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Mr. Wright's Art Class: Living with Art, Chapter 21 - The Modern World, Part 1

William Wright・2 minutes read

Chapter 21 of "Living with Art" explores the emergence of the modern world around 1800, shaped by three key revolutions and the rise of the industrialized middle class. The text discusses various art movements, from Neoclassicism to Post-Impressionism, highlighting key artists and their contributions to shaping the art landscape of the 19th century.

Insights

  • The emergence of the modern world in the 19th century, marked by key revolutions and industrialization, led to significant societal changes, including the rise of the industrialized middle class, increased cultural diversity, and the democratization of art consumption through national art museums.
  • Art movements like Neoclassicism and Romanticism, followed by Realism, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism, reflected the evolving social and cultural landscape, with artists like Delacroix, Goya, Manet, Monet, Van Gogh, and Cezanne exploring new styles and techniques to depict everyday life, emotions, and psychological depth in their works.

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Recent questions

  • What artistic movements emerged in the 19th century?

    Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism

  • How did Neoclassicism differ from Romanticism in art?

    Order and restraint vs. intense emotions and colors

  • What caused the scandal surrounding Manet's paintings?

    Depiction of regular people in non-mythological context

  • How did Impressionism differ from Realism in art?

    Direct painting techniques vs. realistic portrayal of everyday life

  • Who were prominent artists in Post-Impressionism?

    Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne

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Summary

00:00

"Artistic Revolutions: Modernity, Neoclassicism, Romanticism"

  • Chapter 21 of "Living with Art" by Mark Getline delves into the emergence of the modern world around 1800, marked by artists and writers recognizing a new era and labeling it as modern.
  • This period of modernity is shaped by three key revolutions - the French Revolution, the American Revolution, and the Industrial Revolution - leading to rapid societal changes driven by technological advancements.
  • The 19th century sees the rise of the industrialized middle class, mass production, advertising, and consumption, including leisure activities like shopping and visiting art museums.
  • Industrialization results in the emergence of a middle class, altering the social hierarchy and increasing cultural diversity.
  • Art becomes more accessible to the general public, with the opening of the Louvre in Paris in 1793, marking the inception of national art museums and democratizing art consumption.
  • The introduction of the camera in the mid-1800s revolutionizes art creation, shifting the focus from practical image reproduction to artistic innovation and creativity.
  • Neoclassicism emerges as a response to the Rococo style, emphasizing order, clarity, and restraint, with artists like Jacques-Louis David and Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres embodying this aesthetic.
  • Romanticism emerges as a contrasting artistic movement to Neoclassicism, characterized by intense colors, turbulent emotions, and complex compositions, with artists like Eugene Delacroix and Francisco Goya leading this trend.
  • Eugene Delacroix's "Liberty Leading the People" exemplifies the revolutionary spirit of Romanticism, depicting a scene of liberty and heroism in a loose and emotional style.
  • Francisco Goya's works, such as "Saturn Devouring His Children" and "The Third of May 1808," showcase the artist's ability to convey intense emotions and tell powerful stories through his art, often depicting gruesome and thought-provoking scenes.

14:45

Evolution of Art from Realism to Impressionism

  • The depiction of a nude figure in art varies between heroic and romantic, with some being more mythological and legendary while others are more erotic and dream-like.
  • Neoclassicism and Romanticism led to various counter-cultural movements in art, such as Realism, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism.
  • Realism, as exemplified by Gustav Courbet, focuses on portraying everyday people and events realistically, breaking away from the traditional heroic or exotic subjects.
  • Rosa Bonheur's naturalistic paintings, like the plowing field scene, emphasize regular people and their daily activities.
  • Edouard Manet, a prominent Realist painter, faced controversy for depicting a scene of regular people, including a nude woman and middle-class men, in a non-mythological context.
  • Manet's painting "Luncheon on the Grass" caused a scandal in 1863, leading to its rejection from the Salon and exhibition in the Salon of Refusals.
  • Manet's subsequent work, "Olympia," further stirred controversy in 1865 for its depiction of a regular woman, leading to condemnation from conservatives.
  • Impressionism emerged in the 1860s in France as a movement opposing academic art, focusing on everyday life, leisure activities, and landscape painting.
  • Impressionist artists preferred direct painting techniques like alla prima, using broken color and thick, unblended layers to capture scenes outdoors.
  • Impressionism followed Realism in portraying everyday life but added the artist's interpretation and perspective to the subjects depicted.

28:28

"Artistic Movements: Impressionism to Post-Impressionism"

  • Impressionists are named so due to their friendship with Manet, focusing on capturing fleeting moments quickly and loosely.
  • They aim to give an impression of a scene, working rapidly to depict moments before they pass.
  • Impressionists paint directly, without much planning, using minimal information that still conveys the scene effectively.
  • Monet, a prominent Impressionist, uses subtle value changes and contrasts to create recognizable scenes with minimal detail.
  • Impressionists showcase "painterly" techniques, revealing brushstrokes and paint application openly.
  • Monet challenges himself by painting the same subject with different color palettes, exploring new perspectives and ways of seeing.
  • Post-Impressionism emerges as a response to Impressionism, focusing on adding form, expression, and psychological depth to artworks.
  • Van Gogh, a renowned Post-Impressionist, infuses his works with psychological depth, reflecting his turbulent mental state.
  • Gauguin, another Post-Impressionist, is known for his angular figures and intense emotional expressions in his paintings.
  • Cezanne's calculated approach to Post-Impressionism emphasizes organization and smoother colors, influencing future artists like Gauguin and Picasso.

41:53

Post-Impressionist Art: Aristocratic Scenes and Surrealism

  • The artwork discussed in the text focuses on a post-impressionist style, particularly showcasing scenes of leisure among the aristocracy, including dancers, theater performers, and circus performers. The paintings are described as surreal, fantastical, and built up through a layering of dots, culminating in a depiction of bridging the gap to America in chapter 21 of the modern world.
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