Impressionism

Impressionism started in Paris by a group of artist in the 19th century.  The characteristics of impressionism paintings are that they have thin and small brushstrokes, an unusual visual of angles and light also primary colours. The result of impressionism was to capture the artist's awareness of the subject rather than the subject itself. Impressionist paintings contain very bright, bold colors and tend to have very little detail. The founders of this movement were Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Art became more expensive Artists were encouraged to express their own visions in their work and were free to experiment with traditional forms to create their own unique work.

Parlament in London
oil on canvas, Musee d'Orsay

Impression Sunrise by Claude Monet

Impressionism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. Impressionism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impressionism

What Is Impressionism? (with picture). 2013. What Is Impressionism? (with picture). [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-impressionism.htm.

symbolism

Symbolism is a form, image or subject representing a meaning other than the one with which it is usually associated that happened in the 19th century.Was a movement of the french and Belgian. Symbolism a reaction against Naturalism and Realism, movements which captured the reality.  This movements allowed people to think spirituality, imagine, and dream. There were several artists during this time like Gustave Moreau, Odilon Redon, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, Henri Fantin-Latour and Edvard Munch.  Symbolism was international. Symbolists believed that art shouldsay the truth . They painted scenes from nature, human activities, and all other real world events.

Edvard Munch - Scream

Symbolism (arts) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. Symbolism (arts) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolism_(arts).
Symbolism - 19th Century Art. 2013. Symbolism - 19th Century Art. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.krcky.com/simbolizam/O_simbolizmu/index_en.htm. 

scandinavian art

The Scandinavian countries are rich in artifacts and objects of archaeological interest dating from the end of the Ice Age through the Bronze Age, the Celtic and Germanic Iron Ages, and the Viking period. Viking art  is characterized by dynamic geometric design of animal forms. It bears a clear relationship to other European trends, particularly to Hiberno-Saxon illumination. 

Frank Stella

Frank Stella was born on the 12th May 1936, he is an american painter and print maker  He uses minimalism and post-paint abstraction in his works. He was born in Massachusetts, after high school he attended Princeton university were he majored in history. He was mostly influenced by visiting galleries in New York. Frank Stella moved to New York in 1958 after he graduated. rank Stella has reinvented himself in consecutive bodies of work over the course of his five-decade career. 

Frank Stella

Since he moved to New York Stella decided not to use paint like all the other abstract artists.He began to produce works which emphasized the picture-as-object, rather than the picture as a representation of something. Frank Stella married Barbara Rose who became an art critic in 1961. At around this time he said that a picture was "a flat surface with paint on it - nothing more". In the 1960's Stella began to use more colours. 

Protractor Series

Protractor Series is one of his paintings were arches are being overlapped and curves and straight lines are being used. These paintings are named after circular places that he had once visited in the middle east. In the mid 1960's Stella started working with printmaking also started working with a master printer, Kenneth Tyler.Stellas abstract prints are made in screen printing, etching and offset lithography. In 1967 he designed a set and costumes for a dance called Scramble. He was named the youngest artist to present a work in the Museum of Art. Later on, Stella started using relief, which he called ''maximalist', his work also became 3-dimensional were he started using free standing metal pieces. These are also considered as sculpture. 

A BMW was designed by Frank Stella as part of an installment for the BMW Art Project in 1976.

BMW Frank Stella designed.

From the 1980's to the mid 1990's, Stella produced a number of works. During this time, Stella’s paintings gave way to full three-dimensional, with sculptural forms derived from cones, pillars, french curves, waves, and decorative architectural elements. To create these works, the artist used collages or Marquette. 

Stella continues to live and work in New York. On June 6, 2008, Stella published an Op-Ed for The Art Newspaper. Also in 2009, Frank Stella was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama.

Other works of Frank Stella:

Frank Stella - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. Frank Stella - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Stella.

The Victorian Era

Clothes in the Victorian Era were elaborated and limited on the people who wore them. Era was a time period between 1830 and 20^th century.

Victorian Era: Fashion. 2013. Victorian Era: Fashion. [ONLINE] Available at:http://victorianeracnr.blogspot.com/2011/01/fashion.html.  Victorian era - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. Victorian era - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_era.

De Stijl

De STijl was made up of ultimate simplicity and abstraction, both in architecture and painting. This was by using straight horizontal and vertical lines also rectangle forms. They used primary colours: blue, red and yellow and the 3 primary values which are grey, black and white.  

Composition with Yellow, Blue, and Red, 1937–42, Piet Mondrian. Oil on canvas

Red and Blue Chair designed by Gerrit Rietveld in 1917.

De Stijl - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. De Stijl - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Stijl. 

William Morris

William Morris was born on the 24^th March 1834 and died 3^rd October 1896. He was famous for wallpaper and textile design and an important figure in the Victorian era. He was an English textile designer, writer, artist and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement. The artistic idea of this brotherhood was to make everything home made at affordable prices, not cheaply manufactured. The brotherhood produced stained glass and tapestry fabrics which all were handmade. William Morris was married and had two daughters. His wife had a long affair with Dante Rossetti, who was an artists model.   

William Morris

“Membland.”

“Pimpernel.”

“Brer Rabbit” wallpaper design.

Who Is William Morris?. 2013. Who Is William Morris?. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.wisegeek.com/who-is-william-morris.htm.

The Bauhaus

Bauhaus was a design school that started in Germany in 1919 that was founded by Walter Gropius. Bauhaus designers stopped using the traditional method, that everyone knew about and started a modern style of art. Their ideas came from various categories in art. Bauhaus went through different periods under different directors and cities including expressionism, constructivism, functionalism and architecture. The Bauhaus school moved from Weimar to Dessau in 1925.  In 1932 they moved again to Berlin but in 1933 they were shut down by the Nazi’s. The Nazi’s were always against the Bauhaus because they believed that they had something to do with communism, since most of the members were Russian.

Bauhaus,
Dessau, 1925-26

Walter Gropius

F51 chair by Walter Gropius for Tecta 1

What Was the Bauhaus and What Was Its Purpose? - Research Paper - Zainkhan1. 2013. What Was the Bauhaus and What Was Its Purpose? - Research Paper - Zainkhan1. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.studymode.com/essays/Bauhaus-Its-Purpose-140486.html.
What Is Bauhaus? . 2013. What Is Bauhaus? . [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-bauhaus.htm. 

Exhibition visit: Jewellery

This Exhibition was Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti's, named Vanity, Profanity and Worship. Was held in Valletta.

Art Nouveau

        Art Nouveau is a style of art that appeared in Europe during the late 19thcentury. Many of its themes are taken from nature, though presented quite abstractly, and include plants, flowers, and naturally curved lines. Some famous artists for this style include Aubrey Beardsley, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Besides nature, the Art Nouveau style also got inspiration from High Victorian, Roccoco, and Japanese art.

Junichi Nakahara (1913-1988).

Art Nouveau - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. Art Nouveau - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau.

How Japanese Fashion Was influenced around the World

        Latest trends start in Japan before coming to Europe. It started in the 80’s  with designers like   Issey Miyake, Kohji Kamamoto and Comme de Garcons. And it has completely extended now with brands like Uniqlo, Kenz and Muji. Example: Camouflage began in Ura-hara before migrating around the world.

Gwen Stefani Harajuku Lovers Collection

         Gwen Stefani was inspired by Japanese culture  for her Harajuku Clothing line and perfume. She had the first collection to regroup Christian Dior and japanese fashion. Fashion designers regularly go Japan to become inspired.

     

            

        Japanese fashion’s influence on Western style and trends | Liberty n Lux. 2013. Japanese fashion’s influence on Western style and trends | Liberty n Lux. [ONLINE] Available at:http://libertynlux.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/japanese-fasions-influence-on-western-style-and-trends/.

What is Japonisme?

Japan started to trade with the West in 1854. Japanese woodcuts, screens, fans and other arts entered Europe.The 1862 World Fair and exhibitions in Europe brought further attention to Japanese art.‘Japonisme' referred to the influence of Japan on European and American artists. Western artists began to adopt many of the stylistic features of Japanese art- pure colours, curved lines, movement and two-dimensional spaces. Also, traditional Japanese subject matter, like gardens, prostitution and theater  were transposed onto the canvases of Western painters. Japonisme resulted in decoration being used as means of artistic expression.

William Merritt Chase (American artist, 1849 - 1916) Peonies 1897

It's About Time: Japonisme by American artists. 2013. It's About Time: Japonisme by American artists. [ONLINE] Available at:http://bjws.blogspot.com/2012/08/japonisme-by-american-artists.html. 

Jean Antoine Watteau

Rococo is also referred to as Late Baroque artistic movement and style in the 18th century. Which affected several aspects of the arts. It shows an aristocracy form of art, and rather than heroes or martyrs, love and romance were considered to be better subjects. The style was characterized by a free will, graceful movement, playful use of line and delicate colours.

Fete in a Park, 1718

Jean-Antoine Watteau was a french painter (1684-1721), is often reffered to as the greatest of Rococo painters, who demonstrates the elegance of this style. Little is known about the artist early life. His art come to reflect the French aristocracy of the 18th century which is known as the Rococowhich is somwtimes considered a final phase of the Baroque period. In his famous oil on canvas ''Fete in a Park'', which was done in 1718 which now is found in The Wallace Collection in London. He chose dream and ideal which helped to mould the fashion we call Rococo. The qualities of Watteau's art the delicacy of his brushwork, and the refinement of his colour harmonies, are not easily revealed in reproductions.

Origami

Origami is the Japanese word for paper folding which started in the 17th century.
It was introduced to Japan by China It has since then evolved into a modern art form. The Chinese developed some early paper folding techniques which were later brought to Japan. The introduction of paper had a large impact on Japanese culture, as the Japanese adopted these folding techniques. It also influenced their architecture and rituals of everyday life. The goal of this art is to transform a flat sheet of paper into a finished sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques, and as such the use of cuts or glue are not considered to be origami. The best known origami model is probably the Japanese paper crane. The early uses of origami were for formal and practical purposes such as folding letters. Though in 1600 -1868 origami was changed and made into a beautiful form of art.

The History of Origami in Japan. 2013. The History of Origami in Japan. [ONLINE] Available at: http://origami.gr.jp/Archives/People/OKMR_/history-e.html.
the art of japan: origami: history. 2013. the art of japan: origami: history. [ONLINE] Available at:http://library.thinkquest.org/27458/nf/origami/history.html.

Japanese art influence of Van Gogh

When Van Gogh moved to Paris in 1886, he was introduced to Japonism. Japanese woodcuts became a big influence to Van Gogh. Van Gogh admired the bold designs, intense colors, and flat areas of pure color and he also appreciated the elegant and simple lines of these wood cuts.

Van Gogh

 In 1887, Van Gogh made copies of two designs of Hiroshige, a Japanese landscape printmaker. One print was The Bridge in the Rain. Van Gogh copied the scene from a woodcut by Hiroshige. He filled the borders with calligraphic figures that he borrowed from other Japanese prints. Flowering Plum Tree is the other print by Hiroshige which Van Gogh copied. . The difference between the originals and Van Gogh’s copies can be seen in the use of color. Van Gogh used brighter colors with more enhanced contrasts.The influence of Japonaiserie and specifically Japanese prints is still evident in Van Gogh’s later works reflecting the Japanese culture and tradition with his strong outlines; the use of black contours is an element typical of Japanese woodblock prints. Also his use of color contrasts and cropped compositions reveals the Japanese influence on his work.

 The Bridge in the Rain

Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso was a Spanish painter born 25th October 1881 and died 8th April 1973, not only was he a painter but also a sculptor  print maker  ceramicist and stage designer.He spent most of his adult life in France. He was one of the most influential artists in the 20th century, who founded cubism. Picasso showed a great talent during his childhood, he painted in a realistic manner. During the first 10 years of his painting career he experimented with different techniques and ideas. These new ideas made him an accomplished artist a fortune one, making him one of the best-known figures in the 20th century of art. Picasso was not only a painter and sculptor but also a draftsman. His medium was mostly paint. He usually painted from imagination or memory, also worked throughout different styles during his life. He used colour as an expressive element and relied of color to create form and space. 

Pablo Picasso

Weeping Woman with Handkerchief 1937

Three Women 1907-08

Pablo Picasso - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. Pablo Picasso - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Picasso. [Accessed 20 May 2013].

Cubism

Cubism is a style of painting and sculpture developed in the early 20th century by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. It emphasizes on formal structure, the reduction of an object in its simplest form. Cubism was one of the most influential visual art styles of the early twentieth century. It was created by Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973) and Georges Braque (French, 1882–1963) in Paris between 1907 and 1914. The French art critic Louis Vauxcelles coined the term Cubism after seeing the landscapes Braque had painted in 1908 at L'Estaque in emulation of Cézanne. Vauxcelles called the geometric forms in the highly abstracted works "cubes." Other influences on early Cubism have been linked to Primitivism and non-Western sources. The stylization and distortion of Picasso's ground-breaking Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (Museum of Modern Art, New York), painted in 1907, came from African art. Picasso had first seen African art when, in May or June 1907, he visited the ethnographic museum in the Palais du Trocadéro in Paris.

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/cube/hd_cube.htm

Exhibition 3: Chris Ebejer

This exhibition of Chris Ebejer was held in Palazzo Messina in Valletta. Chris Ebejer was born 25th December 1979 in Malta. He was trained by Tarcisio Montebello but self taught at an early age. These works were mainly inspired by mythology , Gods and the Mediterranean spirit. Which medium was mostly terracotta and bronze. 

Metamorphisis 2

Teatro Barocco

Exhibition 4 : Alfred Chircop

Alfred Chircop attended the Malta School of Art and various other schools throughout Europe. is work has developed remarkably throughout the years, whether figurative, or abstract. He mastered a variety of techniques throughout the years, such as:  paintings, watercolors  etchings and aquatints, lino cuts, pen and wash and mono prints.