Painting Styles

Painting Styles Debbie Johnson Art 101 Macaela M. Carder

Painting Styles Painting Styles

Since the dawn of man, art has been a means of expression and communication. Every era has a different style in which art is brought forth. Throughout these eras, Artists from all over the world have created art through paintings of every fathomable technique. Many of these eras gave viewers a new way of looking at art three of which are; Neoclassicism, Impressionism, and Abstract Expressionism. As the world changed, these art styles mirrored the different walks of life and times in which they were painted. Neoclassicism was a reflection of Greek and Roman values and tradition as seen by the people of that era and society. Virtue and honor were the most prominent messages portrayed in the art of the Neoclassicism era. In Jacques Louis Davids painting The Oath of the Horatii, the drastic and deliberate lines of the stances and gestures of the men portrayed are a clear indication of the Neoclassic style. Another indication is in the colors worn by the characters and the geometric shapes of the architecture. Women were depicted as more virtuous than in previous eras in addition to being devoted to their families and their country while painted in muted and non dramatic hues. Men played the more honorable and heroic roles by proudly protecting their way of life and are shown wearing bold and vibrant colors. (Lerouge, 2009). Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon Bonaparte were both inspired by Neoclassicism which illustrated Greek and Roman construction. This is evident in the way that Jefferson designed his house with Greek traditional design and in the way that Napoleon modeled structures such as the church, La Madeleine, after Roman temples. (Sayer, 2010). Impressionist art is, at the very least, a salute to the simple pleasures of life as it was known in that era and society. Most impressionists depicted gatherings of people enjoying each others

Painting Styles company and their surroundings with serene and joyful expressions. The vibrant colors seen in

the costumes along with the suns light effects that spread throughout the paintings are indicative of impressionistic pieces of art. Thus is seen in Luncheon of the Boating Party by PierreAuguste Renoir. This painting specifically shows Renoirs friends as they enjoy a day together on a balcony overlooking a beautiful landscape as they are eating, drinking, and taking pleasure in each other. (Phillips Collection, 2010). Another portrayal of the era in which this painting was made is in the welcoming tone in the piece. In the latter half of the nineteenth century, Parisians were not at all welcoming of the lower class or of different cultural differences. The impressionist era brought on a new way of thinking of the Parisian way of life in general. (Sayre, Impressionism, 2010). One era of painting style sets itself apart from the rest as a completely unrealistic expression of self. In contrast to other abstract painting styles, Abstract expressionism is more improvisational and less indicative of a specific scene or idea. Jackson Pollock a very prominent painter in this era. His technique of splashing, pouring, and flinging paint onto a canvas which he laid flat on the floor, gave him the freedom to truly express his emotions on the canvas from every angle. (Sayre, American Modernism and Astract Expressionism, 2010). Pollock, himself, was not able to describe what the Abstract Expressionism movement was about. He said, The modern painter cannot express this age, the airplane, the atom bomb, and the radio in the old forms of the Renaissance or of any other past culture. Each age finds its own technique. These words are the sum of the ideas behind this era of painting. Pollock used no rhyme or rhythm in his work but the layers that he used to cover his canvas fully were powerful in themselves. (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2010)

Painting Styles Although many styles and eras have come and gone, one thing remains the same. Art will continue to be the most popular, most sought after, and widely used form of expression.

Painting Styles References Phillips Collection. (2010). The Luncheon of the Boating Party. Retrieved from http://(2010). Luncheon of the Boating Party. Retrieved from http://www.phillipscollection.org/collection/boating/index.aspx Metropolitan Museum of Art. (2010). Works of Art. Retrieved from http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/210010466 Lerouge, O. (2009). The Oath of the Horatii. Retrieved December 16, 2011, from Musee du Louvre: http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/oath-horatii Sayer, H. M. (2010). Neoclassicism. In H. M. Sayer, A World of Art (pp. 481-484). Upper Sadle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Sayre, H. M. (2010). American Modernism and Astract Expressionism. In H. M. Sayre, A World of Art (pp. 509-512). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Sayre, H. M. (2010). Impressionism. In H. M. Sayre, A World of Art (pp. 492-494). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.