Modernity and Masculinity in 19th Century France - Option #2

            Gustave Caillebotte is often associated with the Impressionists. When looking at Caillebotte’s work one can see influences from the Impressionists, yet at the same time not all his stylistic characteristics fall into the impressionist category. Looking at Caillebotte’s A Rainy Day and Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s impressionist painting Moulin de la Galette one can see that they share several commonalities while at the same time slightly differ.

            Both paintings show an interest in light. Looking at Caillebotte’s A Rainy Day we can see that he took interest in how the light was hitting certain objects. For example we can see that Caillebotte played with the effects of light and color on the ground. With the combination of light and color he made the ground appear to be wet and shiny with water. We can also see light hitting the umbrellas of the people strolling around the streets. Caillebotte used lighter shades to show where the sun was hitting strongly and darker shades to show lack of light. Similarly, in Renoir’s Moulin de la Galette we see an interest in the use of light and color. We can see light shining through the trees above the scene causing the light to be more dappled on the people and on the ground. Renoir also used lighter colors in order to show where the sun was the most extreme and darker colors to show shadows. Both paintings are not only depicting outdoor scenes but they are depicting modern Paris as well. Caillebotte is showing a modern Paris street with people dressed in modern clothes. Renoir is also showing a modern Paris scene with people dancing and interacting at a modern dance hall in modern clothes.

            These paintings differ as well. Renoir used much looser brushstrokes in order to create Moulin de la Galette. Renoir’s painting has a very spontaneous and abbreviated feel to it due to the loose brushstrokes. It looks like he was capturing this fleeting moment in time as fast as he could so he could depict this exact moment. Caillebotte’s A Rainy Day however has a much more refined look. He achieved a refined look because it doesn’t have a sketch like quality. He also didn’t use as loose of brushstrokes as Renoir, which also gave the painting a refined appearance. Each of these paintings also give off different moods. Many impressionist paintings, due to their sketch like quality, give off a lively and energetic feel. However, A Rainy Day has a much more calm and isolated feel. It feels calm because Caillebotte didn’t use loose brushstrokes and also left a large amount of empty space in this scene. This empty space creates and isolated and lonely feel. It also appears to be lonely because none of the people walking in the street are interacting with one another but rather keeping to themselves. While Renoir’s artwork is extremely lively and has a large amount of movement. Not only is this because of his loose brushstrokes but also because he filled the canvas with people interacting with one another. 

The Political Side of Impressionism - Option #1

            Both The Rue Montorgueil by Calude Monet and The Rue Monsnier with Flags by Edouard Manet are depictions of the French festival of June 30th, 1878. Though both are paintings of the same day and same celebration and share many similarities, we can see that each artist chose to depict the scene in their own distinct ways.

            The Rue Montorgeil and The Rue Monsnier with Flags differ greatly. When looking at The Rue Montorgeil by Calude Monet we get a sense of both energy and movement. There is a mass amount of flags that are hanging off the sides of the buildings and look as if they are waving furiously in the wind. The flags are very sketch like making them not clearly defined which also gives them a sense of movement. We can see flags start close to us in the foreground with them continuing all the way as far as the eye can see down the road. Looking at The Rue Monsnier with Flags there are not as many flags and they are spread sporadically down the road. We aren’t seeing any flags really close to us in the foreground; they look as if they start about midway down the road. The flags are much more spread out allowing the viewer the identify individual flags, while in The Rue Montorgeil we are getting the sense that all the flags and the colors of the flags just blur together. In The Rue Montorgeil we are getting an aerial view of the extremely crowded narrow street. Not one person is clearly defined making it look as if these huge crowds of people are all in movement and celebrating. Having so many people on the road gives the painting a very busy energetic feel. It is as if the crowd is in a frenzy of excitement and happiness.  In contrast, we are seeing The Rue Monsnier with Flags in a more straight on point of view and it only has several people strolling the streets and none seem to be in a frenzy or in great celebration. The focus of this painting seems to be the crippled veteran at the left of the canvas. Having the focus be on one man rather than a large crowd of people gives the painting a calm feel. There is no real hustle, just a few people here and there and the old man making his way down the street. This scene looks as if it could be before or after the big rush of people celebrating. The colors Monet used are much darker and vibrant than the colors Manet chose to use. Manet had a much lighter palette with some individuals outlined in a darker color as well as some shadowing. While both are depictions of roads, The Rue Montorgueil seems to have a lot of emphasis on the vertical lines of the tall buildings, while The Rue Monsnier with Flags seems to put more emphasis on the lines of the road rather than the buildings surrounding it.

Both The Rue Montorgueil and The Rue Mosnier with Flags are avant- garde paintings. However, they are both avant-garde in their own ways. Monet’s painting is avant-garde because it is artistically radical. He is using loose brushstrokes, observing light and color, it is an outdoor scene, and looks very sketch like as if done very quickly and spontaneously. Manet’s painting however is both artistically and politically radical. We can see that he too used similar artistic techniques as Monet. At the same time though, Manet’s painting is politically charged. The old man on the left side of the canvas appears to be someone who fought in the war. This veteran who has lost a leg in war is a way for Manet to remind the viewers that he has not forgotten the war.

The Rue Montorgueil and The Rue Monsnier with Flags are also similar in several ways. Each are depicting the same French festival. Both paintings put importance on the flag showing the countries pride and emphasizing the celebration that is taking place. Both also share similar Impressionist artistic techniques such as loose brushstrokes, outdoor scenes, spontaneity, observation of light and color, as well as depicting a modern setting. 

Impressionism - Post #3

            Moulin de la Galette by Pierre-Auguste Renoir was created during the height of the impressionist movement. The scene depicted in this painting is that of modern Parisian life. We are seeing the outdoor courtyard of an old-fashioned dance hall full of jovial people. This painting was created on a fairly large scale of 4 feet 3.5 inches by 5 feet nine inches. Moulin de la Galette depicts a scene that is both spontaneous and lively.

            Renoirs impressionist style gave Moulin de la Galette a spontaneous feel. Renoir created Moulin de la Galette with loose brushstrokes. These loose brushstrokes give us the viewers a sense of speed, abbreviation, sketch, and most importantly spontaneity. His thick application of paint or impasto also gives the painting a very spontaneous feel. It looks as if Renoir very quickly captured this moment in time making the scene seem very natural and real. The dancers also give the painting a spontaneous feel. They are captured in mid movement as if caught in a fleeting moment in time.

Moulin de la Galette also seems to be very natural and spur of the moment because we are seeing modern life depicted. The clothing, light fixtures, and entertainment are all modern. Showing modern life gives the viewers the idea that it was taking a snap shot of what life was like at that very moment. The clothes being worn are traditional to the time period. The type of clothing depicted is appropriate to the time period showing that the painting was trying to accurately show modern life. We can also see that there are lighting fixtures painted all throughout the background of the painting. These light fixtures were new at the time, again showing us modern life.

            The impressionist style to me always seems to be very lively. Moulin de la Galette in particular shows a very active scene that is full of both life and energy. The loose brushstrokes gives the painting a lot of energy and movement that creates a very dynamic scene. The composition of this painting is very interesting and adds to the liveliness. Renoir chose to completely fill the canvas from top to bottom with people interacting with one another. Some people are out on the dance floor dancing, some are engaged in conversation, and others are sitting enjoying refreshments. Renoir chose to cut off figures in the scene giving the viewers the idea that the scene continued outside of the painting similar to that of a photograph. No matter where one looks at this painting there is energy and movement.

            Another key feature of this painting that creates liveliness and energy is the way the Renoir chose to capture the light. The light looks to be very dappled, as if it is coming through the trees. On the dance floor we can see where there are distinct shadows and where the sun is actually hitting the floor. The sunlight also can be seen hitting the clothing of the figures. We can see sunlight on the back of the man seated at the front right table facing away from us. We can see that there are highlighted spots on the man’s back and head where the sun is shining through the trees. The use of light adds interest and energy throughout the painting. The sunlight shining down on the figures makes the scene seem even more happy and joyful because it is a nice day allowing for this outdoors event.

            Renoir’s use of color helps create a very active and lively scene. He uses soft patches of color on brighter colored figures to show the dappled light shining through the trees above head. Renoir created the patches of light with soft pinks, purples, and white. While for the figures clothing he uses more bold and noticeable shades of color such as green, blue, and brown.

            Renoir’s use of loose brushstrokes, thick application of paint, scientific observation of light and color, modern depiction of Parisian life, and split second depiction of a moment all create both spontaneity and liveliness within this painting. This impressionist painting captures the true spirit of modern day Paris and gives the viewers the ability to see an exact moment in time. 

Post #2 Realism and the Early Avant-Garde - Option #1

            Gustave Courbet is known for his socialist ideals and his use of realism within his artwork. While his paintings today are highly regarded and often referred to as “avant-garde”, they were at one time considered to be extremely offensive to the bourgeoisie. In his paintings The Stonebreakers and A burial at Ornans we are seeing social, political, and artistic statements being made. These paintings created much controversy due to his intentional challenge to the academic style and his intention to provoke the bourgeoisie.

            In the painting The Stonebreakers we are seeing a large amount of political radicalism. Courbet chose to show two men, one old and one young, breaking rocks to be used for gravel. We are seeing the men doing backbreaking work that only people of the lower classes would perform. We can see the difficulty of the work as the young man strains to lift the crushed rocks while the old man kneels as he breaks the stones. The men are depicted in ragged clothes that are torn to shreds by their daily labor. One can tell that the paint was roughly applied and that there is somewhat of a disinterest in perspective and depth.

The Stonebreakers was quite controversial at the time due to the political, social, and artistic issues of mid-century France. We are seeing political radicalism within the painting because Courbet is glorifying the working class. He chose to put the two lower class men in the foreground of the painting, filling the canvas. He is showing the inequality between the classes by depicting the oppression of the poor. The two men are also facing away from the viewer. Rather than making them individuals these two men are representing all of the oppressed. We can also see political radicalism because Courbet is creating empathy for their oppressed state. He is showing the men performing their strenuous job and exerting enormous physical effort. Artistically this painting goes against the ideal of the academy. Courbet roughly applied the paint, the figures are turned away from the viewer, there is a disinterest in perspective and depth, and he used this very large canvas to show peasants working rather than showing a historical, biblical, or mythological scene. This painting greatly offended the bourgeoisie because not only did it go against the artistic standards of the academy but Courbet was showing the tension and turmoil between the classes.

In A Burial at Ornans Courbet depicts a burial in life size. This is a scene that could actually be witnessed in modern life, which is why it is considered to be a realist painting. Looking through the crowd of people we can see a mix of emotions, which are all commonly seen at an actual funeral. Several people appear to be bored, some are weeping, and others seem to be distracted. This painting was denounced by the Salon due to Courbet’s disregard to the academy style and lack or creating a traditional history painting. The Salon was also displeased by Courbet’s lack of suggestion to the afterlife.

In both The Stonebreakers and A Burial at Ornans we can see the use of realism. Courbet is showing scenes that were actually happening in modern life. While Courbet’s paintings were denounced by the Salon due to their political and artistic radicalism they are now considered to be both innovative and revolutionary.