Impressionism & Post-Impressionism: Realizing

Look at these paintings to:

Observe
Understand
Conclude

Through displaying a variety of paintings from both the impressionism and post-impressionism era, I hope you are able to recognize which category they would fall into. Enjoy!

Selections from the Art Institute of Chicago.

American Leisure

Idle Hours is condensed into sections which are as follows:

Entertaining
Reading
Aestheticism
In the Park
Children's Games
Holidays by the Water
The Sporting Life
Americans Abroad

With the pictures I have provided, which ones correspond to the different types of Idle Hours?

Impressionist New York

Impressionist New York displays both New York City and Art History within the pages. Composed of dozens of artists, this particular book exhibits the turn-of-the-century metropolis, which will appeal to anyone who appreciates either the degree of art talent or the city itself.

Jackson Pollock

Growing up in the west, Jackson Pollock became familiar with the Native American art style at a young age. In addition, Pollock was influenced by Benton and the Regionalists, but was deeply touched by the Siqueiros and the Mexican muralists, such as Diego Rivera. Pollock felt an instant fondness of their almost violent and expressive way of painting in these strong murals. Another learning point that Pollock explored was psychology, which allowed him to understand the human mind better, but more importantly his personal life. The major condition Pollock struggled to beat was alcoholism, trying psychotherapy was one of main treatments he tried to end his addiction, but was unsuccessful. However, the disease of alcoholism may have consumed Pollock’s mind, but fueled his inspiration and his artistic capability. Soon he adopted the way of Surrealists by painting automatically without hesitation. In the 1940’s as Pollock continued a life of isolation, he began to experiment and discover his true sense of paintings. In 1947, he created the perfect “drip” technique which made his name as an artist famous. In order to create one of his masterpieces, Pollock would place his canvas on the floor and began to cover the canvas in trails of paint. Pouring the paint out of the can without hesitation, Pollock started a trend known as “Action Painting”, which was a frenzy for the Native American culture. The reason Native Americans became instant fans of Pollock’s was because of his infused memories of the traditional ritual dances he witnessed as a child. Ultimately, Pollock is brilliant due to the fact his art has no definite meaning, thus allowing individuals to have their own personal take on the piece. Although he did not place a direct meaning within his art, Pollock’s masterpieces were fueled with the characteristics of energy, tension, passion, and drama. Unfortunately in the 1950’s Pollock slowed down and lost his life due to a car accident in 1956.

Quotes from Pollock:

"Abstract painting is abstract. It confronts you. There was a reviewer a while back who wrote that my pictures didn't have any beginning or any end. He didn't mean it as a compliment, but it was."

"Every good painter paints what he is."

"He drove his kind of realism at me so hard I bounced right into nonobjective painting."

"I don't work from drawings. I don't make sketches and drawings and color sketches into a final painting."

"I have no fear of making changes, destroying the image, etc., because the painting has a life of its own."

"My painting does not come from the easel."

"On the floor I am more at ease. I feel nearer, more part of the painting, since this way I can walk around it, work from the four sides and literally be in the painting."

"Painting is self-discovery. Every good artist paints what he is."

"The modern artist is working with space and time, and expressing his feelings rather than illustrating."

"The strangeness will wear off and I think we will discover the deeper meanings in modern art."

Jackson Pollock: "When I am in my painting, I'm not aware of what I'm doing."

Frida Kahlo

Born to the poverty stricken area of Coyoicoan near Mexico City, Frida Kahlo was not yet interested in art until her personal experiences allowed her to grow a passion for painting. Unfortunately, at the young age of only fifteen, Kahlo was in a streetcar accident, but during the painful recovery, she embarked on painting pieces and later sending them onto Diego Rivera. Upon meeting Rivera, Kahlo quickly fell in love and married him in 192. Their strong artistic tempers formed a unfortunate relationship ending up in divorce in 1939. In addition, Rivera committed several acts of infidelity, resulting in Kahlo living in her worst nightmare. However, she used her abundance of pain and anger from her marriage to paint multiple self portraits. Throughout her collection of paintings, Kahlo noticeably infuses the properties of pain and suffering to visually state her past. Another inspiration for Kahlo was Mexican folk art and her lover, Rivera’s sense of Realism. Even as her paintings can seem depressing, they state her inner dialogues and strong will in which she explains herself. Further exploring the possibilities of the artistic world, Kahlo painted several still lifes and visuals that depicted the typical Mexican life. Surprisingly, the reoccurring theme of monkeys within her work symbolism a sense of protection in the saddened artist’s life. Kahlo adored monkeys and displayed her fondness of them through her paintings. Andre Breton, known for Surrealism, describes Kahlo’s work as being “like a ribbon tied around a bomb!” Although the quote can be taken either way, personally through carefully reading this quote, a sense of unexpected pleasure is realized as bombs are never expected and the ribbon symbolizes delight. Truthfully, her work is almost considered under the genre of Surrealism as she blatantly reveals her emotions. After dying at only 47 years old due to long term health complications, she previously stated that “I have never pained dreams. I paint my reality.” Ultimately, Kahlo can be viewed as one of the most significant and well known icons of the twenty century of artistic capability.

Quotes from Kahlo:

"I leave you my portrait so that you will have my presence all the days and nights that I am away from you."

"I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best."

"Painting completed my life."

There have been two great accidents in my life. One was the trolley, and the other was Diego. Diego was by far the worst."

"I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration."

Frida Kahlo: In Her Shoes