Visual Arts in the Romantic Era

Visual Art Overview   – Required

Overview Romantic Transcript (PDF)

The 19th Century witnessed the development of three major art styles: Romanticism, Realism and Impressionism. Additionally Neoclassicism still held on in the beginning of the century. Post-Impressionism, Art Nouveau and photography also kicked off in the 1800’s, and continued into the early 20th century.

Romantic Style

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

“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)

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

[  Click Here – More Romantic Artist – Further Exploration – May Be Useful for Your Blog Assignment]

Realist Style

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

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

[Click Here – More Realist Artist – Further Exploration – May Be Useful for Your Blog Assignment]

Impressionism and Post Impressionism

Impressionism  –  Required

Impressionism King Transcript (PDF)

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

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-ImpressionismRequired

  • 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

Click Here – More Impressionist and Post Impressionist Artist – Further Exploration – May Be Useful for Your Blog Assignment

Photography

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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

Art Nouveau

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