Preferences and Perspectives- The Romantic Era

 

 Impressionism vs. Post-Impressioni

Both Impressionism and Post-Impressionism were 19th century French artistic movements that rebelled against the government-owned art schools and galleries of the time. Impressionists moved away from the Classical style to a new, unique form of art that focused on natural, outdoor scenes depicting beautiful gardens, people in leisure activities like boating on a river or walking in a park. The colors are light and natural looking and contrasted dramatically from the realistic style of the earlier Neo-Classical artists.  Post-Impressionists also moved away from the Classical influence, but they thought the Impressionists did not go far enough.  Post-Impressionists focused on creating symbolic elements using bright, bold contrasting colors to create a deeper meaning or emotion. Impressionists created peaceful, tranquil scenes that were pleasant to look at, while Post-Impressionists filled their artwork with strong structures and intense colors that carried the meaning of the picture. 

Claude Monet was born on November 14, 1840, in Paris, France. He was one of the founders of the French Impressionist movement and is also known for capturing stunning natural landscapes, such as the open-air landscape with sunlight. Among his works, one special one is "Water Lilies," which the artist painted in his garden at Giverny. His painting style uses light colors.

                                                                      

 The Water-Lily Pond

In this impressive painting, I see many visual elements. The first is the bridge with this Japanese-style curve. Also in the part of the bridge you can see those cold gray tones allowing you to see more of the bridge. Also in the painting, this bridge creates that sense of focus, a point where it guides the viewer's gaze. The next element I see is the water. The pond is very impressive as the artist Monet painted it. You can see those reflections of the roses under the water created as a kind of mirror and creates a certain depth in the painting. Finally, in the painting I see a lot of green vegetation surrounding the bridge creating a more ambient visualization. I see various shades of warm colors such as yellowish-green and green. In addition, the painting has a certain natural light creating a passive and calm natural atmosphere. 

There are several emotions. This painting has that part of serenity and tranquility, that calm part of nature with those colors creating a scene of natural beauty like that feeling of a nature garden. The presentation of this work is impressive, using loose brushstrokes with a variety of color tones such as greens, blues, and purples. The composition of this work centers the curved bridge above a pond of water lilies, below the water. The original work can be seen in the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris, but there are versions of this painting in several important museums such as the Museum of Modern Art, New York; and the National Gallery, London. The story behind this painting is basically that Monet was inspired by painting his garden at Giverny. He himself created the Japanese-style bridge, and from there he painted that beautiful painting. In addition, this work gives that sensation for a viewer to focus and see the painting more and find that moment of peace that the painting provides. Also, so that viewers who see this type of work appreciate that part of beauty that nature has.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir was a French Impressionist painter born in Limoges, France in 1841. Renoir began his career as a painter and studied art at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. The artist Renoir is famous for his vibrant, luminous paintings and brilliant colors. He is also famous for his sensual nudes and enchanting scenes of beautiful women, including portraits, landscapes, etc. His most famous paintings are "The Luncheon of the Boating Party", "Dance at the Moulin de la Galette", "The Umbrellas" but throughout his career as an artist he created many thousands of paintings.

                                              

La Grenouillère

The first visual element of this painting is the color palette. The artist used diverse combinations of colors such as green and blue, creating a serene atmosphere. Flashes of white and silver can be seen in the water. Shades of green and yellow can be seen in the trees, and darker tones such as black, white, and blue can be seen in the figures. The next element is the composition of the painting, based on a party or a gathering of people, centered in the middle of the painting. The boats are in the foreground, with the trees in focus to the left of the painting. Finally, the textures, painted in an impressive style, create that special movement on the water's surface with loose, barely visible brushstrokes. In the water, his textures and brushstrokes are short, capturing that wonderful light. Additionally, the trees and people have more defined and clearer brushstrokes, making the painting look warmer. 

This work has those emotions of joy and fun. In the painting you can see in the summertime a group of people gathered, celebrating by the water, which transmits that happiness and relaxation. The presentation has a unique style with loose brushstrokes with natural light and reflections in the water and most importantly the colors. The composition directs the viewer's gaze towards the people gathered while the boats give that perfect detail to the painting. This original painting is located in the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York City. The story behind this painting is when Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted together in 1869. They met in a very popular place called the Sana River, which is located west of Paris. They took advantage of the best moment to capture the scene where the group of people were in a meeting or celebration with boats in front and a great light reflecting on the water, creating this wonderful work. 

Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch painter born in 1853 in Zundert, Netherlands. Throughout his life, Van Gogh created around 2,100 works. His works are characterized by intense colors and impulsive dramatic brushstrokes, which include landscapes, portraits, and self-portraits. One of his most famous works is "The Starry Night."

                                                        

 Road with Cypress and Star

This painting is incredible but a little different from other paintings. In this painting, there are many intense and vibrant colors, such as the blue in the sky, the dark green in the tree, the golden yellow in the wheat field, and the white and gray tones in the road. This creates a fascinating mix of colors, making the painting look more iconic. Aside from the colors, I see many curved lines that dominate the composition, especially in the sky and the road. The textures in this painting are created by very heavy brushstrokes. Van Gogh created strong textures, especially in the sky and the wheat field. On one hand, it's the textures, on the other hand, it's the movements that the painting has in the road and the sky. The compositional basis of this painting is the vertical organization of the tree as the main element, while the road leads the viewer's eyes into the painting.

The emotion I see in this painting is the loneliness of the blue night sky, but I also see a detail like the two figures on the road, giving it the emotion of human connection. The presentation of this painting is characterized by Van Gogh's style, with strong brushstrokes, vibrant colors, and composition. The tree in the center of the road and the sky create the perfect movement. The original painting is in the Kröller-Müller Museum, located in the Hoge Veluwe National Park at Otterlo in the Netherlands. The story behind this impressive work is when Van Gogh painted it during his stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. 

Paul Gauguin was born in Paris, France, in 1848. Paul Gauguin was best known for his colorful works. While spending time in Tahiti, he created some of his most famous works. His style is represented by flat areas of color. He was also known for his friendship with the painter Vincent Van Gogh. He was a pioneer of modern art and a key figure in the Symbolist and Post-Impressionist movements.

Tahitian Women on the Beach

The first visual element is color, especially in this painting, since they mark those warm and cold tones, making the painting look more interesting. The artist Gauguin used a variety of vibrant and striking colors, which are red in the dress with white flowers, and on the other hand, the pink dress in the figure's clothing. Also in the background, you can see that green making it look like water, and the golden color in the sand on the ground, creating a strong contrast and visuality in the painting. The next element is the composition. You can see two figures in two different poses: on one side, the figure is reclining and the other is sitting. The position of the painting is a beach plane of the ground with horizontal green lines behind the figure, creating that kind of depth and that interesting touch in the painting. Finally, this painting has a lot of texture. You can see that texture in the paint from the fabric of the figures' clothing. There are also several brushstrokes that the artist used in the skin tones, creating that visual interest in the painting.

In this painting I see many emotions, such as thoughts, concerns, or perhaps a sense of peace. But I also see that feeling as if they were talking about something serious due to the facial expressions of the figures. The presentation of this painting has a post-impressionist style, with vibrant and striking colors. The original painting can be found in Paris, Orsay Museum, where there are many works from the same period or culture that could be admired alongside the others. The story behind this painting relates to the artist's trip to Tahiti and his fascination with the local culture. I identify a lot with this painting since I have liked paintings from different countries, but also because of the natural beauty of each person.

Works Cited

Gurney, Tom. “One of the themes that appears repeatedly in Vincent van Gogh's artwork is that of the cypress tree.” The History of Art, 19 June 2020, https://www.thehistoryofart.org/vincent-van-gogh/road-with-cypress-and-star/. Accessed 23 March 2025.

“Impressionism – Monet and Renoir, La Grenouillère (The Frog Pond), 1869.” Kiama Art Gallery, 14 May 2015, https://kiamaartgallery.wordpress.com/2015/05/14/impressionism-monet-and-renoir-la-grenouillere-the-frog-pond-1869/. Accessed 23 March 2025.

Mayer, Isabella. “Monet Japanese Bridge – A Walk Across Monet’s Famous Bridge Painting.” Art in Context, 9 August 2021, https://artincontext.org/monet-japanese-bridge/. Accessed 23 March 2025.

“Tahitian Women on the Beach, 1891 by Paul Gauguin.” https://www.gauguin.org/tahitian-women-on-the-beach.jsp. Accessed 23 March 2025.