Romanticism dominated the first half of the century, but then gradually Realism became the predominant style. The end of the era saw the introduction of a radical new style of art originating in France — Impressionism, which was transformed into Post-Impressionism. Additionally, a new radical style swept the scene in the last part of the 1800’s and into the early 1900’s – Art Nouveau.

Romanticism – Required

Romantics Transcript (PDF)

“The Madonna of the Rose”- William-Adolphe Bouguereau, France

• Reaction against Neoclassicism
• More Subjective
• Like the Baroque era — artists wanted to elicit emotions and feelings
• Favorite subject matter
  • Mists, fantastic, exotic, world of dreams, fabulous landscapes
• Horrible tragedies and injustices were also ideal Romantic subject matter
• Noted as a floating, inexact style, or attitude
• The artist was seen as creator, that reflected God’s power in their genius

Hudson River School – optional

Audio lecture below is required.

Hudson River (PDF)

View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm–The Oxbow, 1836
Thomas Cole (American, 1801—1848)

Be sure to click on the video lecture embedded within the Hudson River School link!

• An American art movement formed in the mid 1800’s
• Landscape painters mostly in New England and upstate New York
• Realistic depictions
• Pastoral settings where nature and man exist peacefully
• Held a reverence for nature as a manifestation of God
• Developed a style called Luminism

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Gustave Caillebotte – “The Floor Scrapers” 1875, Paris.

Realist Painting – Required

• Developed in the mid 1800’s
• A reaction against Romanticism
• Non-idealized
• Telling the truth as a perfect ideal
• Ordinary subject matter: livestock, farm workers, middle class, ordinary activities
• Absence of theatricality

Pre-Raphaelites    Optional

Pre-Raphelite Transcript (PDF)

• An English group of painters set about reforming art
• Their claim was that art prior to the Renaissance — before Raphael, was the only great art.
• Real depictions of models
• Careful attention to details
• Moral subjects
• A second phase of this group focused on subject matter of: Classical Mythology, Bible Stories, Nature
• Classified as Realists, but they are truly a unique sub-set.
• 

  ‘The Lady of Shalott’
  John William Waterhouse – 1849-1917

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Impressionism  –  Required

Impressionism King Transcript (PDF)

Monet’s depiction of Rue Montorgueil in a painting with the same name- 1878, Paris, France

Hold on to your hats! The art world is really starting to move and shake.
A style that began in Paris towards the last quarter of the century
The way the painter worked became more important than the content of the painting.

• Depicting a fleeting moment, an impression
• Characterized by sketchy lines, loose brush strokes, dabs of color that blend together
• Favorite subject matter:
  • The transitory effects of light and weather
  • The amusements and pastimes of the middle and upper classes
  • Pleasant moments
  • Did not focus on traditional subject matter: history and classical antiquities, religion
• Frequently they worked outdoors — ground breaking
• Influenced by Japanese prints  – Pinterest gallery of Japonism

At first this style was highly criticized, but by 1890, it was fairly accepted

Supplemental video — This video begins to introduce Impressionism:

Here’s another good supplemental video –

Post Impressionism   –  Required

Pinterest Gallery of Post-Impressionism – Required

• Very end of the 1900’s
• Some of the most famous paintings today are from this style
• More formalized and structured than Impressionism
• Explored more personal interpretation
• Color and shape are recognized for their psychological impact

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Early Photography   Required

Photography Transcript (PDF)

• Painted Portraits declined as the art of photography developed
• Daguerreotype — the earliest photograph
• Allowed for people of all ranks and classes to have their portrait
• Journalistic documentation — The Crimean War and American Civil War  – Optional Links

 Continue here to learn more about early photograph – optional

Overview of Art Nouveau –  Required

Browse Art Nouveau Pinterest Board –  Required

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