Post #9 - Option #2

            There have been a lot of defining moments in changing the face of how artwork has been viewed or created over this entire course.  However, one of the most interesting periods of art that has stood out to me over the rest is Impressionism / Post-Impressionism.  I couldn’t decide which I liked better, so I figured I’d discuss how I have found an appreciation for both.  There are many aspects that have drawn me to this era, of course the visual details but also the historical context has opened my eyes to a new light.

            One of the most impressive artists during this time was without a doubt, Gustave Caillebotte.  Although questionable as to which category he fit into, he gave me a new appreciation for the later changing concepts of artwork.  Alongside of this, one of the most avant-garde artists, Vincent van Gogh- with the rather famous piece The Starry Night (page 996 in Stokstad).  Both of these artists are very different, but somehow both fit into the Post-Impressionist period, as they were both unappreciated at their times, they have stuck around for centuries as some of the most pronounced artists of their timeframe.

            However, looking at Impressionist works by artists such as Claude Monet really emphasized how the era has changed from technique and composition.  Before this period, artwork was very well planned out, paintings were composed of rich detail and vast amounts of hours put into it.  This is where Impressionism was unique and different from those times.  Since the invention of paint in tubes, artists were able to paint and depict exactly what they saw, changing the rules of the game.  While painting outdoors became widely popular during this time, it changed the techniques used, such as the exposure of loose brushstrokes that were various in color and appeared to have the quick-sketched appear to them.  One of the pieces where this is really highlighted is within Monet’s Impression: Sunrise (Stokstad 985).  Just taking a quick glance at the piece, you can see each individual brushstroke as if it were quickly done on the go.  This is where Impressionism stood out amongst the rest of the artistic eras, the idea and concept of neatness and perfection was out the window, for new beauty in simplicity had emerged.  Through this piece, there are a variety of colors but most are within the same hue/shade, making it appear that there is changing colors throughout the piece, giving it the realistic look without overcompensating on detail.  In my opinion, this is the perfect balance as to something that could be created as aesthetically pleasing, but yet the technique is so fresh that it has yet to catch on the general public.  Just another way Impressionist painters were considered to be avant-garde.

            Most of Monet’s paintings follow the same guidelines as far as composition and structure, giving him the title of being on the original Impressionist painters.  My reaction to these paintings is that they appear to be simplified compared to what we as art viewers are used to seeing such as painting from the Renaissance, but there is no denial in the fact that what they have done is still remarkable and creates a wide array of beauty for the eye.