Tag 19th Century Art

19th-century art was a period of immense artistic innovation and transformation. It saw the rise of several influential art movements, including Romanticism, Realism, and Impressionism. Romanticism emphasised individualism, emotion, and the sublime, with artists like J.M.W. Turner and Eugene Delacroix creating evocative landscapes and historical scenes. Realism aimed to depict everyday life and social issues truthfully and unidealised, with artists like Gustave Courbet and Jean-François Millet capturing scenes of labourers and the working class. Impressionism, led by artists such as Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, revolutionised the art world, focusing on capturing fleeting moments of light and atmosphere. These movements and artists laid the groundwork for modern art and continue to inspire artists today.

Henri Rousseau's The Repast of the Lion (circa 1907), is an example of naïve art.

Naïve Art

Naïve art is a genre characterised by simplicity, vibrant colours, and lack of formal artistic training, offering an unfiltered and emotionally honest expression. It emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reflecting a longing for nostalgia and innocence amidst industrialisation and societal changes. Notable artists like Henri Rousseau, Grandma Moses, and Niko Pirosmani created works with childlike perspectives and imaginative themes that captured the art world's attention. Naïve art has influenced modern movements like Surrealism and Expressionism, and its timeless appeal lies in its ability to transcend academic boundaries and evoke pure creative vision.
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Robert Antoine Pinchon, Le Pont aux Anglais, soleil couchant, 1905

Post-Impressionism

Post-Impressionism emerged in the late 19th century as a response to the limitations of Impressionism, with artists like Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Georges Seurat, and Paul Gauguin pushing beyond naturalistic depictions to explore deeper emotional, symbolic, and structural elements. Unlike Impressionists, who focused on light and fleeting moments, Post-Impressionists emphasized subjective vision, bold color, and form to convey personal and symbolic meaning. This diverse movement paved the way for modern art, influencing styles such as Fauvism, Cubism, and Expressionism by rejecting traditional representation and embracing abstraction, symbolism, and emotional depth.
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Impression, Sunrise by Claude Monet, 1872

Impressionism

Impressionism is an art movement that originated in mid-19th-century France, where artists began challenging academic art's rigid conventions. In this post, we will explore Impressionism's unique characteristics, such as its emphasis on capturing transient light and colour effects, unconventional perspectives, contemporary subjects, and a more flexible style inspired by the advent of photography.
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The Death of the Grave Digger by Carlos Schwabe, 1895

Symbolism

Symbolism is an artistic and cultural movement that emerged in the late 19th century. The movements shifted the focus from objectivity to expressing unseen emotions, profound ideas, and symbolic narratives. In this post, we will explore symbolism's origins, key characteristics, and influence across various artistic mediums, highlighting its role in bridging the gap between Romanticism and movements like Surrealism and Expressionism.
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The Luxembourg Gardens by Albert Edelfelt, 1887

Realism

Realism in art is a style that emerged in the mid-19th century. It aims to depict subjects with truth and accuracy, without embellishment or interpretation. It focuses on portraying everyday scenes, ordinary people, and familiar objects, thus diverging from the idealised narratives seen in previous art movements. Realism art emphasises the accurate representation of life as it actually is, often casting a critical eye on the social conditions and realities of the time.
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Wanderer above the Sea of Fog by Caspar David Friedrich, 1818

Romanticism

Romanticism in art is a movement that originated in Europe in the late 18th century and continued into the 19th century. It was a reaction against the rationalism and order of the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. Romantic artists sought to capture emotion, passion, and the beauty of nature in their work. They often depicted dramatic scenes, exotic landscapes, and powerful emotions. Romanticism in art was characterised by an emphasis on individualism, imagination, and the supernatural.
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Chest of drawers by Charles Cressent, 1730

Rococo

Rococo art, a style that emerged in the 18th century, quickly gained popularity throughout Europe, becoming a symbol of elegance, refinement, and lightheartedness. Its influence was profound, characterised by intricate, asymmetrical designs, use of curves and scrolls, and an emphasis on pleasure, leisure, and the pursuit of happiness. Rococo art is renowned for its focus on sensuality and eroticism, conveyed through the use of soft, curvaceous forms and suggestive poses. This movement's departure from the Baroque era's grandeur and religious themes reflected a broader cultural transition towards indulgence, sophistication, and palpable lightness.
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The Attributes of the Arts by Anne Vallayer-Coster, 1769

Neoclassicism

This post provides an overview of the Neoclassical art movement that emerged from the mid-18th to the mid-19th century. It discusses the movement's origins and characteristics, including its adherence to classical themes and styles, emphasis on order and symmetry, and idealised realism. The post also explores the movement's impact on painting, sculpture, and architecture and its lasting influence on art.
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