PoTDPoTD #6 #6 Precursors to ImpressionismPrecursors to Impressionism

Académie des Beaux-ArtsAcadémie des Beaux-Arts The Academe des Beau-Arts was one of five major French Institutions that pretty much dictated what art should be (it included Painting, The Academe des Beau-Arts was one of five major French Institutions that pretty much dictated what art should be (it included Painting,

Sculpture, Music and Architecture). Sculpture, Music and Architecture).

This Academy held a gigantic show every year (The Salon in the Louvre) that held a lot of sway for artists, garnering them with prizes, This Academy held a gigantic show every year (The Salon in the Louvre) that held a lot of sway for artists, garnering them with prizes, commissions and mad props. Unfortunately, their tastes were very conservative- they wanted paintings that had very muted colors and commissions and mad props. Unfortunately, their tastes were very conservative- they wanted paintings that had very muted colors and emphasized a lack of visible brush strokes. emphasized a lack of visible brush strokes.

Now as a painter, I look at brush strokes. If you look closely, a good painter can tell you another painters process by looking at the brush Now as a painter, I look at brush strokes. If you look closely, a good painter can tell you another painters process by looking at the brush strokes---what color the surface of the canvas was when they started, what size and shape brushes they use and what kinds of actions their strokes---what color the surface of the canvas was when they started, what size and shape brushes they use and what kinds of actions their brushstrokes held. brushstrokes held.

Many young painters who were in favor of brighter colors, landscapes and genre paintings were rejected from the Salon because the curators Many young painters who were in favor of brighter colors, landscapes and genre paintings were rejected from the Salon because the curators were much more interested in seeing dull historical and biblical scenes. Neo-Classical and Romantic were styles du jour.were much more interested in seeing dull historical and biblical scenes. Neo-Classical and Romantic were styles du jour.

Booooring!

Jean Auguste Dominique IngresJean Auguste Dominique IngresLa Grande Odalisque 1814La Grande Odalisque 1814Oil on canvas, The LouvreOil on canvas, The Louvre

Jean Francois Millet- Jean Francois Millet- The Gleaners (1857) The Gleaners (1857) Oil on CanvasOil on CanvasMusee d’OrsayMusee d’Orsay

JMW TurnerJMW Turner

The Fighting Temeraire Tugged to her Last Berth To Be Broken Up (1838)The Fighting Temeraire Tugged to her Last Berth To Be Broken Up (1838) Oil on CanvasOil on Canvas

National Gallery, LondonNational Gallery, London

BBC Radio held a 3 week vote in 2005, polling Brits about the greatest BBC Radio held a 3 week vote in 2005, polling Brits about the greatest Painting in Britain. This won with 27% of the vote.Painting in Britain. This won with 27% of the vote.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/vote/greatestpainting/winner.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/vote/greatestpainting/winner.shtml

Even though I like to sometimes refer to Even though I like to sometimes refer to Impressionism as “Bathroom Art”, it was a Impressionism as “Bathroom Art”, it was a stunning and totally radical movement that stunning and totally radical movement that changed Western Art forever. This changed Western Art forever. This movement completely redefined painting movement completely redefined painting and painters. and painters.

The social, cultural and political climates The social, cultural and political climates steered a few young artists to rethink what steered a few young artists to rethink what painting was and where it’s future would lie. painting was and where it’s future would lie.

JMW Turners brilliance with painting water, JMW Turners brilliance with painting water, sunsets and light was unparalleled (he is sunsets and light was unparalleled (he is commonly referred to as “The Painter of commonly referred to as “The Painter of Light” [A term which Thomas Kincaid later Light” [A term which Thomas Kincaid later ripped off]). Turner won first prize in an ripped off]). Turner won first prize in an Annual Royal Academy exhibition and, due Annual Royal Academy exhibition and, due to their policy and much to their chagrin, he to their policy and much to their chagrin, he could continue to show his work on an could continue to show his work on an annual basis in Royal Academy shows annual basis in Royal Academy shows (whether the judges liked his current work or (whether the judges liked his current work or not). The judges did NOT like his work not). The judges did NOT like his work later on in life. The abstraction of color and later on in life. The abstraction of color and form blew their minds but they had to hang form blew their minds but they had to hang the pieces anyway. the pieces anyway.

Here’s an interesting lil tidbit...JMW began Here’s an interesting lil tidbit...JMW began painting sublime (meaning here-epic awe painting sublime (meaning here-epic awe inspiring subjects) sunsets in 1816. In April inspiring subjects) sunsets in 1816. In April of 1815 Mt Tambora (Indonesia) erupted– it of 1815 Mt Tambora (Indonesia) erupted– it was the largest volcanic eruption in 1600 was the largest volcanic eruption in 1600 years. The ash in the sky around the world years. The ash in the sky around the world caused the following year to be nicknamed caused the following year to be nicknamed “the Year Without Summer”, with heavy “the Year Without Summer”, with heavy snowfalls in June and, in Pennsylvania—snowfalls in June and, in Pennsylvania—frosts into August. One nice thing about the frosts into August. One nice thing about the amount of ash in the atmosphere though...it amount of ash in the atmosphere though...it lent extremely dramatic sunsets.lent extremely dramatic sunsets.

Gustave CourbetGustave Courbet Gustave Courbet founded the Realist Gustave Courbet founded the Realist

Style in the late 1840s and eventually Style in the late 1840s and eventually won high honors at the Salon in 1850 won high honors at the Salon in 1850 with this piece “A Burial at Ornans”. with this piece “A Burial at Ornans”. The subject is the funeral of Courbet’s The subject is the funeral of Courbet’s Great Uncle in the small town of Great Uncle in the small town of Omans. Every person at the funeral Omans. Every person at the funeral eventually posed for the artist, who eventually posed for the artist, who wanted to make the recording as wanted to make the recording as accurate as possible.accurate as possible.

A Burial At Ornans (1849-50)A Burial At Ornans (1849-50) Oil on CanvasOil on Canvas

Musee de Orsay, ParisMusee de Orsay, Paris Approx 10’x22’Approx 10’x22’

The Salon had the same policy as the Royal The Salon had the same policy as the Royal Academy...if an artist gets a certain type of honor they Academy...if an artist gets a certain type of honor they can enter paintings in the annual exhibition without can enter paintings in the annual exhibition without having to be approved by the panel of judges. Paintings having to be approved by the panel of judges. Paintings like this were like this were hatedhated by the judges...because of the loose by the judges...because of the loose painting and heavy brushstrokes. The uptight critics painting and heavy brushstrokes. The uptight critics also roasted Courbet and insulted his paintings with also roasted Courbet and insulted his paintings with great cruelty and glee :Dgreat cruelty and glee :D

The Shaded Stream at the Puits-NoirThe Shaded Stream at the Puits-NoirOil on Canvas 25x31” Oil on Canvas 25x31” Circa 1860-65 Circa 1860-65 Baltimore Museum of ArtBaltimore Museum of Art

Invention of PhotographyInvention of Photography The first permanent The first permanent

photograph was made in photograph was made in 1826 by Joseph Nicephore 1826 by Joseph Nicephore Nicepce. He and fellow Nicepce. He and fellow scientist Louis Daguerre scientist Louis Daguerre developed the process and developed the process and continued to make continued to make improvements for the next improvements for the next few years, eventually few years, eventually creating the Daguerreotype creating the Daguerreotype (a negative print out on (a negative print out on polished silver). Eventually polished silver). Eventually vast improvements were vast improvements were made and everyone wanted made and everyone wanted their photograph taken.their photograph taken.

The photo, for the most part, The photo, for the most part, replaced portrait painting, replaced portrait painting, biblical scenes, still life biblical scenes, still life painting and even painting and even landscapes. Traditional landscapes. Traditional painting was going the way painting was going the way of the porno mag.of the porno mag.

This forced painters to This forced painters to reinvent painting. Who reinvent painting. Who needs realistic paintings needs realistic paintings when you can just take a when you can just take a picture of it? The use of picture of it? The use of painting to record events was painting to record events was over. over.

Finally.Finally.

Joseph Nicephore Nicepce Joseph Nicephore Nicepce View from the Window at Le Gras (1826)View from the Window at Le Gras (1826) 8.5x6”8.5x6” University of Texas, AustinUniversity of Texas, Austin

End.End.

Early Daguerreotype Pr0n rocks.

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