Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau was developed in Europe and North America in the nineteenth century. This period was in 1890-1914.This style was based on decoration, most of it was inspired from insects and animals such as dragonflies and crabs. It was an inspiration to the Industrial revolution. Some of the artists were inspired from the past while others with the technology that was at that time.

This period was about modernizing the style and design. In English terms the word "Art Nouveau" means, "New Art," in French. The Japanese woodblock-prints had floral and "whiplash" curves. This style was mostly known amongst the German-speaking countries.

Bibliography:
Art Nouveau. 2013. Art Nouveau. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.nga.gov/feature/nouveau/exhibit_intro.shtm. [Accessed 30 March 2013].
 Art Nouveau Movement, Artists and Major Works | The Art Story. 2013. Art Nouveau Movement, Artists and Major Works | The Art Story. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.theartstory.org/movement-art-nouveau.htm. [Accessed 31 March 2013].

Exhibition 4

Exhibition 4

This sculpture is called,''Mara Eleganti Hafna,'' which in english means a very elegant woman in maltese. It was done by Antonio Sciortino in 1879-1947. He was a maltese sculptor and he was one of the most famous maltese sculptor. 

This sculpture has a bold piece that is the bottom piece which has straight lines and is contrasting with the other piece as the woman has a lot of lines but that are not straight and a lot of detail.

This sculpture is called,''Ragel bl-uniformi,'' which in english means a man in uniform. It is covered in bronze and it has a lot of detail in the uniform. It seems that this guy was in military because his uniform resembles the military uniform.

The man is really smart and one can tell that he was in a high class. He has several badges which also means that he was really good in his job. In those days one could tell if a person is in the lower class or higher class by the profession that he does.

This sculpture is of a priest as one can see by the clothes that he's wearing. In those times they use to wear that type of clothing for a priest. It was really elaborated while nowadays the priests would normally wear normal clothing with the white collar.

His clothing has 2 holy crosses that indicate that he is religious and the cloak-like would be black. The man is rather old as he has wrinkles and few hair. The sculptor chose the sculpture not to do it in colour as it may ruin the sculpture. It is really plain as a colour, greyish-white. Maybe he didn't want to ruin some details in the sculpture.

This sculpture is really famous in Malta, even with tourists. It is''Les Gavroches,'' by Antonio Sciortino. It is a sculpture of 3 kids holding their hands. As one can see they are very poor, their clothes are thorn apart and one of them is barefoot.

It is made out of bronze and it is situated in Valletta in Upper Barrakka Gardens. In those days, there were many poor people and the kids used to work at a small age.

This one is a sculpture of a medical officer. He was made by George Borg in 1906-1983. He is pretty smart in the uniform and he seems to be in a high class or a middle class. He is rather young as one can see from his face.

Exhibition 3

Exhibition 3

 This sculpture has a sticky-like texture. It is a sculpture of a man that has some writings on it. It has dull colours. I like this sculpture as it gives a creepy-like finish.

This piece of art is original as it is a man's hand with a tattoo and he's wearing bracelets.

This image has a contrast in the colours, as the background is black while the print is light. It has a different pattern on each piece. I really like it because of the contrast and its creativity.

This sculpture is a shoe that is made a lot bigger than the actual size. It has a black smooth texture and a velvet-like red inside texture.

This piece has several different concepts, the words are humorous as one would reads them. They are all symbols of nowadays fashion and cartoons. The designer had an intention to make an impact for those who read them, as they refer to the transgender and homosexual people.

Victorian Art

Victorian Art

The Victorian era was during 1837-1091. The second half of the nineteenth century was one of the most fascinating periods of our history. During that time, many technological changes happened. The vibrant colours represented the high society of the picture of England.

This Victorian Era began with a return of the classic realism which was popular in ancient Roman and Greek societies. The technology caused changes in the way scientists, artists and the public viewed art. Art styles varied during this period because of the huge advances that were made in the photographic technology.

In this era, many paintings were of the countryside of England. These paintings depicted their work and gave brilliant colour representations.

The Queen Victoria reigned between 1837-1901. This time was perceived as a golden age in the arts. She was born in Kensington Palace in London on 24th May 1819. She was really good at drawing and painting.

She became Queen at the age of 18.

Bibliography:

. 2013. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.avictorian.com/victorianart.html. [Accessed 08 April 2013].

Lecture's notes

2013. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.royal.gov.uk/historyofthemonarchy/kingsandqueensoftheunitedkingdom/thehanoverians/victoria.aspx. [Accessed 08 April 2013].

Inventions

Inventions

One of the earliest innovations was, the flying shuttle. John Kay invented this flying shuttle in 1733. The original shuttle had a bobbin on to the weft in which the yarn was wound. John Kay was born in Lancashire in 1704. His house was attacked by textile workers because they were jealous of his work, they thought that his work would work above of theirs. He died in poverty in 1780. 

 This image above is showing different shuttles. A weaver using Kay's flying shuttle could produce much wider cloth at faster speeds than before. Before the shuttle, they used to throw the shuttle with their hands in which it required a constant extension of the hands to each side of the warp. 

He brought his invention to his town and introduced it among the weavers. John Kay's son, Robert, invented  the drop-box where the weaver can use any of the three shuttles that each contained a different coloured weft.

Jethro Tull was an inventor that had invented the seed drill in 1701. He also invented the horse-drawn hoe and an improved plough. He studied in Law in Oxford and later on he studied agriculture during his travel to Europe. He practiced his agricultural studies where he had inherited land in southern part of England. The seed drill would sow seed in rows and then cover the seed of the rows. The first prototype seed drill was built from the foot pedals of Jethro Tull's local church organ.   

 

Bibliography:

Flying Shuttle - John Kay. 2013. Flying Shuttle - John Kay. [ONLINE] Available at: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blflyingshuttle.htm. [Accessed 09 April 2013].

Jethro Tull. 2013. Jethro Tull. [ONLINE] Available at: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bljethrotull.htm. [Accessed 09 April 2013].

Japonisme inspirations

 Japonisme inspirations

The word,''Japanesque,'' means the influence of japanese prints. There was an influence on Western art of some countries. There are some stories about Van Gogh and Gaugin that say that they were picking through discarded paper of crushed 19th Century woodblock prints. From that story, they had new inspirations and they looked at things differently.
 

 

 The Japanesque had an effect especially during the Impressionist era where the French Impressionists were influenced. The influence of today's Western artists remains strong. Max Palevsky was a devoted collector, he was also an innovator and forerunner in computers and technology. He collected japanese prints for over 30 years. The first one was from Yoshitoshi’s series One Hundred Aspects of the Moon. 

Bibliography:

Art Inspiration from Japan | Arts & Collections International. 2013. Art Inspiration from Japan | Arts & Collections International. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.artsandcollections.com/index.php?/article/art_inspiration_from_japan_220/. [Accessed 09 April 2013].

Exhibition 1

Exhibition 1

This exhibition was held in Valletta. Me with my friends went on the 4th April. This image has a sense of visuality as there are several different faces that are facing you and give you the sense that nobody is the same. Everyone has a different face and expressions. Every face is different than the other, some are smiling, some have a poker face, some have full lips and others have thin lips.

Only one face is black, the others are white, this creates a contrast. Also there is a mirror in the middle of this sculpture, as one would go and look in the mirror, he would see himself as part of the sculpture as only his face would be shown like the others.

They are all glossy and they are made of ceramics. They have a cracked texture. The sculpture chose different ages so that they would have different wrinkles. I like it as it has a lot of thought behind it and also because it gave a great outcome.

This really caught my eye, it has a dynamic design. Complimentary colours were used in this design, green, orange and also some purple is used. Several long and short cuboids are attached near each other and they create another form. It is really abstract, there is a hexagon shaped-like green in the middle of the mural. It seems like they are broken glass attached to it and then they're painted in green.

I like it as it has an original shape but I don't really like how the colours are mixed.

This sculpture is really interesting in m opinion. It gives a certain vibe that one would question themselves how the sculptor did it. It is covered in gold paint with some black bits. This figure of a woman is detailed. I like the colour that is chosen, it gives it a precious look.

This mural is really interesting as it has these cubes with a hole inside that when they're next to each other, they create another form. The sculptor used one colour for this mural which is maroon and some glitters on the surface for the final touch. With the cubes, the shades of the maroon start to change, some create light tones of maroon and others dark shades. They also create shadows and different depths.

It is really modernistic. The cubes are put in different angles, some are straight and others are in an angle. The glitter creates some light and gives it a shiny look.

This decorative plate, is really dynamic. It has several shapes such as: small circles, those long lines and the patches of the background. The colours are complementing each other as the green complements the brown. This structure has the same texture of a mold or corrosion.

It has a shiny surface and it has different depths. I think its really original as a piece and it came out really good.

Exhibition 2

Exhibition 2

 

This painting is my favourite of these 5 examples as it is more detailed and interesting in my opinion. Primary and secondary colours are used in this painting such as blue, yellow and red are the primary and green and purple and some orange are the secondary. There is a face which is probably sleeping. I think its a woman from the soft curves that the painter used.

Thee painter used vibrant colours, maybe he wanted to show something or make a point. 

 This painting is rather vague in my opinion, I think its not painted in a professional way. It has many colours that are primary, secondary and contemporary such as: pink, green, blue, yellow, orange and brown. There is a face that sees sad.

This painting is of a face that is rather unclear. It has the same hues of colour as reds and browns are used, the warm colours. The painter used brown as the face's background, then he used red, orange and a bit of indigo or blue for the shading.

This image is a bit confusing as the face is not so clear, the face seems that its not complete. It has blue, orange, a bit of green a bit of yellow and some red too. The paint strokes are showing clearly.

This painting has usage of red colour mixed with yellow and also orange. The facial expression of this person is sad. The shape of the face is not so realistic as it is rather huge and rounded.

Arts and Crafts movement

Arts and Crafts movement

The Arts and Crafts movement was an international design that was between 1860 and 1910. The writer and artist, William Morris led this movement and was inspired by John Ruskin and Augustus Pugin.Their goal was to create a design that was for the people and by the people and a source of pleasure to the maker and the user.

The term, ''Mission style,'' was used to describe Arts and Crafts Furniture in the U.S. This style had some characteristics which were: curved lines and asymmetric forms and patterns. This movement was one of the most influential and profound design of modern times.

Detail from a season ticket for The Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society, by Walter Crane, England, UK, 1890. Museum no. E.4164-1915. © Victoria & Albert Museum, London

It grew out of a concept of industrialization.

Bibliography:

Arts and Crafts movement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. Arts and Crafts movement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arts_and_Crafts_movement. [Accessed 31 March 2013].
The Arts and Crafts Movement. 2013. The Arts and Crafts Movement. [ONLINE] Available at: http://char.txa.cornell.edu/art/decart/artcraft/artcraft.htm. [Accessed 06 April 2013].
The Arts & Crafts Movement - Victoria and Albert Museum. 2013. The Arts & Crafts Movement - Victoria and Albert Museum. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/the-arts-and-crafts-movement/. [Accessed 06 April 2013].

Impressionism

Impressionism

The Impressionist movement was held during the nineteenth century. Some of the great Impressionist artists were: Monet, Pissarro, Sisley, Cezanne and Degas. In 1874, a group of artists called themselves,"Société Anonyme des Artistes, Peintres, Sculpteurs, Graveurs." Impressionism is characterized by its interest in the effects of light.

 Claude Monet, Impression Sunrise, 1872 (exhibited at the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874)

 This image is a painting from the Impressionist, "Claude Monet."

 Manet was the leader of the Impressionists and was their inspiration. Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Sisley had met through classes. They all were rejected by the Salon jury and they had to wait another year to show their work. Today, their work is well known for its modernity, new ideas and modern life.

The paintings were normally small to allow for completion on the spot. Impressionists subjects matters on life and around Paris. Photography was an invention that changed people's life in the nineteenth century.









 Bibliography:
 Impressionism - Smarthistory. 2013. Impressionism - Smarthistory. [ONLINE] Available at: http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/impressionism-france.html. [Accessed 01 April 2013].
 Lecture's notes
 Impressionism: Art and Modernity | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2013. Impressionism: Art and Modernity | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/imml/hd_imml.htm. [Accessed 01 April 2013].
 NGA - Impressionism. 2013. NGA - Impressionism. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg86/gg86-main1.html. [Accessed 01 April 2013].

19th Century

19th Century

The 19th Century was an era of innovations and revivals. This resulted in what became known as the picturesque. The bourgeoisie was an influence in the nineteenth century as its subjects changed correspondingly where no longer pictures are produced.

Thomas Savery was the first person to invent the steam engine, he was English and a military engineer. He patented the first crude steam engine. He was trying to solve the problem of pumping water out of coal mines. His machine consisted of a closed vessel filled with water where steam under pressure was introduced.

Thomas Newcomen was an English blacksmith who invented the atmospheric steam engine that was an improvement to the previous steam engine. His method was in a cylinder and condensed by cold water which then created a vacuum inside the cylinder.

This image above is the second attempt to steam engine by Thomas Newcomen. 

 In the 19th Century, the London Underground was also introduced. It was in the 1862.

 Engraving from the Illustrated London News showing the Metropolitan Railway stations, 27 December 1862. Picture: London Transport Museum

The first journey took place a day after the opening of the Metropolitan which was on January 9, 1863 between Paddington and Farrington. After that day, hundreds and thousands of people were using this method of transport.






Bibliography:

Lecture's notes

Art of the 19th century. 2013. Art of the 19th century. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.art-directory.info/fine-art/art-of-the-19th-century/index.shtml. [Accessed 29 March 2013].

Steam Engine History. 2013. Steam Engine History. [ONLINE] Available at: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsteamengine.htm. [Accessed 29 March 2013].

Tube 150: London Underground marks 150th birthday - Transport - London24. 2013. Tube 150: London Underground marks 150th birthday - Transport - London24. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.london24.com/news/transport/tube_150_london_underground_marks_150th_birthday_1_1786460. [Accessed 29 March 2013].

Japonisme

Japonisme

Many of the Japanese artists were studying Western style realism in which it was influenced by Japanese Ukiyo-e prints, porcelain, textiles, lacquer and architecture. These were creating Japonisme. Japanese parts reopened to trade with the West in 1853. Paris Exposition 1867 introduced Japanese arts and crafts culture to the West.

The word, "Japonisme" is a french term that was used by Jules Claretie in his book L’Art Francais en 1872. In the 1860's Ukiyo-e and Japanese woodblocks, became really popular and were an inspiration for the Impressionists such as Monet, Degas, Gaugin and Van Gogh. Van Gogh was really inspired from the Japanese woodcuts.

The Japanse-inspired work by Vincent Van Gogh, Almond Blossom, 1890. Oil on canvas, 73.5 x 92cm, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

This painting above is an inspiration from the Japanese work by Van Gogh. As one can see it has a similarity to the Japanese paintings from its style. It is clearly shown that it was inspired from the Japanese paintings. The influence of Japonaiserie is still shown in his later works that reflect the Japanese culture. The use of colour shows that he was definately inspired from the Japanese.

"I envy the Japanese artists for the incredible neat clarity which all their works have. It is never boring and you never get the impression that they work in a hurry. It is as simple as breathing; they draw a figure with a couple of strokes with such an unfailing easiness as if it were as easy as buttoning one's waist-coat."

Bibliography:

British Museum - Japonisme . 2013. British Museum - Japonisme . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/articles/j/japonisme.aspx. [Accessed 26 March 2013].
 Lectures notes

Japonisme, Japonaiserie, Japanese Influence on Van Gogh . 2013. Japonisme, Japonaiserie, Japanese Influence on Van Gogh . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.vangoghgallery.com/influences/japonisme.html. [Accessed 27 March 2013].
 Inspiring the Impressionists | Arts & Collections International. 2013. Inspiring the Impressionists | Arts & Collections International. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.artsandcollections.com/index.php?/article/inspiring_the_impressionists_2029/. [Accessed 27 March 2013].