I choose this painting done by Chuck Close because this is the type of painting we are going to have to paint so i wanted to get a good look at the  inspiration for it. I found it interesting that he drew a self portrait because I believe that is very hard to do but I like that he included glasses in his photo. The way he made the imagine as if looking through a kaleidoscope. I think its so crazy how someone was able to paint this let alone themselves. The colors he choose seem really accurate, even the wrinkles in his face and his facial hair.

Fransisco Goya "The Sacrifice to Priapus"

This oil painting is originally painted by Francisco Goya. He uses the change of light, vivid colors and change of lines to form the charming artwork.I don't have an exact reason for choosing this painting I just thought it was beautiful- the use of light and shading, the brightness of the colors, and the realism. The detail of the womens dresses and the defining features of the sculpture are amazing.

Constable, "The Hay Wain"

This painting, entitled "The Hay Wain" by Constable was created in 1821. the tools used to create such a life life painting were oil on canvas.the central point of this painting is the wagon (wain). He primarily focuses on creating a mystical feeling of man being at one with nature. I particularly like how vivid this painting is.

Bal du moulin de la Galette: Pierre-Auguste Renoir

This is a painting created by French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir in 1876, it is called "Bal du moulin de la Galette". The painting depicts a Sunday afternoon in Paris at the Moulin de la Galette. In the painting we see all of the people dancing, drinking, and eating. I chose this painting because I love the way Renoir used the lighting to influence how he painted a scene. I also chose this painting because I love how the fluid motion of his brushstrokes create a warm and somewhat blurred vision. 

The Rehearsal by Edgar Degas

This painting is The Rehearsal by Edgar Degas.This painting was from 1878.  The medium is oil on canvas. I think this painting is pretty and could add life to a room. I understand why people would buy this. Also it seems as if someone is in the corner of the room looking at this dance practice happen.  It makes me wonder who is it. 

Breakfast in Bed (1897)

Breakfast in Bed (1897) 

Mary Cassatt  

oil on canvas 

       I chose this painting mainly because I thought it was cute. The subject of a woman and her child is a recurring work of Mary Cassat and I like it a lot. It is somewhat comforting, because I feel as thought the bond between a mother and child is stronger then anything else. I like how the mother is embracing the daughter, but the daughters attention is somewhere else. I feel as though, it is a very strong moment between the two, and the mother is showing a lot of subtle love.

Rene Magritte

This is a painting by Rene Magritte. the colors used are all realistic, giving the paining a realism feel. Magritte does his paintings uniquely, by adding different elements in places where you dont thing they belong. Each one of his paintings makes you wonder why those specific elements were used. The painting for example, features a man wearing a suit, with a granny smith apple covering his face.

"Poker Sympathy"- Cassius Marcellus Coolidge

This painting is an oil painting that was done by Cassius Coolidge in 1903. Coolidge did a collections of 16 oil paintings called Dogs Playing Poker. The series was commissioned to advertise for a cigar brand. I just thought that the picture was funny because it isn't really realistic which makes it interesting. I also like the use of detail and how it actually tells a story.

The Course of Empire: The Consummation Empire

"The Course of Empire: The Consummation Empire"
Thomas Cole
1835-1936
Oil on Canvas

Our current painting assignment is to complete a painting of a landscape. With that said, I was inspired to pick for tho week a landscape painting. Although this is not really a landscape painting, I could not turn this painting down. I really was captured by the bright orangey-yellow-reddish colors portrayed in the fore front while the lighter and whiter colors paint the background. I like how the viewer's eyes immediately look at the forefront. This is a painting also has a lot of details. If you look closely, you will see there are people almost everywhere. This painting is a five-part series depicts the popular American view of the time, when many thought pastoralism as the way humans should live. The series show the growth and fall of a fake civilization

Chagall "I and the village"

I find it ironic that the painting is created by a russian painter. I would not expect this from that culture because of its extreme discipline. I love this picture because its "fun". There is so much going on in this photo yet you can understand every element of the picture without feeling overwhelmed. The painting was supposedly inspired by the Jewish Life and Folklore. I think that the artist must have had quiet an imagination.

Office at Night, 1940 by Edward Hopper

I love this painting because not only does it represent hard work at night but there is a sexual interpretation that can be made. His assistant has on this tight dress and heels by the cabinet while looking at him. She seems like she is plotting her next move on the hardworking man. Not paying her any mind, the man continues working.

"The School of Athens"

“The School of Athens” was painted in fresco by Raphael in 1511. This high renaissance art was done on the walls of the Stanza Della Segnatura, which used to be an apartment for the pope at that time.  The room is now part of the Vatican museum. In this picture there is a lot going on. I like this because a busy pictures makes me wonder what the artist was trying to portray.. Raphael included in his “school” the three great philosophers. Plato ( in the center left in a red shawl), Aristotle (center right in a blue shawl and Socrates off to the left in the green robe teaching. Raphael also included himself way off in the right corner. He is the only person looking right at the viewer.  Later Raphael added the likeness of Michelangelo as “Heraclitus, the “weeping philosopher.” Aptly named because of his lonely life and his contempt for humankind”( http://www.eurotravelogue.com/2012/01/artsmart-roundtable-raphaels-school.html). Raphael added Michelangelo to his fresco after seeing this artists work in the Sistine chapel.

Automat By Edward Hopper

Automat By Edward Hopper
This is an oil painting that was first displayed on Valentines Day 1927. In this painting there is a woman sitting alone at a cafe drinking coffee. I really like this painting becuse you can interpret this image in many ways. From my point of view it looks as if the women is sad and thinking about something. Considering the painting was displayed on Valentines day i feel that this woman may be upset over a loved one or is being stood up by her loved one.

Anselm Kiefer's "To the Unknown Painter"

Anselm Kieifer, "To the Unknown Painter," 1983

Mixed Media: oil, emulsion, woodcut, shellac, latex paint, and straw on canvas

Anselm Keifer is a German painter who paved the way for Neo-expressionism, a movement that revived the arts of painting, carved and casted sculpture, and the emotional content of German Expressionism. The movement also resurrected many motifs found in German Expressionist pieces, including violent, personalized brushstrokes, social commentary, and historical references. 

Keifer manipulated these concepts and dragged them into a contemporary setting, utilizing various mediums to provide an array of textural and colorful effects. This evokes the imagery and horror of the Holocaust, picturing a concentration camp building, most assumedly a crematorium as smoke rises from the background. The building, presumably made from woodcut, juxtaposes the thick and murky lines representative of the charred and blood-stained ground. His use of primary warms tones—yellows and reds—conjures the necessary tones for earth and blood while contrasting the painting's thick black foundation. The piece well executes the unified pandemonium indicative of a Holocaust scene.

The Rehearsal

I chose the painting The Rehearsal by Edgar Degas.  The painting was started in 1873 and finished in 1878.  The medium is oil on canvas.  The size of the painting is 18 1/2 by 24 3/8 inches.  It is located at the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University.  Degas does a good job portraying the natural light coming through the windows.   I like that you can see the details of the buildings and landscaping outside through the windows.  I think that the composition of this painting interesting.  He keeps the bottom right corner completely empty while of the other spaces in the painting have a lot going on. 

"I and the Village"

Chagall

I and the Village

1911

Marc Chagall was a Russian-born, french painter. His inspirations were the Jewish life and folklore of his Russian childhood and the Bible. According to the book his imaginative fantasies were hailed as a precursor to Surrealism, however Chagall insisted that he painted actual memories not irrational dreams. I think that the complimentary colors that Chagall uses are what really makes this painting stand out for me, the green face against the red intrigues the viewer. I also think that the story going on in the background captivates the audience.

Mary Cassatt " Young Mother Sewing"

This is "Young Mother Sewing" by Mary Cassatt. It is pastel on paper and was finished in 1893. One thing that I enjoy about Cassatt's work is the mother-child relationship. She is known for doing pictures with a mother and child, but the way she captures the relationship is beautiful. You can feel the emotion and love through her work. I believe that is what makes her works so special. 

Blue nude
oil on canvas
1907
Henri Matisse

while I don't completely agree with certain parts of the body's form, I love the colors. Matisse shows such an understanding of colors in his paintings and this is no exception.

"Automat" - Edward Hopper

"Automat" was painted by Edward Hopper in 1927. I found this, along with many more of Hopper's paintings, interesting because it is incredibly ambiguous. The woman appears to be sitting at an automat by her lonesome, staring into a cup of coffee. It is difficult to determine her mood and why she is even there. I just like the mystery of this painting and that is what caught my eye.

Hopper's Morning Sun

Hopper was famous for leaving his paintings becking a question. This painting shows a woman looking out her window to what appears to be sunlight shining in. This painting done in 1952 shows timelessness. This is something someone in any era can relate to....Sunrise. I like the simplicity of the painting and the provoking manner the woman stairs that makes me question why she is starring so intensely outside the window. I can assume that it must be warm for her to be in a gown so comfortably.

Picasso : Girl Before a Mirror

I picked this painting because as much as it is supposed to be a girl looking into a mirror, it reminds me of a girl holding a baby. The colors and patterns in the back are eye catching and vivid. I like how he uses patterns to showcase his images. I think the girl in the mirror may be pregnant because the pink of her skin nudges out like a belly.

Ruben's "The descent from the cross" 1612 at the Antwerp cathedral... I chose this painting because I really like the amount of detail that it has and I really like the warm colors scheme that was used for this painting.

Picasso, 'The Blindman's Meal"

 Picasso created this picture in 1903 during what many called his blue period, which primarily illustrated thin suffering beggars and tramps. I picked this picture because of all the different shades of blue in it. It gives this picture a even more depressed atmosphere. The picture does incorporate some shades of brown that are found in the bread and the pitcher., which pulls the viewer in because they contrast the rest of the painting.

"Woman with a Parasol" - Claude Monet

"Woman with a Parasol" is an oil on canvas paining of Monet's wife and son on the top of a hill in the suburbs of Paris, France in the summer of 1885. Monet was an impressionist. Impressionism in painting focused on the colors of objects in varying degrees of sunlight. “En plein aire, or painting outdoors, was a characteristic of Monet’s work, and of the Impressionism movement in art”(Totallyhistory.com). The thing I notice most about this painting is the movement it has. The grass is swaying the clouds seem to be blowing with the wind and the woman's dress has body and motion. It is interesting that the faces are blurry. Almost like the things swirling around the people are the most important. I like the yellow spots of paint that look like sun-rays beaming down on the dress and the grass. His wife is at the center of the painting in a wispy beautiful way. 

Eric Fischl, "A Visit To/ A Visit From/ The Island"

Eric Fischl, "A Visit To/ A Visit From/ The Island," 1983, Oil on Canvas

Fischl exploded on the artistic scene with his 1979 portrait "Sleepwalker," narrating a young boy masturbating in a backyard wading pool. As his career progress, Fischl became known for his bawdy and overtly sexual images that all maintain the underlying question, "What's wrong with this picture?" Many critics have evaluated Fischl's work to be an exploitation of middle class America with "Sleepwalker" representing the failed American dream.

His portrait "A Visit To/ A Visit From/ The Island" seems to expose Western colonization, or at least the repercussion of such a subject as many islands used for vacations spots were once inhabited and reconfigured by England and America. "A Visit To" reflects the image on the left side of the portrait. The white individuals appear ingloriously vacationing on an island, presumably one in Central America. The nudity is almost sexualized, gravitating toward an overtly euphoric atmosphere. The colors are bright and highlight the joy mainting this Western perspective of the island—one of thrill and relaxation.

The image on the right, however, captures a much darker vision of the islands. Juxtaposing the image on the left, the image appears bleaker. The hues sink in an overwhelmingly solemn grey. The black folk leaving the island shout in disbelief as their seemingly dead brothers and sister lay on the beach with tempestuous waves engulfing them. For the islanders themselves, the land is not of wonderment and joy, but of fear and anguish. The title "The Island" denotes this land as any island, concluding that Westerns have exploited these once beautiful lands for their perverse pleasure.

Number 7

Jackson Pollock
Number 7
1950

I chose this particular pollock painting becuase I really enjoy his work. I liked this painting because even though it is similar in style to his other works it seems simplier. I enjoy the colors, they compliment each other very well and it alomst reminds me of autumn colors.

Edgar Degas "Waiting"

"Waiting" is a pastel on paper by the French Impressionist Edgar Degas dated between 1880-82. I read online that Edgar Degas was interested in ballerinas so much because of the contrast between their beauty and grace on stage and the reality of the physical and physiological labor that is deceived during that ballerinas performances. After researching this painting supposedly this painting is depicting a ballerina accompanied by her chaperone. I believe the chaperone is sitting there patiently waiting while the ballerina stretches and prepares for her performance. What I like most about this picture is the drastic color difference between the characters. I like how the ballerinas colors are creamy and soft as opposed to the the other woman who's colors are dark.The background is also very vibrant. There is nothing dull about this. Another interesting thing I liked about this piece of work is the perspective. I like how the viewer seems to be positioned above the two women. So the viewers are looking down on the two women. I thought this was an interesting perspective instead of being straightforward. 

Edgar Degas "The Ballet Class"

This painting reminded me of my childhood because I was a dancer for about 14 years. When I was younger, ballet was always my least favorite however as I got older I learned to appreciate the beauty and technique of it. I feel that this painting really portrays how beautiful ballet is. I love many of Edgar Degas' paintings that capture the beauty of the human figure in motion. At this time it seems as if the class is over, many of the girls look relaxed and tired. Until his death,  Degas's favorite subjects were ballerinas at work.

Hogarth "Breakfast Scene"

This is Hogarth's "Breakfast Scene." It was painted in 1745 and is part of a series of paintings. I chose this because I found it peculiar how that characters are not formal. When I researched Hogart it stated that he invented the comic strip. This brought the meaning together. He became the first british artist to be widely admired abroad. 

George Seurat "Seated Boy With Straw Hat"

Although this is not a painting, I chose this picture because I enjoy the simplicity of it. The shading really gives a sense of realism to the drawing, outlining the boys figure in depth. I wonder who this child is to him and why he chose to sketch him in this position. This boy is actually a study for the larger painting, "Bathers At Asnieres." He used a conte crayon.

The Potato Eaters, Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van GoghPainting, Oil on Canvas
Nuenen, The Netherlands: April, 1885

I found this painting interesting because on top of it being considered van Gogh's first piece of art, it is probably the darkest one. He uses dark shades of black, brown, grey, and white. From the name I'm guessing it is a bunch of family members sitting around eating potatoes by a small table with just one form of lighting. I get the sense of comfortableness, age, and having enough in the painting. I like it because it is unlike the majority of van Gogh's paintings that are full of brushstrokes and vivid colors.

The Tribute Money is a fresco by the Italian renaissance painter Masaccio, located in the Brancacci Chapel of the basilica of Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence. I choose this painting because i thought it was interestin of all the different things going on in the painting. There is a large group of men gather in the middle, a man in what looks to be water and two men on the right who seem to be agreeing on some sort of deal. I feel like the two men without paints may be the outsiders because all the other men have long rober on with some sort of hat. I also love the contrast between the warm and cool colors. It makes the people really stand outt.

Corner of the Garden at Montgeron

This painting was done by Claude Monet in 1877.  This is an oil on canvas painting.  The scenery painted in this is absolutely beautiful.  It makes me feel as if I am there.   Its cool because when you look close it looks like a bunch of colors, but from a distance it looks like scenery.

Edward Hopper, infamous for his paintings to stimulate the mind. "Hopper derived his subject matter from two primary sources: one, the common features of American life (gas stations, motels, restaurants, theaters, railroads, and street scenes) and its inhabitants; and two, seascapes and rural landscapes." I like this painting because it can be interpreted in various ways. Also, the painting is obviously from the 50-60s by the clothing. The use of ciaroscuro in this painting also helps create drama.

Alfred Sisley "Autumn Banks of the Seine near Bougival"

I chose this picture because it really depicts the beauty of the fall, my favorite season. He uses color to convey autumn. The band of trees along the shoreline are ablaze with red leaves. The reflection of this color on the water is only slightly muted, contrasting with the pale blue water that repeats the color of the sky.Overall it is a beautiful painting.

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner "Berlin Street Scene"

This is an oil on canvas painting created by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in 1913. The painting depicts a street scene where anonymous men are lurking around the female prostitutes. I chose this painting because I thought it was very unique how their bodies and faces are stretched which distorts their shape. I love Kirchner's use of outlining throughout the painting such as the pink shadows surrounding most of the figures. I also thought it was interesting how the blacks look very charcoal like and most of his brush strokes were very jagged. 

Edward Hopper, Night Windows 1928

I picked this painting because it's innocent but has creeper qualities. If you think about it, why is the painter painting a woman pretty much half dressed? Why is he even looking into his neighbors windows? How many times did he look into her window and exactly how promiscuous is she for even having all her windows open like that? I think the lady in this painting might like the attention. Who has all their windows wide open like that at night anyway?

"New York Interior" by Edward Hooper  (1921); medium used: Oil on Canvas

This painting entitled "New York Interior" by Edward Hooper, created in 1921 intrigues me because it is a painting from the perspective of looking at someone who is sitting down with their back towards you. We can tell that the artist wants us to be focuses on the females back because he uses white to contrast the rest of the solid colors in this painting. the subtle use of red in the bottom left corner takes your attention away for the female for a bit because of the high contrast. Overall, personally this painting gives off an offsetting atmosphere because we cant see her face and the arm that is raised seems so stiff, even though she might be sewing something, there is a lack of motion in this painting. 

The Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog-Caspar David Friedrich

This painting was done by Caspar David Friedrich in 1818 and it is oil on canvas. It was created during the romantic period. I was really drawn to this painting because I think it uses a lot of detail and allows the viewer to put themselves in the painting. I like how mysterious it is, that's the main reason I was drawn to this work. I really like the way the artist made the fog look so realistic.