Reagan's Art F200 Blog

Introduction:      The Romanticism era was during the 1800s. Many things were happening in this period, and things were changing quickly. There were more jobs and cities, and change was happening fast. Populations grew and so did the government. Socialism and communism started. There was also more transportation for cargo and people, so they could access more land "untouched by man." During this era, art began evolving quickly as well. This is when art stopped being categorized into two styles. We call the 1800s the romantic era, but it includes more than that. Romantic, realist, naturalist, nationalist, impressionist, and post-impressionist are all examples of these new categories. In this blog, I am only talking about the realist and impressionist categories. We will look at four paintings. Two from each category with all different artists. Let's dive in. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...

Classical Era Introduction:            The classical Period, Renaissance to Neoclassicism era, were taken from ancient Greek and Roman art and culture, putting emphasis on proportion, structure, simplicity, and form. Classical art is an idealized quest for beauty and harmony. You find it in sculpture, painting, and architecture. The art of the era depicted heroism, patriotism, and sacrifice, Enlightenment values as well. Neoclassicism, as a return to classical form, also addressed Enlightenment values of rationality and morality consequently from Greco-Roman heritage. Renowned artists like Jacques-Louis David portrayed classical subject and historical facts as a source of "moral lessons". Other philosophers and critics considered art to be a tool of moral education. In f...

  Introduction:          Girl with a Pearl Earring is a 1665 tronie painting by Johannes Vermeer, created in the Netherlands. It was lost for over 200 years, sold for a very low price, and eventually rediscovered. Today, it resides in the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague. I first encountered this piece during my junior year of high school through my writing teacher. I find it beautiful for its simplicity—it's not overwhelming, yet it holds meaning. The pearl earring symbolizes status, wealth, and exotic beauty, while her turban and non-Western attire highlight her cultural sophistication. Scholars suggest that the painting represents the blending of Eastern and Western traditions through trade routes. I would love to have this piece in my own home.         Johannes Vermeer ' s Girl with a Pearl Earring is  a   legendary ,  enigmatic  portrait  dubbed   the " Mona Lisa of the North ." The youn...

About the Artist:         Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, artist, and so much more from the Renaissance times. He was born near Florence as the son of a notary and a peasant maiden. He apprenticed with Verrocchio, also an Italian artist. He traveled from Milan to Rome, to Bologna, to Venice, and finally to France in the court of King François I. Vinci was known as the "Renaissance man.” He created several beautiful famous masterpieces, such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Even though less than three dozen of his paintings survived, some pieces, like the Vitruvian Man, and his copious notebooks lasted centuries. Leonardo's engineering plans, such as the helicopter and tank, were centuries ahead of his time but were not investigated mainly. Others, such as a bobbin winder, were taken to industry. His scientific investigations enriched anatomy, engineering, optics, and hydrodynamics. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...