Romantic Era of Impressionism & Architect
Romantic Era of Impressionism & Architect
Before I started this blog I studied many of the different works and art styles of the Romantic Era (1800’s) in hope to find a style that I preferred over another. But, I couldn’t seem to find a style that I found more intriguing over another during this era. Whether it be a work created by a Realist, Impressionist, Naturalist, or an Art Nouveau. Each one was different, unique, and appreciated for what it brought. So today instead of bringing you a more-preferred and a less-preferred art style of the Romantic Era. I am going to be comparing two styles that are vastly different, who some may not even consider to be placed in the same genre of “art”. We will be studying two Impressionist works, (one made during Post-Impressionism) and two incredible Architectures of the Romantic Era.
Impression, Sunrise
In the 1800’s With many art schools teaching the form of art as a science with right and wrong ways to create. Monet’s way of strokes, depiction, and execution of art was horrific too many artists and people in power. His work was called an Impression which was not a nice term for his art at the time. They mocked the way that Monet was willing to present an image that wasn’t detailed with the standard of Realism that was being looked to and encouraged.
Above we are looking at Claude Monet’s painting “Impression, Sunrise” made in 1872 from the view of his hotel room in Le Havre located in Northwest France. It is said that this painting was made in order to celebrate the post-war regeneration of the country after France was defeated in the Franco-Prussian War. Whether or not this is true we are not entirely certain. But, what we do know to be true, is that this painting was one of the first paintings to start the move and rise of the Impressionists. The painting was displayed in Paris, France at the Exhibition of the Impressionists in 1874. Bringing controversy to the public and making a way for abstract artists to join the table.
When looking at the “Impression, Sunrise” I am instantly lost in Monet’s colors and the haze that is depicted by the way he creates an almost murky background. I can’t tell if it's fog, smoke, or smog in the air. I love the way his painting is balanced out with the sun and boats in the water. Your eye is focused on the sun until you follow its reflection in the water down to the men in the boats. Then you notice that there is more in the background and discover the ships in the sea with their masts and sails. This is done by his use of distance and shades. Last but not least, I can’t help but notice the lines that he uses in his strokes creating the story. A lot of the time they are straight lines or at least slightly curved lines, yet the painting gives me a very circular motion and feeling. I believe this is because of the way he blended the colors near the sun, they almost seem smudged, breaking those straight strokes.
Cluade Monet was not only a pioneer in the world of art, but a leader giving artists permission to create from their own perspective.
Today you can see Claude Monet’s painting “Impression, Sunrise” in Paris at the Musee’ Marmottan Monet.
Starry Night Over the Rhone
Van Gogh is known for his Post-Impression art work. The style of Impressionism was becoming more widely accepted towards the late 19th century around the 1890’s leading to Post-Impressionism. A leading style of Impressionism that was more structured and detailed then the earlier Impressionist form of art. Some very famous paintings came out of this style and era of art, such as “The Starry Night” & “A Sunday On La Grande Jatte”. Today we are going to be analyzing Van Gogh’s “Starry Night Over the Rhone” less known than his “The Starry Night” but just as beautiful.
In 1888 Van Gogh was inspired by the beautiful nights displayed in Arle, France and painted this masterpiece displaying the view a walk away from the place where he stayed. To me this piece is magical and makes me want to dip my hand in the water and gaze at the stars. I sigh with the sight of the lovers walking and the reflection of the lamps. His use of blue and yellow is brilliant to show the light illuminating and reflecting off the blue water and sky. You can also see a little hue of green in the painting with the places that the blue and yellow paint mixed. You’re able to make out where he let the paint dry and where he just kept mixing and painting over (I love this). Next there’s a wonderful texture to the painting that you don’t see in a lot of other paintings. The way he uses his strokes is much different from the way Monet did his. Gogh’s seem to be much shorter, yet more organized and in a consistent motion. It makes me think that there might be a slight cool breeze across the water to the grass where the lovers walk. Yet, in the sky you see the strokes alternate creating little box shapes around the stars. This gives me the feeling that the wind does not disturb the stars. In this painting you can also see the depiction of the Big Dipper in the stars. To think that we are looking at the same stars that Van Gogh was looking at and painting is pretty cool! Finally, Van Gogh’s details (or lack thereof) makes me lean into the painting to try and clearly see the city on the water line. It seems to tell me so much, but I also need to use my imagination and let my brain fill in the blanks. This is one of the beauty’s I find in Impressionist art. Everyone sees and interprets Impressionism slightly differently than the person next to them. Compared to viewing a Realist’s piece of art that gives more room to interpreting the meaning behind the piece rather than the image in the piece itself.
Today you can find Van Gogh’s “Starry Night Over the Rhone” in Paris at the Musee’ d’Orsay.
The Crystal Palace
The next two pieces of art we will be looking at took much more space and people than the ``Impression, Sunrise” and the “Starry Night Over Rhone `` to accomplish. These next pieces are works of Architecture built during the Romantic Era. The first Architecture that we see above is called the “Crystal Palace” built in 1850. This palace was made of steel rods and glass walls (hence the name), designed by Sir Joseph Paxton to house the Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park. This exhibition would hold the scientific expansions of the era, marking the age of the Industrial Revolution which was swiftly taking place in the 1800’s. The Crystal Palace was 1,848 ft long, 408 ft wide, and reached 108 ft high, that is insane! Overall the palace took about 18 acres to hold. What I find even crazier about this art piece is that it was taken down and rebuilt on Sydenham Hill between 1852-1854, they must’ve had some detailed blueprints to be able to relocate it as if it was a tent. The Crystal Palace stayed at Sydenham Hill (I don’t think I would want to rebuild the palace again either) until 1936 when it was destroyed by fire.
When looking at the Crystal Palace I am in awe with the overall structure. I love the lines that the rods create, making curves in the middle and on the sides of the palace. I can’t imagine how bright and exciting the inside must’ve looked with all the glass walls surrounding The Great Exhibition. My attention is caught by how beautiful the outside walkways and garden match the look of the palace. I feel a sense of significance, elegance, and excitement, like something extraordinary is about to happen when I look at this piece. It makes me wish I could've been there during the Great Exhibition, walking around the halls viewing the different booths mixed with the other 6 million people dazed by the new inventions taking place in history.
The last piece we will be going over today is one that many people are aware of but do not know the history behind it. The Statue of Liberty was finished in 1886 but took a total of nine years to complete! It stands from toes to torch 105 ft tall with the base it’s set on to be 154 ft tall, that's 305 ft all together. It’s made from copper sheets surrounding an iron framework and has changed color from its shiny brown copper to a cool blue/green color from the weather.
A lot of what I mentioned above are just facts that the general audience can kind of guess by looking at the Statue of Liberty. What a lot of kids don’t know is that the Statue of Liberty was a gift to America from France. Remember the American Revolution and the alliance that France held with America? Yep, that alliance led to the French building a remarkable statue for America as a gift in acknowledgement of our friendship. I’ve always found this to be a little backwards considering the fact that we would've been toast without them in the American Revolution. And even though we inspired them to find freedom in their own nation, they definitely helped our revolution more than we helped theirs. But, I am beyond grateful for the Statue of Liberty that stands in New York City.
The Statue of Liberty, powerful in its symbolism of freedom and enlightenment also holds the fingerprint of a Neoclassical style of art with its moral implications and Roman goddess of freedom. This is tied more to the Classical Era of art than the Romantic Era, even though the Statue of Liberty was built well into the Romantic Era. But, it most certainly doesn’t take away from the impact and message it spoke to America at the time and today.
Having had the privilege to see the Statue of Liberty where she stands in New York City, I couldn’t take in the size of the Statue. I could see her robes miles away and the torch she held high above her head. The element I found to be most fascinating was the position she is carved in. At first it looks simple, but when you start to study it, it really is more complicated than it seems. With one arm clutching the torch to the sky the other is by her side holding a tablet. Her right hip is pushed out a tad further than her left, giving her a more human stance. Her face is solemn and firm adding to her statement of seriousness in the belief and action of freedom.
This is one of my favorite pieces made in the Romantic Era of art.
Sources:
YouTube, 25 June 2019, https://youtu.be/3_5Z34Lq9Y8. Accessed 6 July 2022.
Noe, Kathryn. “Statue of Liberty: 1886.” Ben Guide, https://bensguide.gpo.gov/j-statue-of-liberty.
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