Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings for an outdoor colors exhibition

Art Appreciation

Title of Exhibition: "Outdoor Colors"

Dates of Exhibition: Summertime 2011

Location: Central Park, New York City

Pierre-August Renoir

Luncheon of the Boating Party, (1881)

Georges Seurat

An Afternoon at La Grande Jatte (1884-1885)

Henri Matisse

View of Collioure (1907)

Pablo Picasso

Bullfighting Scene (1901)

Jackson Pollack

Autumn Rhythm: Number 30 (1950)

Pierre-August Renior (Feb. 25, 1841 - Dec. 3, 1919)

Pierre Renoir was the leader of the "Impressionist" movement. Starting out learning his craft in porcelain factories, this working class Frenchman became one of the greatest painters of his generation. Greatly influenced by the great masters such as Rubens, Courbet, Renoir went on to develop his own style called "Impressionism:" which used chaotic brushstrokes and vivid colors to capture the natural effects of light. He painted many different subjects including: portraits, genre painting, landscapes, nudes, marine subjects, and still life.

As the father of the Impressionist movement he deserves to included. His range of types and subjects of artworks make him one of the most versatile artists of his day. He possessed a spirit of true criticism which led him to continually try to improve himself.

Luncheon of the Boating Party (1881) is a very nice example of Impressionist art. It contains the realism of Courbet and the movement and color of Reubens. This will fit in nicely with the colorful outdoors theme of the exhibit.

2. Georges Seurat (Dec. 2, 1859 - Mar. 29, 1891)

Born into a wealthy French family, Georges Seurat was the leader of the "Post-Impressionist" movement and the creator of "Pointillism." Like Renoir, his use of color leaps off the canvas, but Seurat went on to develop his own style call "Pointillism," which used paint dotted on the canvas to create the perception of a scene.

As an artist specializing in the uses of color, and the developer of his own style, he too deserves to be included.

An Afternoon at La Grande Jatte (1884-1885) is a wonderful example of the artistic structure of Ingres, while using the colorful aspects of Delacroix. It is painted using the pointillism method, in fact it is an extreme example of "Pointillism." And since the subject is a colorful outdoors scene, it will fit in well with the theme of the exhibit.

4. Pablo Picasso (Oct. 25, 1881 - Apr. 8, 1973)

Our first non-French artist, Pablo Picasso was born in Spain to an artist father. From an early age, Picasso demonstrated remarkable talent and zeal. After moving to Paris his art career exploded when he created the "Cubist" movement using shapes and dull colors to represent the subjects. Later he experimented with "Neo-Classicism" and "Surrealism." Picasso was not only a painter of great renown, but he was also a sculpture in his own right with Chicago's Daley Plaza home to one of his sculptures.

No art exhibit could be complete without something from Picasso. Like our other artists, he too developed his own style: "Cubism," and like our other artists, he was not limited to the canvas. Influenced by many different sources, one can see his father's influence, as well as the great masters like Velaquez, Delacroix, and Manet.

Picasso's Bullfighting Scene (1901) should be included in the exhibit as it too is a colorful outdoor scene, but it also expresses Picasso's Spanish origin. One can see the influence of the Impressionists, but also the everyday themes of the classical masters like Reubens.

5. Jackson Pollock (Jan. 28,1912 - Aug. 11, 1956)

This American born artist was a major influence in the "Abstract Expressionist" movement who died tragically in an car accident at the age of just 44. While he was notorious for being a recluse, he gained wide popularity within his lifetime. He too used color in new and interesting ways to create very abstract, almost unrecognizable artwork.

Pollock is being chosen because he represents all that has come before him, he is the result of the other artists involved in this exhibition. One can see the influences of Picasso, Matisse, Seurat, and Renoir in his artworks. The use of color, the subject matter, application of paint, all indicate the influence of the other.

Autumn Rhythm: Number 30 (1950) can fit into our theme as it is an outdoor autumn scene, but also because it's use of color to express the feeling of autumn will give an appropriate ending to the exhibit. It is the culmination of all that has come before, it is the extension of the others, reaching out into the future.

The exhibition is entitled "Outdoor Colors" and is meant to portray different artists, from different periods, painting in different styles, but all using colors to express the feeling of outdoors. One may say that these artists and their works are too similar, too related to each other, but they really are an example of artistic evolution over time. Each was a pioneer in their own time, and each created something new and exciting. And since the subject is outdoors, the paintings chosen will give the viewers a feeling of begin in the bright and colorful spring at first, but then slowly as the colors and subjects change, will end with a feeling of autumn and closure. This exhibit, ideally, should take place in an outdoor setting replete with trees, bushes, and all of nature. Having it take place in the open in Central Park will not only allow for the general public to attend, but will also make the venue a reflection of the paintings and the theme.