Baroque stylistic techniques. As this painting was completed only fifteen years after the end of the Baroque period I originally wasn't quite sure if this would be considered Neoclassical or not. However, there are many Neoclassical aspects in this painting. There is an unstrained appearance upon the subjects faces and in the positioning of their bodies that create a harmonious scene. The use of straight lines and subtle curvature are revealing signs of Neoclassical influence. Another realization I had upon further investigation was that the dark muted colors found in the painting were less to do with Baroque influence but instead, in protest to the pastel and bright color found in Rococo paintings at the time. 

The painting depicts subjects creating their own works. It appears they are at work, collaborating together on a larger piece. This is revealing of the role of artists during this era. Artists were commonly middle class. Many were wealthy enough to be educated and trained while still working for the upper classes often commissioned to create portraits. The painter Matthew Pratt is his own subject in this work, sat at the easel with famous painter Benjamin West depicted at the far left. This further creates the scene of Neoclassical art as Matthew combines the ideals of artist as a profession while revealing he himself has finally reached a status of being able to create his own self portrait. 

Paintings such as The American School create a sense of political commentary that I can't fully understand as someone who did not experience living through the time of rising middle class and the creation of professions similar to what we see today in America. Without that political context the painting comes off lifeless and somewhat dull especially after spending time indulging in Baroque and Rococo art that feels much more full of life. 

The next piece I have chosen is Mademoiselle de Carmargo Dancing by Nicolas Lancret finished in 1730 in Paris.  

Mademoiselle de Carmargo Dancing was an early Rococo painting. The Rococo style was an evolution of the Italian Baroque style and its influences can be seen in this painting. The theatrics of the woman is captured in her movements. The distinct differences are seen in the choice of its depiction of this woman who is clearly an aristocrat. The pastels in the florals of her dress to convey innocence and wealth. Another Rococo stylistic technique can be seen in the light brushwork throughout the painting and it helps create the shallow background seen in many Rococo pieces. 

As previously stated this piece is an earlier Rococo painting. Rococo having been influenced by the Baroque era is something I find fascinating and a revelation of the changing political landscape of Europe at the time. France was not an early adopter of the the Baroque art style and that may be due to the turmoil and instability of France at the time. By the 1730s and the creation of the Rococo period we see France as a world power with colonial aspirations and it having become a leader of scientific discovery and cultural influence. Rococo was created in Paris and is a reflection of the sheer wealth the nation had accumulated. It also is very telling of the political landscape. France's largest enemy was no longer the Hapsburgs but instead itself. Paintings such as Mademoiselle de Carmargo Dancing commonly depicted lower class servants and entertainers such as those seen in this piece. The ruling class viewed their subjects as wealth to be collected as their greed continued inflate. The Rococo era is truly the precursor and the subtle foreshadowing of what is to come to France before the end of the century; revolution. 

My final painting I chose another Rococo piece. Anne Fairfax as a Shepherdess by Philippe Mercier. This is a French and German Rococo piece created in 1750. The distinction of French and German is important the artist Philippe Mercier is of French descent but hails from Brandenburg, Prussia. Prussia is a lifeline of monarchial rule throughout the French revolution. Of course as this painting was finished decades prior it helps create the image of the influence of France on other European powers at this time. 

This piece bares its Rococo style starkly. The pastel pink, yellows, blues and greens saturate most of the painting. Fair skinned and rosy cheek Anne Fairfax is American born and married to George Washington's brother Lawerence. The use of sheep is an interesting twist on the common Rococo theme of painting  subject's pets. This twist is a bit deeper than the light hearted, humorous, depiction that I believe it was meant to portray but instead a satire of religious art. Aristocrat Anne Fairfax depicted as a shepherd is meant to convey her infinite wisdom leading those lower class colonial subjects along with her as if they themselves are the sheep. These not so subtle ideas of how to aristocracy viewed and portrayed themselves reveals why there was the push back in the rise of the Neoclassical era. A return of morality and seriousness to art and its depictions of scenes was to come swiftly and denounce the mockery of religious ideals. 

 

One of my favorite aspects of this piece is the political juxtaposition between all those involved. The subject is an American aristocrat being painted by a Prussian artist who was classically trained in Paris using a French art style. Each of these three nations have come together to create a somewhat of an odd take of Rococo art. Prussia, a militaristic force, heightens my conclusion of the ruling class that differentiates Anne from just a mere shepherdess to that of a powerful political figure. The French Rococo influence is lost in someways as their is a lack of eloquence that can be seen in paintings like Mademoiselle de Carmago Dancing due to the American colony's ruggedness. 

Personally I enjoy the humorous lightheartedness of this painting. The use of curvature in the dress to create such flow and elegance while being somewhat racy in how the dress holds to Fairfax's body connects me to her youthfulness. It feels as though Anne Fairfax will be young, beautiful, and rich forever. That is a feeling we might have all experienced or wished to have experienced at some point in our lives. 

Works Cited 

Anne Fairfax as a Shepherdess Art UK. Fairfax House

https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/anne-fairfax-as-a-shepherdess-9885/search/2024--style_title:rococo/page/1/view_as/grid

France, 1600-1800 The Met Museum.

https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/09/euwf.html

Mademoiselle de Carmargo Dancing Art UK. The Wallace Collection

https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/mademoiselle-de-camargo-dancing-209414

Matthew Pratt National Gallery of Art. 

https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1803.html#biography

Mrs. Anne Fairfax Washington Lee Find-A-Grave Memorial.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20747086/anne-washington_lee

Philippe Mercier Art UK.

https://artuk.org/discover/artists/mercier-philippe-16891760

The American School The Met Museum.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/11797

Baroque: The Abduction of The Sabine Women

 

The Abduction of The Sabine Women by Nicolas Poussin is a French oil on canvas painting finished 1634. The painting was created for Charles 1 de Crequy the marshal of the French army at the time. He was a prominent figure during the Thirty Years War and contributed greatly to the defeat of the Spanish Hapsburgs in the Piedmontese Campaign of 1624. 

The Baroque influences of this painting are an evident from the high renaissance that had ended a century prior. The background of the painting is much more muted in color than a traditional renaissance painting. The use of these darker more muted colors was the intention of the artist to bring attention more so to the foreground of the painting in comparison to that of the bright detailed landscapes more commonly scene before the Baroque era. Another common theme of the Baroque era that can be seen in this painting is the theatrical positioning of each subject. Each person depicted is frozen in a state of movement that only appears it can be held for a brief second in time. The use of lines on the calf and thigh muscles portray the strain and energy propelling each subject into motion. 

The realism of the painting is another important aspect of the Baroque influence on this piece. In Renaissance art before the Baroque era depictions of the Roman empire were dramatized and idealized to portray unrealistic depictions of  historical events. In this painting we see realistic depiction of the chaos that would ensue. Shadowing is used on the faces of assailants in order to create a separation between them and their victims. The use of color is chosen meticulously. The use of royal blue and light green in the women's clothing conveys their innocence. The white horse portrays overwhelming strength of the invaders while the white on the child's cloak symbolizes survival or a hope for a beginning once the attack has ended. 

These aspects have come together to create deep feelings of uncertainty and towards the balance of power. The perilous moment captured in this piece conveys the feelings of helplessness and impending destruction. With the knowledge of how this painting was created for the marshal of the French army during Thirty Years War it reveals the sentiment at the time. Uncertainty of the Catholic power France fighting on the side of the Protestants, the glory of the rise of Roman rule and the opportunity of France to become the next great power, and the risk of defeat and what it would mean for the people of France. 

The Baroque art style is far superior in the depiction of the story it is able to convey in this painting when compared to the art styles used during the Renaissance. The goals of the counter-reformation and Council of Trent were to create less ambiguity amongst the Catholic faith and its followers. This was shown through its more realistic painting and sculptures like in The Abduction of The Sabine Women in order to convey a Catholic message to its followers. 

For comparison this painting is Christ Healing the Blind by El Greco painted in 1570. Here the pre-Baroque Renaissance methods highlight the evidence of change between the two eras. The subjects faces are at rest and their bodies are unstrained. The background is vast, highlighted, and takes attention away from the foreground. The use of bright blue in the background color is a stark difference from the muted background colors used in the Baroque painting. Lastly it is important to mention the balance that is prevalent in Renaissance art. Both paintings have large crowds formed but in The Abduction of the Sabine Women we see a more random, natural, distribution of bodies and subjects. In Christ Healing the Blind we see three groups one lower middle group, and two elevated groups separated between left and right creating a balanced frame. 

Works Cited 

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Charles I de Blanchefort, marquis de Créquy". Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-I-de-Blanchefort-marquis-de-Crequy. Accessed 10 October 2024.

Christ Healing the Blind. The Met Museum, New York 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436572 Accessed 10 October 2024

The Abduction of The Sabine Women. The Met Museum, New York 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437329 Accessed 8 October 2024.