Art appreciation fundamentals and methods

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.

3. Henri Matisse (Dec. 31, 1869 - Nov. 3, 1954)

Originally wanting to become a lawyer, Henri Matisse, son of a working class French family, went on to become one of the greatest painters of the "Expressionist" movement. He was a versatile artist, engaging in drafting, printmaking, sculpting, as well as painting. He too was committed to the use of color, but to capture the subjective emotions and inner feeling of the artist, as well as the use of fluid shapes.

Matisse was an extremely prolific artist. His choices of subjects and use of colors indicate that he was influenced by Impressionists such as Renoir, or Monet, but his nudes often reflect the more classical influence of some of the great masters. Like the other two artists in the exhibition, he too created his own style of painting called "Fauvism," which creates a wildness to the color and technique.

Matisse's View of Collioure (1907) is a nice example of his use of color and fluid shapes. It also includes some Fauvist tendencies in it's almost childlike wildness. And as a colorful outdoor scene, it will definitely fit in with the colorful outdoor 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.