Verified Document

Art Please Take A Close Look At Essay

Art Please take a close look at two paintings of storms: Watteau's the Storm

painting comparison

Watteau's the Storm and Delacroix's the Sea of Galilee

The two paintings in question refer to different time periods in art history and more importantly, to different views about art and life. These views are also reflected in the style and the technique of the two paintings. Art is often a reflection of the times in which it is created. The social values and perceptions as well as the dominant religious and philosophical ideas of the time tend to be represented in art during a certain period. The following two paintings will be compared and contrasted in terms of their unique qualities, as well as in terms of the way they reflect the era and the dominant ethos of the time period in which they were created.

Comparison of Two Paintings

The development in art from Neoclassicism to the Romantic period can be seen in the analysis of these two paintings. However, one has to first ascertain the main characteristics of these two periods.

From the perspective of art history the Neoclassical period was still deeply concerned with the ideals of Greek as well as Roman art. This refers to the latter part of the eighteenth century were there was an increase in the influence of classical antiquity and the styles associated with it ( Neoclassicism). This in turn is linked to the dominance of certain ideals and norms in the society of the time; such as harmony, simplicity and order, as well as a classical Greek emphasis on proportion. These ideals can be clearly seen in the painting by Watteau.

In...

Everything is clearly and simply depicted and the storm does not seem to overly disturb the figures in the picture. One should also mention the predominant philosophical ethos of the time. This was the period of the rise of rationality and reason -- as opposed to feeling and emotion. The scientific findings and the increasing confidence in reason and logic, with its association with classical order and proportion, was the dominant tone of the era in which this painting was created. These values, and the obvious prevalence of reason over emotion, can be seen in the painting. Everyone in the painting is involved in his or her allotted task. Even though there is a storm there is no sense in the painting of chaos or panic; rather, reason and proportion tend to dominate the style and technique of the painting. All the figures are clearly and simply painted. There is also a strong sense of formal composition in the depiction and placement of the figure and various elements in the painting.
Watteau's painting is also idealized as it shows an image of harmony in its depiction of the rule agricultural landscape. While the people or peasants are keen to get out the storm there is little real panic. The artist also emphasizes structure and form with less focus on color -- all of which contributes to the neoclassical concept of a rational reality and society.

The Romanic era on the other hand was in many ways the opposite of this sense of order and the belief in reason. Instead of the formality and linear technique of the Watteau painting, the painting by…

Sources used in this document:
References

Introduction to the Romantic Era in English Poetry. Retrieved from http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/introser/romantic.htm

Neoclassicism. Retrieved from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/neoc_1/hd_neoc_1.htm

Romanticism in Art. Retrieved from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-

art/romanticism.htm
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Art Can Be Used to
Words: 1012 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

On some level, all art tells the viewer something about its sociological context. A painting by Vermeer says much about gender roles and norms in Flemish society; just as a painting by Warhol says much about consumerism in American society. One irony that Bennett points out is, "Art collectors have paid millions of dollars for some of Warhol's pieces, but shoppers at Target, where the limited-edition soup cans are on

Art the Painting Techniques of the Impressionists,
Words: 4005 Length: 13 Document Type: Thesis

Art The Painting Techniques of the Impressionists, Cubists, and Fauvists During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries art styles were changing rapidly in France. Impressionism, Cubism, and Fauvism were three of the styles developed during this time. The painters involved were using new techniques with oil paint to change what was accepted as fine art. Their new techniques reflected societal changes happening all around them. The Age of Industrialization, economic fears,

Art Culture
Words: 5226 Length: 15 Document Type: Term Paper

Art Culture: Public Space Art Public art like that of Koon's Train (2011), Serra's Tilted Arc (1981), Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial (1981), and James' Sea Flower (1978), ignite discussion to the point of its modification, re-arrangement, or removal. The reason for this controversial treatment of public art is its ability to embrace a variety of aesthetic practices. The adoption of different aesthetic values like poster art, outdoor sculpture, earthworks, multimedia projections,

Art Currently on Loan From the Frick
Words: 1980 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

Art Currently on loan from the Frick Collection in New York, Hans Memling's "Portrait of a Man" is unique among paintings in the Norton Simon Museum, which does not otherwise boast a collection heavy in Flemish art. The Memling portrait is executed in oil on oak panels, and completed in the mid-1470s. It is relatively small in scale, at just over a foot high and nine inches wide. The museum's description of

Art History & the 21st
Words: 2908 Length: 9 Document Type: Essay

His paintings were and are provocative because, instead of using personal confessions (like Dali), he uses irony and wit and intelligence to make his point hear. "The Treason of Images" is controversial in the sense that it makes the viewer question art and language and the meaning that we apply to objects. Magritte questions the assumptions made by people about the world, changing the scale of objects and defying

Art Nouveau: Art, Architecture and
Words: 3101 Length: 10 Document Type: Essay

To be sure, under the label Art Nouveau, there resides a long list of diverse artistic styles, from two dimensional arts to constructive and geometrical arts. Art Nouveau was an important architectural movement, inspired by the inherent patterns of nature. For example, C.F.A. Voysey's textile prints showcase plant forms in free curves, while Christopher Dresser's design philosophy stemmed from his knowledge of botany. Aubrey Beardsley (1872-98) is famous for his

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now