Art Nouveau and Impressionism

Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau was defined by the artist's rejection of "academic" art, the use of muted colors and swirling lines. I find this art style to a little lack luster as a whole. Many of the pieces I have viewed tend to be incredibly simplistic, sometimes to a fault. I really enjoy the use of some of the more muted color pallets, but sometimes They would appear drab and boring.

 

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt is an Austrian painting done between 1907 and 1908. This painting interestingly used gold and silver leaf as well as oil on the canvas. I think it gives the painting an interesting texture on the canvas. The painting was done to represent love and sexuality. I enjoy the details of the woman's face in this painting, the way her eyes are closed and the way her head is caressed, portrays the emotion that Klimt was striving to show. However, I find that the color of this painting makes it hard to follow the painting. I can't quite make out where their bodies begin and end, and I didn't even know they are sitting in a bed of flowers and grass until I read about it.

The Woman in the Moon by Aubrey Beardley was made in London in 1894. It was created for Oscar Wilde's book Salomé. It is a great example of art that was to be mass produced by printing. The art also uses the curved lines of the style in bother the dress and the background. I do find this piece to be quite boring though. The lack of any shading in the picture, which doesn't have to be an issue, is not complimented by any color. I also find the art hard to follow and struggle to make out the moon in the back.

Impressionism

Impressionism used vivid color, an "unfinished look" and depictions of the atmosphere of everyday lives to define their artistic style. I personally find this art style too be much more appealing than Art Nouveau. I find the use of colors in these works, tends to compliment the sketch-like look the paintings have. 

The painting La Gare Saint-Lazare by Claude Monet, was done in 1877 at Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris. This specific painting was just one of many in a series of paintings depicting the station. Monet was looking for somewhere he could focus on the color and light of the sky in a modern industrial setting. I find this painting to be quite appealing for its use of blue and yellow to give this rough look of smoke in coming from the terrain. I also like that the painting gives little detail to the people and even trains in the painting, allowing the atmosphere to be the main focal point. 

Bal du moulin de la Galette done by Auguste Renoir in 1876 at the dance garden on the Butte Montmartre in Paris. The aim of this painting was to depict the lively and joyful atmosphere in the garden. I really enjoy the softness the painting gives the people's faces. A mix of the color choice and the brushwork give this painting a fun and lighthearted feel. You can tell from the picture that the garden is quite busy, but people are enjoying themselves, and the atmosphere is well represented.

Comparisons

Both art styles are setting out to do their own thing. Art Nouveau was a counter to the academic art of the time, and was taking inspiration from the flowing lines of Japanese art. Impressionism on the other hand was focusing on the atmosphere of everyday life. Besides the way the art styles visually clash, they are easy to tell apart just by subject matter alone. The one thing both have in common is that they were separating themselves from the scientific art that was being created from styles like realism.  Neither style is attempting top capture life in a realistic way, but rather capture some essence about it.

Links

“Aubrey Beardsley Artworks & Famous Art.” The Art Story, www.theartstory.org/artist/beardsley-aubrey/artworks/.

“Auguste Renoir Dance at Le Moulin De La Galette.” Musée D'Orsay: Auguste Renoir Dance at Le Moulin De La Galette, 4 Feb. 2009, www.musee-orsay.fr/en/collections/works-in-focus/painting/commentaire_id/dance-at-le-moulin-de-la-galette-7138.html?cHash=f8e493dbca.

The Saint-Lazare Station - Musée D'Orsay, m.musee-orsay.fr/en/works/commentaire_id/the-saint-lazare-station-7080.html.

“Aubrey Beardsley Artworks & Famous Art.” The Art Story, www.theartstory.org/artist/beardsley-aubrey/artworks/.

“Auguste Renoir Dance at Le Moulin De La Galette.” Musée D'Orsay: Auguste Renoir Dance at Le Moulin De La Galette, 4 Feb. 2009, www.musee-orsay.fr/en/collections/works-in-focus/painting/commentaire_id/dance-at-le-moulin-de-la-galette-7138.html?cHash=f8e493dbca.

The Saint-Lazare Station - Musée D'Orsay, m.musee-orsay.fr/en/works/commentaire_id/the-saint-lazare-station-7080.html.