The Scream

E.Munch, 1893. The Scream [oil and pastel]. National Gallery, Oslow, Norway.

Normally, Munch’s art represented his own emotions especially the darker ones of fear, dread, loneliness, and sexual longing. His most famous artwork is The Scream. The Scream is a lithograph that was painted by Edvard Munch in 1893.

The screaming figure in this painting shows existing horror. A previous drawing of the same concept, is a drawing of a man (which is Munch himself) on a similar bridge and with a blood-red sky above. A text was found accompanying that drawing which said:  “I walked with two friends. Then the sun sank. Suddenly the sky turns as red as blood … My friends walked on, and I was left alone, trembling with fear. I felt as if all nature were filled with one mighty unending shriek.”

It is known that in The Scream, Munch has drawn a spiritual experience. The figure is unrealistic. It swirls as if to continue with the pattern of the landscape. Munch did not paint his own appearance but the way he was feeling. The Scream is expressionistic because Munch expressed his feelings through this painting. 

References:

ArtHistoryLuv, 2013. Private Life of a Masterpiece [video online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLnR5ki8JgM> [Accessed 30 March 2014].

Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, 2006. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. [online] Available at: <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1984.1203.1> [Accessed 30 March 2014].   

Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau (New Art) started in Belgium and was inspired by the Arts and Crafts Movement which is very much inspired by nature. Therefore, flowers, leaves and natural, organic shapes are also seen in Art Nouveau paintings. The main characteristics of Art Nouveau are the whiplash curves, absence of straight lines and 90° angles and elements of living organisms such as animals, insects and birds. The most common organisms were the swans, dragonflies, peacocks and swallows. All these had a symbolic meaning to the artists.

Alphonse Mucha was an Art Nouveau painter. He was Czech but lived in Paris. The ‘Laurel Lady’ and ‘Ivy Lady’ are two of his paintings which are a great example of art nouveau. As you can see in both the paintings, there are a lot of natural elements and curves shown. 

A.Mucha. 'Laurel Lady' and 'Ivy Lady' [oil]

The pattern with an artichoke is a painting by John Henry Dearle from the Arts and Crafts Movement. The other one is from Art Nouveau. As you can see, organic shapes are very common in both styles. The difference between Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movement is that Art Nouveau usually includes a female figure.

References:

G, Cybele, 2006. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. [online] Available at: <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/artn/hd_artn.htm> [Accessed 29 March 2014]. 

Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh is a self-taught Dutch artist. ­­He gained his painting skill mostly by copying prints and studying 19^th century drawings manuals and lesson books such as; ‘Charles Bargue’s Exercises au fusain and cours de dessin’.

At first he felt that it was more necessary to master black and white before colour. He first concentrated on learning figure drawings and rendering landscapes in the correct perspective. In 1882, Van Gogh executed his first independent works in water colour and moved to oil painting.

Van Gogh was staying in Paris from February 1886 – February 1888. There, he saw the work of the Impressionists and also witnessed works by the Neo-Impressionists George Seurat and Paul Signac. He was very much influenced by their work. Therefore, Van Gogh lightened his palette, and experimented with broken brush strokes of the Impressionists and also the pointillist touch of the Neo-Impressionists.   

I think that this is a great example of how Van Gogh was influenced by the Impressionists. In the ‘Ploughed Field’ you can see that the artist used a lighter palette than his earlier work. In his painting you can also see rough brush strokes which are also seen in Claude Monet’s work ‘Impression Sunrise’.

Van Gogh, 1888. Ploughed Field [oil]  

Claude Monet, 1872. Impression Sunrise [oil], Musee Marmottan Monet, Paris

As I said earlier, Vincent Van Gogh gained his skill by copying prints.

The one on the left is a Japanese print by Utagawa Hiroshige Ohashi Bridge, Sudden Shower at Atake. The one on the right is Van Gogh’s interpretation. One can clearly see that the Japanese prints’ influences are also in Van Gogh’s work such as; the bold blocks of colours, and diagonal lines.

References:

Department of European Paintings, 2010. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. [online] Available at: <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/gogh/hd_gogh.htm> [Accessed 22 March 2014].  

John Fitzsmmons, 2014. The Painter’s Keys. [online] Available at: <http://clicks.robertgenn.com/japanese-prints.php> [Accessed 22 March 2014].

Pugin (1812-52)

Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin was a writer, architect, designer and theorist. His writings provided the foundation of the development of the Arts and Crafts. For him, the Gothic represented the order and stability of Christian faith. Therefore, he rejected the early Victorian popular currency for Classical Architecture in favour of a revival of Medieval Gothic.

Pugin, who favoured the revival of the 14^th century Gothic, attempted to create an entire consistent architecture and interior environments in his style. He wanted the reunite the spiritual life and the everyday life. He believed that the Gothic style will help make this happen.

“Pugin’s message was simple: If there is something wrong with our cities, then there is something wrong with ourselves, and society and architecture both need reform.”

By designing a range of interior fittings, he wanted to express entire schemes of design in Gothic terms rather than put Gothic architectural details as means of decoration.

The House of Parliament

This is the House of Parliament which is of the style Neo-Gothic. Neo-Gothic is the new revival of the Gothic style which was renewed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin.

This is then, an example of Gothic architecture. As you can see, Gothic and Neo-Gothic architecture are very similar. They both have pointy roofs. However, there are some differences. Neo-Gothic architecture has more of a modern look but you can still see that it is a renewal of the Gothic architecture. 

References:

Rosemary Hill, 2012. The Guardian. [online] Available at: <http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/feb/24/pugin-gothic-architect> [Accessed 13 March 2014].  

Retrospect | Visit

Retrospect is an exhibition I visisted of the artist Anthony Lucian Cauchi. This is an exhibition that took place at the Auberge D'Italie which is in Merchant Street, Valletta. The exhibition consisted of works which have been done between the year 1964 and 2014.

Anthony Lucian Cauchi, 2010. Nymph [Ceramics]

A Nymph is a mythological god knows as a beautiful lady inhabiting the sea, rivers, woods, trees, mountains, etc. Therefore I cannot not say how the artist put the nymph near the trees. When you look at this artwork, the first thing you see is the trees and after a few moments staring at it you will notice the nymph. I think that this fact really shows the mythological beliefs of the nymphs.
I think that the glazes used in this artwork really show how beautiful nature is. The gold really compliments the greens and browns and I think that emphases the beautiful spirit of nature and the nymphs.

Anthony Lucian Cauchi, 2013. Tree of Bodies [Ceramics]

Tree of Bodies is another artwork which was done using ceramics. In it, one can notice a tree with people coming out of each branch. One can also notice bodies in the roots of the tree.
Even though this has been done three years after 'Nymph' you can clearly see that it is of the same series. The colours used are just the same. Only, different textures and brushstrokes. However, despite the weird bodies in the tree, I think that the artist still managed to show the beauty of nature throughout this piece of art.

Anthony Lucian Cauchi, 2013. Thorn Birds [Ceramics]

Although this has a circular shape, I think that you have already noticed that it is from the same series as the two above. The colours used are what defines them.
I love the fact that the first thing you notice are the flowers and foliage and after a few seconds, you will notice the birds and understand the title of the artwork.
I also think that the composition of this ceramic plate is beautiful and it is what makes it interesting.

Anthony Lucian Cauchi, 2008. Madonna and Child [Ceramics]

This is another artwork named 'Madonna and Child' which is done also by Anthony Lucian Cauchi. It shows the beliefs of the Catholics where the son of God was born human.
The child is shown full body but as you can see for the mother, only her head and one hand is shown. The fact that only one hand is shown and also its position shows a sense of embrace.

Anthony Lucian Cauchi, 2014. Digest of Mankind. [Ceramics]

Front View

This is a ceramic piece named 'Digest of Mankind'. It is based on an observation by the artist himself. His observation is that there are a number of organizations which are always ready to "digest" and spite out people.
Knowing the observation of the artist, I must say that this ceramic piece shows feelings. The piece shows people who look like they are holding something huge and heavy. Their positions show struggle.

Anthony Lucian Cauchi, 2007. Heaven and Hell [Acrylics]

As shown in the title of this painting, this shows heaven and hell in the artist's point of view.
Heaven is in the upper half of the canvas whilst hell is in the lower half. Using black background and light blue in the middle and upper half of the canvas, the artist added height to the canvas. Where there is heaven you can see flowers and many colours which are associated with beautiful things. Whilst where there is hell, the canvas seems more monochromatic.

Anthony Lucian Cauchi, 2010. Red Flower Tree [Acrylics]

This painting is done with acrylics and it shows a big tree of red flowers. Clearly, the artist paid great attention to detail. The tree is almost as big as the whole frame. The tree is also placed in a higher area of land than other areas. This gives the tree some importance and more attention.