Oil Canvas Artwork. As Both

¶ … oil canvas artwork. As both are incorporating women as the subject matter, but the artists portray them in distinct ways. Contrasting this is: John Henry Fuseli's the Nightmare with Edouard Manet's Olympia. As they are highlighting the changes in: style, message and regions to define how art is transformed (from the period of Romanticism to the progressive era). At the heart of their works, are: the female body as popular subject matter for many artists.

While ideal forms of the body usually are portrayed, artists incorporate numerous attributes to: make their work unique and inherently different from others. To achieve this objective they will often integrate many techniques into their paintings. Below we will compare the stylistic qualities of: The Nightmare and Olympia with one another. Once this takes place it will provide the greatest insights, as to the similarities and differences of the two artists. Stylistic Qualities The oil canvas painting, the Nightmare, was created by John Henry Fuseli in 1781.

He assisted in making the period of Romanticism more popular in the 19th century. An Anglo-Swiss artist, Fuseli incorporated the concepts of Romanticism. This is also known as neo-Gothic art of: imagination, deep emotion and fantasy in many of his works (including the Nightmare) (Stokstad, 2011, pg. 928). Currently presiding at the Detroit Institute of Art, the Nightmare shows a woman sprawled out on a divan. She is in a deep slumber with a ghoulish incubus, crouched on top of the woman.

While at the same time, a horse (with bulging eyes) is looking at the incubus on top of the woman (Stokstad, 2011, pg. 928). Olympia is an oil canvas painting that was created in 1863 by Edouard Manet. He was a Parisian artist contributing to the Realist period, as Manet was known for his nude paintings, like Olympia, and shared in criticism from conventional artists / critiques (like Fuseli) (Stokstad, 2011, pg. 978). The painting is currently located at the Musee du Louvre in Paris.

It is showing a nude woman, lying on a couch and looking down at the viewer. While, a black woman is in the background with: a bouquet of flowers and a cat is arching its back (Flescher, 1985, pg. 28). Stylistic Similarities Both Manet and Fuseli were not well received by conservative critics. Manet was forced to exhibit many of his pieces at a site rented near Salon when his work was rejected (Stokstad 978).

The disturbing image of the incubus, Fuseli, ignited English critics to coin the artist as: a "Painter to the Devil" and "the Wild Swiss" (Stokstad, 2011, pg. 928). While, Manet's Olympia is: much more realistic and Fuseli's the Nightmare is a dark version of a dream. as, both artists exude a sexual theme in their pieces. The Nightmare's woman appears to be troubled by the incubus and entirely under its control. The nude woman in Olympia projects control over the situation, but still is being presented as free from clothing.

Also similar in both paintings are the peculiar inclusion of animals. The Nightmare has a crazy-eyed horse in the painting and there is a cat is arching its back in Olympia. The cat could be an extension of the sexual theme by Manet, representing the body movement of intercourse. The horse's expression appears to be reacting to the Nightmare, expanding Fuseli's idea of: fear of the current situation and the unknown. As a result, the artists are both directly challenging the traditional Paris Academy style (Stokstad, 2011, pg.

928, 978) Stylistic Differences The differences in the paintings are evident in subject matter and style. Fuseli is telling a story through: imagination and creating an incubus to trouble the woman. The main colors in the painting are hues of red with the woman clothed in white (perhaps a reference to purity and virtuosity). Fuseli is in line with other Romantics, with his personal touch to a situation, intertwining passion and fear in a highly imaginative portrayal of a woman being seduced.

The idea that the seduction is unwarranted by the woman is identified through: the name of the piece -- the Nightmare. Manet's Olympia is a prime example of the Realist period. The painting appears to be realistic display of his use of light. The effects of this on the painting were a key in his earlier works like Olympia. The nude woman, couch, bouquet of flowers, and clothing on the black woman are all well-lit. This is similar to a real black and white photograph.

The darker portions of the painting are a significant contrast to the detailed lit sections (in a picture). While, the black woman, cat and background are so dark that they are barely visible. as, the nude woman is the focus of the painting, as this is designated by Manet through: his use of lighting. While at the same time there is some modesty, with her covering her nether regions. The fact that the rest of the woman is unclothed, leads the viewer to believe that she is not entirely reserved.

as, there is a sense of respectability through: the one modest gesture. The Nightmare is a revolt from 18th century Neoclassicism of: dignified and restrained art. Fuseli infused individualistic representations through:.