Dear class:
We have important topics to discuss: Women in photography, Pictorialism, Art Nouveau, the daguerreotype, Talbot's Pencil of Nature, 19th-century Circus, and Madox Brown's Work. In addition, we have celebrities: Eugene Grasset, Charles Dana Gibson, Honoré Daumier, Gustav Doré, Privat Livemont, and Fox Talbot.
Go ahead, and please avoid echo chambers.
17 comments:
I was interested in learning more about the early women photographers. In a world dominated by men, early women photographers made significant contributions to the development of photography even though they faced numerous challenges at that time. Most of those women showed an immense courage and determination to pursue their passion for this emerging art form. In his post, Professor Triff mentioned some of the early photographers like Clementina Hawarden, Mary Steen or Hilda Sjolin, among others, but there were some other women who experimented with various photographic techniques and processes. For instance, Anna Atkins, a British botanist and photographer, who is known for her pioneering work in cyanotype photograms, or studio photographers like Julia Margaret Cameron, who produced striking portraits that captured the essence of their subjects. Overall, early women photographers played a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of photography as an art form and a medium of visual expression. Their work continues to inspire and influence contemporary photographers.
Jules Chéret, known for vivid poster ads, left a mark on the cabarets, music halls, and theaters of Paris, including the Eldorado, the Olympia, the Folies Bergères, Theatre de l'Opera, and the Moulin Rouge. The artworks contain elaborate designs, depicting women of upper-class backgrounds, as seen in Palais de Glace (Ice Palace), where a woman wears a fur scarf and an expensive dress. Chéret's style resonated with the essence of Art Nouveau, which flourished from 1890 to 1914, drawing inspiration from nature and boasting intricate details. The transition from Art Nouveau to Art Deco showcased a shift in inspiration, with Art Deco drawing from industrial machinery and simplified geometric patterns. Art Deco, an international decorative style that emerged in 1919 and lasted until 1939, borrowed elements from its predecessor, illustrating the evolution of design capabilities over time.
Instead of creating art that had some deeper meaning or made some sort of moral point, Aestheticism reflected the philosophy of 'art for art's sake.' It was not limited by the moral standards of Victorian society. The Aestheticism movement only intended to showcase beauty, much like pre-raphaelite works depicted idealistic beauty, and maybe provoked some instinctual but vague feelings. For example, William Morris' design of wallpapers had no purpose but to enhance the beauty of one's home. Despite the public viewing both the artists and their art as completely devoid of morals, I found these works to be a reflection of the beauty and pleasure in daily life, including the moments that are not flawless, and very relatable. Ramon Casas, Decadent Youth, After the Dance, depicts a beautiful young woman flopped down on a couch in contrasting soft and vibrant colors. Although her manner is not ladylike, especially by Victorian standards, everyone can understand the simple delight that comes from relaxing after a long night out. I like that Aestheticism took a stand against strict Victorian ideals and found beauty in what their society frowned upon.
I was really drawn to the Hill House, which started this new modern movement in the field of architecture. Aside from the fact it started this modernism trend, it also embodies everything that brutalism entails. Contrary to my last post about Michael Jackson’s Victorian couch, this building hides decoration and emphasizes materiality, structure, and minimalism. One could even go as far as saying that brutalism is the antithesis of Victorian-styled art/architecture. Brutalism has heavily influenced so many different parts of the world, but especially here in Miami. There’s an endless amount of harsh concrete buildings that are very minimal in decor, but extremely powerful in terms of form and function. One of the main ideas when designing this home was to emphasize the lack of ornamentation on the exterior by creating this contrasting, inviting interior that juxtaposes the facade. This project was fully completed by the architects, meaning they completed all the work starting from pre-design all the way to the specifics of furniture design. A fun fact about this house is that it is now a public site that was donated to the National Trust for Scotland.
- John Kovacic
As a woman in photography I'm very interested in learning about the ear effect of women in photography. The art world and even the world itself was and is still dominated by men. I wanted to talk about Julia Margret Cameron, who is renowned for her staged allegorical imagery derived from poetry, literature, and the Bible, as well as her artistic photographic portraits of some of the most well-known personalities in Victorian England. Cameron's work was habitually excused time permitting: her utilization of delicate concentration and the manner in which she regarded photography as a craftsmanship as well as a science (by controlling the wet collodion process) made her works be seen as "messy", and loaded with "botches". Julia Margaret Cameron's photography vocation endured only 12 years. Nonetheless, during this time, she took around 900 photos, making a remarkable assortment of work all the while. Most of her photographs are representations, a considerable lot of which portray scenes from the good book, books and traditional writing. she was an English photographic artist who is viewed as one of the best picture photographic artists of the nineteenth 100 years.
Father of the negative-positive photographic process, William Henry Fox Talbot was a scientist and inventor highly regarded in the 19th century. Talbot refined the chemicals used to sensitize the paper in photography and created methods for fixing the image. Nineteenth-century photographers struggled with this distinction, trying to reconcile aesthetics with improvements in technology. Around this time most photographers were scientists in their experimentation with chemicals. Talbot's interest in drawing but lack of draftsmanship led him to begin experimenting in the realm of photography in the first with the asiration of capturing images in thier entirety. Within 18 months of his initial experiments, he had grasped how to make his drawings permanent. In 1841, Talbot patented the “calotype” process, a direct precursor to the positive and negative in darkroom photography that persists today. Even though before him inventors in France were making advancements Talbot pushed the medium to what it is now.
I really liked learning about the illustration of natural science. I think, often times, the scientific and art world are viewed as completely independent of one another; when in reality, both are deeply connected and continuously inform each other. Much of what we know about the natural world is a result of the ability to document the natural world visually and share these findings with others in the academic world. On the other hand, much of what has been produced in the art world is a result of the study of the natural world and the evolution of knowledge. The artwork posted is faithful to a realistic portrayal of the natural world, and yet is still able to portray the natural world as something beautiful and worth pondering on.
Something I found really interesting from last class was the Victorian design periodical The Hobby Horse. As an architecture major, I am always looking at design magazines for inspiration and have noticed they are very influential in the design world. The Hobby Horse was first published in 1884 as the first high-quality magazine committed solely to visual art. One thing I found really interesting and unique about The Hobby Horse was the fact that it spanned various subjects in addition to art and design, including literature and social issues. Additionally, the magazine was not only committed to elite aestheticism but also argued for the vital social role of art and artists, and strived to create unity in the arts. The design and production of The Hobby Horse were ahead of its time, as it was crafted using handmade paper and printed lithographs. The magazine was designed with careful attention to typography and emphasized white space. This careful attention to detail made the magazine something that one was meant to keep and care for.
I thoroughly enjoyed the aesthetics of the interior design being the art itself versus having pieces of art inside of the room; in this case the entire room inch by inch was the art. As Professor Triff mentioned, it is the essence of each object in the room evoking a specific tone that makes any human feel like they are immersed in the art. The Circus was also a portion that really stuck out to me because it highlights the beauty of rarity and things that are supposed to be perceived as freakish, being glorified instead. It is so true that now a days society is too sensitive to enjoy a true Circus, people would be baffled that others are waiting in line to see "freaks" that have two heads or too much hair, when in reality the purpose was to feed the curiosity of humans. The element of people going to a Circus to witness dangerous stunts back in those days is something that I hadn't thought about in so long because it has been robbed from us. I remember going to many Cirque De Solei shows as a child and being so excited to see what obscene stunts would be performed; that is something my future children will unfortunately never experience. Overall the art of the Circus is a legacy that will still live on, even if it is adapted in modern society.
As a graphic design major, I found the part about Privat Livemont very interesting. Privat Livemont was a symbolist painter and nouveau artist who worked in both Paris and Brussels. His female figures are idealized, with a lot of emphasis on their hair and ornament. He is most known for adding a white stroke around his figures. This was very innovative for his time. The stroke makes the figures in his artworks pop, making them the main focus. Many of his posters also include typography. Font is very important because it can change the whole feel and meaning of a poster. In the photos presented in the material from last class, Privat Livemont’s font choices were spot on. For example, the font used in the Rajah Coffee Poster has no straight lines. This allows the font to look more warped, which in turn makes it flow with the steam from the hot cup of coffee.
-Jackson Harris
Nice comments, keep on.
The one topic that stood out to me the most from last class was the art nouveau movement. Art Nouveau was an international style of art, architecture, and decor that peaked in popularity in the late 19th and early 20th century. This art style focused on natural forms originating from nature. Celebrating the curl, squiggles, and curves found in nature. William Morris’s designs specifically stood out to me. Morris was a British textile designer whose work embodied the Art Nouveau style. His designs were used as wallpaper patterns which gave homes and community spaces the Art Nouveau twist. The whole room was transformed into art, you were now inside living in the art, for example, in the Peacock Room in the Freer Gallery. This room embodies the Art Nouveau style in every aspect. The light fixtures resemble vines from trees coming to a point with each light bulb. The walls are adorned with gold leaf wallpaper with floral designs.
I think the 19th-century circus is fascinating to me. I find it fascinating and scary at the same time. But I would assume that is how the 19th-century viewer felt as well. It honestly reminds me of the gladiators at the Colleseum. In ancient Rome, gladiator games were the Romans' source of entertainment. They hope to see the rush of someone being killed. The circus is much darker than I ever knew. I did not know people would pay extra to see the acrobats perform impossible tricks without a net. I did not know that the dark aspect of the viewer wanting to watch someone die was involved in it. The design of the circus works for all age levels and interests. There are so many different acts in a circus, and it gives jobs to people who are seen as different. That is interesting that the term freak was not derogatory. It was a word to describe the people in the circus who were different. It is like the phantom in The Phantom of the Opera.
I was very interested in what we discussed last class relating to les poires, and caricature in general. Specific to the piece we viewed and went over, I was drawn to the way the artist integrated enough realism to make the figures he was mocking recognizable, but maintained the cartoonish, unreal, and humorous quality. Pertaining to the genre of caricature, it is interesting to see how early on in history it overlapped with the political sphere, and what political cartoons were born from. The publication of commentary in an artistic and funny way has real value for both journalism and community, and from the start this commentary has been witty and effective. Poking fun at those in power who are not doing their jobs is a great way for individuals to deal with the stress that can cause, and to avoid going crazy.
I enjoyed learning about Gustave Doré and looking at the illustrations he created. My favorite works by Doré were his depictions of purgatory from the Divine Comedy. My favorite image was Band of Souls, in this image he is able to design a world that is both eerie and beautiful. He also captures the essence of purgatory which is challenging. As a romantic illustrator his images are dramatic and imaginative, I enjoy that they are narrative and have a sense of movement. He is also known for his illustrations of sublime landscapes and clouds which I was drawn to. It is also interesting to look at his lasting impact on art and culture and how his work translates to other mediums, like film, sculpture, or photography.
- Benjamin Rosen-Cappellazzo
I find the creation of art nouveau and the pieces made in this art style fantastical as they tap into the fantasy and more mystical elements of the human imagination. Each piece has such warm, fluttery colors and is overly decorative to the point where each stroke, curve, and decal blends together seamlessly to create a much broader picture. The use of gold and white in each piece hints at luxury, purity, and class although the poses of the women within each piece can read a bit flirtatious. The works of Privat Livemont and the women displayed in these pieces are often decorated with foliage and plants, not only symbolizing fertility but also invoking the image of Mother Nature and emphasizes the beauty of women. The art nouveau style radiates rich opulence as much as it grounds one in the beauty of earth and the women who walk upon it.
Zieli Ennisacevedo
What really caught my eye last class was the discussion about Talbot’s Pencil of Nature. I did not know much about the history of photography, more specifically, the inventors of specific photographic processes like Henry Fox Talbot. Henry Fox Talbot was an English scientist, inventor and photography pioneer. He invented the salted paper and calotype processes. “Salted paper”, was this “sensitive paper” for “photogenic drawing”, which was the action of wetting a sheet of writing paper with a weak solution of table salt, or sodium chloride, blotted and dried it, and then brushed one side with a strong solution of silver nitrate. “Calotype”, was using paper coated in silver iodide, giving the paper texture effects that limited the ability of this early process to record low contrast details and textures. He was the inventor of the negative-positive process, taking some of the first photographs. He experimented with landscape, architecture, and up close detailed pictures. Not only did he create one of the greatest advances in photography but he also has a deep academic history. He knows 5 or more languages, published a book called The Flaura and Fauna of Harrow, studied Greek verse/Classics and mathematics. He traveled around Europe before taking his position as a Lord of the manor Lacock Abbey in 1827. Even with all of his accomplishments, he found time to focus on his passion for photography while balancing these other fields of expertise.
Charli McCarter
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