NEO-CLASSISM
Background
– French Revolution - overthrowing king, establishing republic
– Middle class (tired of oppression) took power killing aristocrats but ended up under
dictator
– Spreading ideas of freedom and equality in Europe
Characteristics
– Linked to political events
– Logical and serious (IQ>EQ)
– Interest in Classic civilisation (Greek & Roman)
– Serious, objective
– Composition were balanced, ordered, geometric
– Shapes appeared carved, with hard, precise outlines; clearly defined. Line and drawing
emphasised
– Application - smooth, invisible brush strokes
– Colour - strong contrasts between colours and light & dark (chiaroscuro)
Subject Matter
– few figures
– Calm, static poses
– Derived from Classical sculpture - rigid, dramatic, unemotional
THE OATH OF THE HORATII BY DAVID
THE DEATH OF MARAT BY DAVID
Modernism:
IMPRESSIONISM
Background
Salon des Refuses
– Due to the large number of artworks rejected from the Salon, and the protest as a result
thereof, Emperor Napoleon III ordered an exhibition of the rejected artworks, called the
Salon des Refuses.
– This separated academic and independent art ain’t the Academy’s power was broken
– The public ended up ridiculing the works of the Salon des Refuses (because it was avant-
garde/weird/new) and so Impressionist artists started independent exhibitions
Changing Position of Artists
– The Industrial Revolution left capitalists with money. They did not want to buy innovative
art, and so artists became alienated from society and struggled financially. The myth of
the outsider artist, struggling for survival, appreciated after his death started.
– The camera was developed and it replaced the ‘replicating’ function of art, and in this
allowed the artist to choose his own style (liberation). Art was made for art’s sake
Influences
The Landscape
, The Landscape
– Pre-Impressionism, landscapes were deemed unimportant and impermanent, unless they
were idealised.
– Constable first painted landscapes in pure colours
– Influence of Romanticism: avoiding overworked paintings, deeming artists as individual,
seeking new expression
– Babizon group painted outside, studying changing light with small brushstrokes
– Industrialisation strengthened appreciation of nature
– Period of Impressionism became more informal, everyone spent more time outside
Science and Colour
– Impressionists did not work according to scientific rules
– Used colours in close proximity to change each other. Colour seemed to be surrounded by
a halo of its complementary colour.
– From far away, two colours appeared as one
The Camera
– Early glass plate photos’ blurriness influenced Impressionists
– Photos sometimes used as a base for paintings
– Painted snapshots/fleeting moments from every day life
– Frame of the artwork crops the scene, increasing spontaneity
– Momentary actions, fleeting lights of a landscape, daily lives of people
Japanese Prints
– Contained snapshot angles/unconventional compositions
– Assymetric, decorative colouring, informal scenes
Characteristics
– Unusual, open compositions
– Climax of portraying reality
– Loose shapes, play of colour and brushstrokes introduced Modernism
Themes
– Everyday scenes/subject matter
– Sunlit streets, landscapes, flower gardens, open-air cafes, interior scenes
– The joy of life
Colour and Light
– Sought to accurately depict light and its changing quality
– Worked outside, directly from nature
– Avoided mixing colours to retain brilliance
– Optical mixing - placed blobs of colours adjacent to each other
– Increased brightness by placing complimentary colours next to each other. Portrayed
reflection of sunlight
– No pure black
– Predominantly light colours. Dark tones came from mixing complementary colours
– Light and shade formed by colour (not B&W)
The Fleeting Moment
– Captured fleeting moments of sunlight
– Painted outside (of studio) - intro of paint tubes
Background
– French Revolution - overthrowing king, establishing republic
– Middle class (tired of oppression) took power killing aristocrats but ended up under
dictator
– Spreading ideas of freedom and equality in Europe
Characteristics
– Linked to political events
– Logical and serious (IQ>EQ)
– Interest in Classic civilisation (Greek & Roman)
– Serious, objective
– Composition were balanced, ordered, geometric
– Shapes appeared carved, with hard, precise outlines; clearly defined. Line and drawing
emphasised
– Application - smooth, invisible brush strokes
– Colour - strong contrasts between colours and light & dark (chiaroscuro)
Subject Matter
– few figures
– Calm, static poses
– Derived from Classical sculpture - rigid, dramatic, unemotional
THE OATH OF THE HORATII BY DAVID
THE DEATH OF MARAT BY DAVID
Modernism:
IMPRESSIONISM
Background
Salon des Refuses
– Due to the large number of artworks rejected from the Salon, and the protest as a result
thereof, Emperor Napoleon III ordered an exhibition of the rejected artworks, called the
Salon des Refuses.
– This separated academic and independent art ain’t the Academy’s power was broken
– The public ended up ridiculing the works of the Salon des Refuses (because it was avant-
garde/weird/new) and so Impressionist artists started independent exhibitions
Changing Position of Artists
– The Industrial Revolution left capitalists with money. They did not want to buy innovative
art, and so artists became alienated from society and struggled financially. The myth of
the outsider artist, struggling for survival, appreciated after his death started.
– The camera was developed and it replaced the ‘replicating’ function of art, and in this
allowed the artist to choose his own style (liberation). Art was made for art’s sake
Influences
The Landscape
, The Landscape
– Pre-Impressionism, landscapes were deemed unimportant and impermanent, unless they
were idealised.
– Constable first painted landscapes in pure colours
– Influence of Romanticism: avoiding overworked paintings, deeming artists as individual,
seeking new expression
– Babizon group painted outside, studying changing light with small brushstrokes
– Industrialisation strengthened appreciation of nature
– Period of Impressionism became more informal, everyone spent more time outside
Science and Colour
– Impressionists did not work according to scientific rules
– Used colours in close proximity to change each other. Colour seemed to be surrounded by
a halo of its complementary colour.
– From far away, two colours appeared as one
The Camera
– Early glass plate photos’ blurriness influenced Impressionists
– Photos sometimes used as a base for paintings
– Painted snapshots/fleeting moments from every day life
– Frame of the artwork crops the scene, increasing spontaneity
– Momentary actions, fleeting lights of a landscape, daily lives of people
Japanese Prints
– Contained snapshot angles/unconventional compositions
– Assymetric, decorative colouring, informal scenes
Characteristics
– Unusual, open compositions
– Climax of portraying reality
– Loose shapes, play of colour and brushstrokes introduced Modernism
Themes
– Everyday scenes/subject matter
– Sunlit streets, landscapes, flower gardens, open-air cafes, interior scenes
– The joy of life
Colour and Light
– Sought to accurately depict light and its changing quality
– Worked outside, directly from nature
– Avoided mixing colours to retain brilliance
– Optical mixing - placed blobs of colours adjacent to each other
– Increased brightness by placing complimentary colours next to each other. Portrayed
reflection of sunlight
– No pure black
– Predominantly light colours. Dark tones came from mixing complementary colours
– Light and shade formed by colour (not B&W)
The Fleeting Moment
– Captured fleeting moments of sunlight
– Painted outside (of studio) - intro of paint tubes
