From Neoclassicism to Deconstructivism: the history of Art

Neoclassicism 

Angelica Kauffman is also known as Maria Anna Catharina Angelika Kauffman. She was born on October 30, 1741. She died at the age of 66 on November 5, 1807 in Rome, Papal States. Angelica Kauffman was born in Chur, Switzerland. Most of her career in the artwork was done in London and Rome. Kauffman’s only used one art medium that she used was painting. Kaufman was known for using N eoclassicism as her art movement (Irwin, n.d.). Angelica made the greatest impact of becoming one of the only two female Founder Members of the Royal Academy. One of Kauffman’s famous artworks are The Sorrow of Telemachus and oil painting made in 1783. Among Angelica Kauffman’s famous paintings include Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA, Self Potrait Aged 13, to mention a few. The Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA portrait is one of an influential English painter who was Angelica Kauffman’s friend. The calm tone used to draw the portrait claasifies it under Neoclassism (The Art Story, n.d.). When Kauffman was 13, she created a painting of herself which she named Self-Potrai Aged 13 . When examined closely, the Self-Prtrait Aged 13 has all its major features in the foreground, and this is what makes it Neoclassical. 

Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (1723-1792) (The Art Story, n.d.) 

Challenges that Angelica had to face was being a woman and studying art was not ideal in the 1800s. In her type, there were many art stereotypes based on gender, which became struggle for her to make her art accepted. Being so impeccable in art and a woman at the same time made people feel like she was challenging her male parttiachs in art. Something innovative about Angelica Kauffman’s artwork is that she blended it well with her time of existence, something that was very difficult to do, especially noiw that she was a female artist (a less appreciated title by then) (Gooden, 2005). She perfectly expressed the harmonious reciprocity between the society and her world of art, which made her flourish. 

Romanticism 

Henry Fuseli also is known as Johan Heinrich Füssil he was born on February 7, 1741. He died at the age of 84 on April 16, 1825 in Putney, England. He was born in Zurich, Switzerland. Most of his artwork was done in England to encourage himself to become a painter and he left to study in Italy. Henry only preffered the use of oil painting as a medium in his numerous artworks. The art movement that he contributed to was Romanticism. Fuseli’s greatest impact was he was one of the original contributing artists to John Boydell’s Shakespeare gallery where he did several works . He helped bring out the much-needed transition from Neoclassism to Romanticism , which contributed to the beauty, fame, and inclusivity of the John Boydell’s Shakespeare gallery. Henry Fuseli ’s most famous painting is called The Nightmare and oil painting made in 1781. The painting shows a woman in a deep sleep with her arms thrown below her, and with a demonic and apelike incubus sitting on her chest. The imaginative aspects of demons are what makes The Nightmare as a piece of Romanticism. Besied, one can easily see the bushstrokes used in the painting, and this is a characteristic that matches Romanticism. 

The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli (Paulson, 2015). 

Henry Fuseli faced challenges in convincing against the rationalism cult that had taken root in society during his time. This period of Rationalism/Enlifghtment meant that most people stopped believing in spirits, demons, and other supernatural characters, yet this is what Henry chose to focus on. Henry Fuseli’s fascination with sexual and supernatural themes were a masterpiece during his time. Rather than relying on rationalism and realism, he felt that a sense of imagination would do best for art, and this is an innovative idea that he actualized and made popular (The Art Story, n.d.). His works created the foundation for the Gothic horror, which indicates that he was the Godfather of Romanticism. 

Impressionism 

Mary Cassatt, also is known by her full name Mary Stevenson Cassatt, was born on May 22 , 1844. Cassatt died of the age of 82 on June 4, 1926 in Château de Beaufresne near Paris. She was born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, United States. Mary moved to Paris so that is where she did most of her artwork. Mary Cassatt used two art mediums which was oil painting and printmaking. Oil on canvas is the most traditional medium of painting and Mary Cassat predorminantly used it. She tried experimenting with printing and she turned out to be a good printmaker. Her taste for printmaking were influenced by her interest for Japanese art (Hayes, 2017). Mary used different techniques in printmaking like etching and aquatint. An art movement she contributed was Impressionism. Mary Cassatt made a great impact by showing a strong influence of Japanese prints and femininity. One of Mary Cassatt ’s painting is Little Girl in a Blue Armchair and an oil painting that was created in 1878. A girl wearing a dress sitting on a blue armchair and another chair which has a puppy resting. The artwork exemplifies impressionism based on its emphasies on lighing conditions, avoidance of black, and incorporates everyday themes, as we can see this is a girkl sitting in a chair. 

Little Girl in a Blue Armchair (1878) (The Art Story, n.d.). 

Challenges that Cassatt had to face she was forced to give up painting because she got diabetes and it affected her vision. Besides, Cassat was struggled to convince get approval because she was a woman yet in her times, like other talented female artists. Chauvinism was a deeply-rooted vice that suppressed the success of women in art. She went on a trip to Egypt with her brother in 1910 and he, unfortunately, died from an illness on their trip. Three years later she got blind and couldn't pain anymore. Eleven years later she passed away due to her blindness. Mary Cassat was innovative in the sense that she exploted the medium of pastels(Brittanica, n.d.). These were easily blended colors that were unlike the tradtional oil on canvas, thus making her work in painting easier. 

Post-Impression 

Pierre Bonnard was born on October 3, 1867 in Fontenay-aux Roses, France, and died at age 79 on January 23, 1947, in Le Cannet, France. Pierre did most of his artwork in France where he was born. Pierre used two art mediums that were oil painting and printmaking but painting was his main one. Bonnard used four art movements that were Le Nabis, Intimism, Post-Impression, and Modern Art. However, this section will only highlight his artwork that contributed to Post-Impressionism. Pierre was a great impact because he was in a group that specialized in painting intimate domestic scenes like decorative curvilinear compositions akin to those who produced by painters of the contemporary Art Nouveau movement. His most famous painting is called The Dining Room in the Country a painting created in 1913 shows a woman outside resting her arms on a window close to the dining room that has a table with food on it. The definitive characteristics of Post-Impressionism depicted in the painting Dining Room in the Country include the use of bold colors and the thematic expression of everyday activities like we see a meal served on the table and a woman looking over (Lamb, 2020). 

Dining Room in the Country by Pierre Bonnard (1913). 

Challenges that Pierre Bonnard face was criticism of his career choice and style of painting. Renowned painters like Picasso expressed his concern about the need to revise art, and called Bonnard’s work substandard . His parents did not approve of him being an artist. His parents took him to law school to become a lawyer so he couldn't do his artwork that much. Something innovative about Pierre that he could do many paintings at the same time. He was fond of putting several canvases tacked on the wall and he would handle several paintings simultaneously. This is commendable because one requires a great deal of focus and memory to do so . Some paintings took months even years to paint. 

Expressionism and Fauvism 

Franz Marc was born on February 8, 1880 in Munich, Germany, and died of the age of 36 on March 4, 1916 near Verdun, France. Marc did his art studies in Munich, Germany so that was where he did most of his artwork. His form of art medium was painting and printmaking. Franz’s art movement was Expressionism, Modern Art, Cubism, De Blaue Reiter. Franz mark was one of the key figures of the Expressionist movement in Germany, but this section will focus on Expressionism and Fauvism. He was also the co-founder of a magazine called The Blue Rider . One of Marc’s famous paintings was Blue Horses an oil painting with blue horses that was created in 1911. A definitive characteristic of Blue Horses painting that exemplifies Expressionism and Fauvism is its presentation of much bolder colors with thicker brushstrokes as compared to Post-Impressionism (Randall, 2019). 

Blue Horses by Franz Marc (1911). 

Based on Franz Marc’s experimentive nature, he tried new styles that were at odds weith the styles that the Munich Academy approved. This made him struggle to get approval and support for his attempts to explore the world of art. Something creative about his artwork was his paintings always have these vibrant colors and simplified lines. Based on the example Blue Horses, he showed a deep interest in new styles of art which he actualized in his poaintings regardless of the challenges of approval and support he faced in his works. 

Cubism and Futurism 

Gino Severini was born on April 7, 1883 in Cortona, Italy and died of the age of 82 on February 27, 1966, in Paris, France. Most of his artwork was done in Switzerland, France, and Italy. Severini used more than one art form of medium which was Painting, Fresco, and Mosaic. Gino did six forms of an art movement which was Futurism, Cubism, Neoclassicism, Divisionism, Return to Order, and Novecento Italiano. Gino was one of the most important figures within the first flowerings in the futurist movement. One of his most famous paintings was Red Cross Train Passing a Village a train passing through a hill that is traveling to a village and the painting has multiple vibrant colors. As depicted in the image of Passing a Village, there are distinct boundaries between objects, and this ius what qualifies the piece under Cubism and Futurism. 

Passing a Village 

Gino Serverni struggled to get materials for his painting based on the fact that he came from a humble background that could not facilitate his interests, especially during his training years. This seemed to slow the pace and vigour of exploring the world of art. His association with the Italian disctator Benito Mussolini especially by providing mosaics and murals of Rome, sidelined him from the acceptance of his art by the public. Something innovative about Serverini’s work is that he successfully merged the Cubist elements with Futurist aspects. 

Dada and Surrealism 

Yves Tanguy was born on January 5, 1900 in Paris, France and died of the age of 55 on January 15, 1955 in Waterbury, Connecticut. Yves Tanguy did most of his sketches in a cafe located in Paris, France. An art form of the medium he used was painting Tanguy’s art movement was the Surrealism movement. The greatest impact he did was that he was a self-taught painter but Yves was very skilled to be self-taught. His famous work of arts is Mama, Papa Is Wounded, an oil painting created in 1927. The definitive characteristics that justifies Dada and Surrealism is irrationalism as depicted in the image of Mama, Papa Is Wounded. This starts with the thematic link between the title and the image oitself. It does niot seem to create any match. 

Mama, Papa Is Wounded 

Yves Tanguy faced pressing challenges from critics who frequently wanted him to give an explation of what his paintings were (The Art Story, n.d.). This was unforrtunate for him and he chose to dodge their questions because he knew he would never describe what he drew. Yves Tanguy was innpvative in the sense that he successfully blended fiction and reality into a tasty mis that was often admired. 

Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art 

Cy Twombly was born on April 25, 1928. Cy passed away at the age of 83 on July 5, 2011 in Rome, Italy. Twombly was born in Lexington, Virginia. Most of his artwork was done where he was born and his artwork could be found in art museums in The Whitney Museum of American Art and The Museum of Modern Art in New York. Cy used Painting, Calligraphy, and Sculpting as his art media. His art movement was Abstract Expressionism. Cy Twombly’s most famous piece of art is Untitled and oil painting created in 1970. The definitive characteristic of Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art exhibited in the image of Untitled below is the void nature of interpretation. One cannot offer an explanation or interpretation of what the piece of art is not unless the painter givess meaning of it. 

Untitled 

Challenges he had to face were people were criticizing his work of art and they gave him not a lot of positive reviews for the way he does abstract. People could not relate to what he was drawing and that rased many puzzles among them, which directly impacted his approval as an artist. His artwork is innovative because his abstract scribbles are a work of erudite, sophisticated, and emotional. 

Minimalism and Post-Minimalism 

James Turrell was born on June 6, 1943, James is now 77 years old today. He was born in Los Angeles, California in the United States. Most of his art is made where he was born. His form of art medium is Installation Art. His art movement is Land Art and Light and Space. James created a framework for optical experiences that change the way we view and experience the medium of light. James Turrell most famous work of art is Dhatu created in 2010. The definitive characteristics that depicts Minimalism and Post-Minimalism in the image Dhatu is clear and precise transition between color abd shown below. For example, there is a clear cut around the image of the standing person and the sorrounding. 

The biggest challege James Turrell has faced for over 45 years of his carrer is actualizing the use of light as a mediuum of perception. James Turrell’s work is innovative because he transforms light into art by manipulating the viewer's experience. 

Postmodernism and Deconstructivism 

Daniel Libeskind was born on May 12, 1946 he is now 74. Daniel was born in Łódź, Poland. Libeskind’s art can be found in his Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany so his work is mostly where he was born and in Germany. Daniel’s art medium he uses is Drawing and Sculpture. His art movement is Deconstructivism. Daniel Libeskind’s greatest impact is he has made an international architectural impact by designing over 70 buildings from Milan to Singapore. His most famous work of art is Life Electric a sculpture created in 2015. Based on the image of Life Electric depicted below, it is evident that artwork is clear and in 3-Dimensional, which is a definitive characteristic of Deconstructivism. Though not physically evident, Deconstuction involves breaking a whole structure into smaller parts and putting it back together (Meisler, 2003). This may best be visualized during the design process of the sculpture Life Electric. 

Rather than challenges, Daniel Libeskind’s work was influenced by notable world events. For example, a nerit-based event was organized to select a designer for the Jewish Berlin Musem, Berlin, in the late 20th Century, and that is how he got hired for the job. His work is very creative because he draws his journey to open the door to his creative process and discovering new ways to do art. 

References 

Brittanica, B. (n.d.). Mary Cassatt. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Cassatt 

Collection Arts, C. (n.d.). Dining Room in the Country, Pierre Bonnard ^ Minneapolis Institute of Art. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://collections.artsmia.org/art/1240/dining-room-in-the-country-pierre-bonnard 

Goodden, A. (2005, September 03). The softest touch. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2005/sep/03/art.art 

Hayes, J. (2017). What Materials Did Mary Cassatt Use? Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://www.ehow.com/info_8466467_materials-did-mary-cassatt-use.html 

Irwin, D. (n.d). Neoclassical art. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/art/Neoclassicism 

Lamb, B. (2020). Biography of Pierre Bonnard, French Post-Impressionist Painter. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://www.thoughtco.com/biography-of-pierre-bonnard-french-painter-4783608 

Meisler, S. (2003, March 01). Daniel Libeskind: Architect at Ground Zero. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/daniel-libeskind-architect-at-ground-zero-77003660/ 

Paulson, D. (n.d.). Henry Fuseli, The Nightmare. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://smarthistory.org/henry-fuseli-the-nightmare/ 

Randall, K. (2020, April 05). Fauvism and Expressionism Explained. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://www.thecollector.com/fauvism-and-expressionism-explained/ 

The Art Story, T. (n.d.). Angelica Kauffman Artworks & Famous Paintings. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://www.theartstory.org/artist/kauffman-angelica/artworks/ 

The Art Story, T. (n.d.). Gino Severini Paintings, Bio, Ideas. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://www.theartstory.org/artist/severini-gino/ 

The Art Story, T. (n.d.). Yves Tanguy Paintings, Bio, Ideas. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://www.theartstory.org/artist/tanguy-yves/