December 2011
2 posts
4 tags
The Last Supper
Some works of art are so ingrained in western culture and legend, that they are almost considered as given, rather than actually painted. Among these we find The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci, completed in 1498. The oil painting depicts the last supper of Jesus, in which he declares to his disciples that before the day is out, one of them will betray him. As was common in such...
5 tags
Girl With Pearl Earring
Dutch master Johannes Vermeer is generally considered among the greatest painters of the Dutch golden age. Paintings like his “View of Delft” and “The Astronomer” are indeed masterful executions of the genre paintings in which Vermeer specialized. However, there was of course one painting by Vermeer that stands above all others as his most famous work – “The Girl with a Pearl Earring”....
November 2011
1 post
4 tags
Claude Monet Reading by Renoir
Claude Monet was not as prolific painter of self-portraits as some painters like e.g. Vincent Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo and Rembrandt. However, luckily other painters stepped in to contribute to the immortalization of Monet’s likeness. Among these, we find Renoir’s “Claude Monet Reading”. Painted by Renoir in 1872, it shows Monet reading the newspaper while smoking his pipe. Monet is well dressed...
December 2010
4 posts
Cubism Today
When considering the notable artists of French impressionism, one name always comes up firs: Claude Monet. That is of course not completely surprising as it was a work by Monet, Impression Sunrise, which led to the naming of this artistic movement in the first place. As such, he can be said to have earned his stripes. However, following closely behind him we find Peirre-Auguste Renoir, who in fact...
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Mary Cassatt and The Boating Party
A lot has been written about the mastery and master pieces of such household names as Renoir, Monet and Pissarro. Their impressionistic art stand as a light of accomplishment and define the period of the late 1800s for many an art lover. The female impressionists and their contribution to both the movement and later developments have been less covered. Among these we find Mary Cassatt paintings....
4 tags
The Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa has fascinated man since Leonardo Da Vinci painted it in the days of the renaissance. Famous for her smile, or lack of the same, its timeless qualities has made a favorite of the ages. As it has also, especially through the novels of Dan Brown, regained temporary appeal, it is set for yet another century at the center of the world art heritage. read the full article of The Mona...
3 tags
Woman with a Hat
Among the best known and most loved paintings of Henri Matisse, we find Women with a Hat. Painted in 1905 by the artist, it was first exhibited at the Salon d’Automne in Paris, in a room that contained a number of similar paintings as well as a classic statue. Critic Loius Vauxcelles subsequently described this as “Donatello among the Wild beasts” (wild beast being fauvres in French). The Fauvism...
November 2010
1 post
Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo
In the annals of the art world, the male names dominate. From Da Vinci to Van Gogh to Dali, it is a mostly exclusively male domain, indeed a western male domain. There are however exceptions. Among them we find American artists Mary Cassatt. Another and even more inspiring example is Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo. Born in 1907 in Mexico, Frida Kahlo was the wife of famous Mexican painter Diego...
October 2010
2 posts
The Art and Military Music
The world of art consists of so many periods, style and movements that it can be hard for even the most seasoned expert to keep track on all of them. For the rest of us, that leaves little hope. However, even if the total of all artistic movements might be beyond ur grasp, keeping up with the most important of these movements helps us understand not only art but also the world around us. read the...
Renoir Girl with a Watering Can
French impressionism had many great contributors. Among the foremost of these we find Pierre-Auguste Renoir. With his delicate brush strokes, vibrant use of light and color and pendant for painting the outdoor world around him, Renoir was a true master. He was also a believer that paintings should be pretty, joyful and pleasant things to observe. His own work followed this paradigm consistently. ...
September 2010
2 posts
5 tags
Creation of Adam
There are iconic images and then there are truly iconic images. Among these last, we find The Creation of Adam, painted on the ceiling of the Sixteenth Chapel in the Vatican around 1511 by Michelangelo. The painting depicts God stretching out his right arm towards Adam, to relay to him the spark of life. Adam himself is holding out his left arm towards God in a pose that mirrors that of his...
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Edgar Degas
Among the founders of Impressionism, though he himself refused to be considered part of such, Edgar Degas is among the titans of the art world. He indeed considered himself a realist, and many of his artistic traits were not in line with the impressionist ideal. As such, he painted indoors, he did not at least in his earlier work make use of overly bright colors and his art was not spontaneous,...
August 2010
3 posts
4 tags
Nighthawks by Edward Hopper
The message an artist want to send varies widely. Sometimes we view scenes of joy and relaxation, other times we get an imminent sense of danger, still others capture specific societal developments. Before we start fine oil painting reproductions of your favourite American art.
Edward Hopper’s masterpiece Nighthawks belongs to this last category. It depicts a diner at night on a corner in New York...
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Gustav Klimt's Junge Frau
Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt was no stranger to depicting the sensual. Nowhere is this inherent feature of Klimt more obvious than in his painting The Virgin. The Gustav Klimt painting depicts a number of girls lying together on a bed of flowers. At the center of this lies the Virgin herself (well, actually the original name is Die Jungfrau which just means young woman but never mind...
Van Gogh, Wheatfield with Crows, 1890
Wheatfield with Crows was painted by Vincent Van Gogh in July 1890. It is among the last paintings he did, though it is not known if it was exactly the last or not. The painting depicts a wheat field against a dark forbidding sky, with crows circle menacingly overhead. The wind is blowing and the weather is getting worse, while the observer is faced with the indecision of three separate paths...
July 2010
4 posts
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Van Gogh Starry Night →
With The Starry Night, painted in 1889, Vincent van Gogh left behind the Impressionist doctrine of truth to nature in favour of restless feeling and intense colour, as in this highly charged picture, a touchstone for all subsequent Expressionist painting. The composition of The Starry Night can generally be divided into three specific sections, each adding their own aspects and power to the...
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Klimt The Kiss →
Painted by Gustav Klimt during his ‘golden period’, The Kiss (originally Der Kuss) is probably his most famous work. It depicts a couple situated at the edge of a flowered escarpment in various shades of gold and symbols, while sharing a kiss against a bronze background.
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Impression Sunrise →
Painted in 1872 by Claude Monet, Impression Sunrise depicts the harbor in Le Havre. It was first on display in 1874 at the first independent showing of what was later to become known as impressionism. The movement got its name during this show when critic Louis Leroy, inspired by the name “Impression Sunrise”, declared the show “The Exhibition of the Impressionists”. It was...
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Café Terrace at Night
Café Terrace at Night, also known as The Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum, is an oil painting executed by the Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh on an industrially primed canvas of size 25 in Alres in France, mid September 1888.
Vincent van Gogh painted several night scenes and became fascinated with depicting the stars (most famously with his Starry Night paintings) and the light effects of the...
December 2009
1 post
5 tags
The Great Art in Your Home
The finest of the works of art in this world have forever been a fascination to us. This appreciation of the art is reflected in the monetary value of genuinely great pieces of fine art. The measure of exceptional artwork is transcendent, and even in the most atrocious times of crisis, we still recollect their uniqueness and their value.
One alone have to consider the Second World War for an good...