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Showing posts from March, 2024

The Romantic Era

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Claude Monet,  Impression, Sunrise , 1874, oil on canvas, 50 × 65 cm (Musée Marmottan, Paris) From his bedroom window in November of 1872 while staying at the Hotel de l’Amiraute in Le Havre, Monet painted the southeast view of the harbor early in the morning. I like the calm mood projected in this painting with the coolness of the blue shades. The three fishing boats seem to glide smoothly over the gentle rippled texture of the water with the rising sun's deep orange reflection near them. Soon, the calm will be interrupted by the loud noises of construction in the background. I can imagine myself sitting at the window, enjoying a hot beverage, and taking a deep breath while bracing myself for the busy, noisy day to come.  Monet was most likely trying to capture the peacefulness of the morning. Mary Cassatt,  Little Girl in a Blue Armchair , 1878, oil on canvas, 89.5 x 129.8 cm (National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.) While the armchair decorated with dainty flowers looks quite

Morality and the Art of the Classical Era

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  I picked Morality and the Art of the Classical Era as that era is my favorite so far. I am not fond of art depicting violence or nudity which the earlier eras seemed to have an abundance of. I chose three portraits where the subjects are modestly dressed, and the subject matter is either more wholesome or was void of any portrayal of violence. Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun,  Self-Portrait with her Daughter, Julie , 1789, oil on canvas, 130 x 94 cm (Musée du Louvre). Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker. Le Brun was forced to flee France with her daughter to Italy because of her association with the Queen. My guess is that she painted this portrait while either in France or Italy. For my first portrait I chose Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun’s self-portrait with her daughter Julie, 1789. The painting is an oil on canvas,130x94 cm, and is on display at Musée du Louvre , in Paris. What is appealing for me about this painting is that it exhibits a strong bond between a mothe