Famous art stories on woman theme | The Artist https://www.theartist.me/tag/woman/ Art, Design, and Popular Culture Stories Mon, 06 Jan 2025 08:28:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://www.theartist.me/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-fav-32x32.png Famous art stories on woman theme | The Artist https://www.theartist.me/tag/woman/ 32 32 Hope II by Gustav Klimt – The Subject of Pregnant Women in Art https://www.theartist.me/art/pregnant-women-art-gustav-klimt-paintings/ Mon, 09 Sep 2024 06:27:38 +0000 http://theartist.me/?p=5277 A woman bows her head, eyes shut, praying over her bulging womb. Peeping out from the rim of her swollen belly is a skull’s head, an omen hovering over the unborn. At her feet, three women with bowed heads raise their hands in prayer—their sobriety implies mourning as if they foresaw the child’s fate. This [...]

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A woman bows her head, eyes shut, praying over her bulging womb. Peeping out from the rim of her swollen belly is a skull’s head, an omen hovering over the unborn.

At her feet, three women with bowed heads raise their hands in prayer—their sobriety implies mourning as if they foresaw the child’s fate.

This is one of the greatest Gustav Klimt paintings ever made in the pre-modern era

pregnant women in art, gustav klimt paintings. Hope II
Gustav Klimt Hope II painting

This prophetic painting is titled “Hope, II.”

Why would “Hope” apply to a scene of expectant fatalism? There’s a method to Gustav Klimt’s paradoxical aesthetic.

“Hope, II” recalls his earlier, related painting of a pregnant woman “Hope.” By association with its predecessor, this was Hope, II, revealing Klimt’s pattern of pregnant women and the weight of hope they carried in their wombs.

The unborn child here is the embodiment of the nominal hope, but it has death looming over it.

Hope, a great attribute of Gustav Klimt paintings

In this atmosphere of maternal anxiety, Klimt displays a Freudian flavor to manifest Sigmund Freud’s explorations of the child within every adult persona.

Klimt lived and worked in the turn-of-the-century Vienna, home to Freud, and thus was in proximity of this psychoanalytic inspiration.

quotes-the-goal-of-all-life-is-death-sigmund-freud-5498Gustav Klimt’s paintings often investigate formative drives, like sex and death, mirrors Freud’s studies of the psyche. Through the Freudian lens, what does the child within the woman reveal?

Pregnant women in art are seldom visible

Women and children make appearances in many historical portraits, but the pregnant mothers, as well as the notion of pregnancy, are curiously invisible and exist outside the artistic consciousness.

Why Hope II is special?

By featuring this expectant mother to the center-stage, Klimt parades the splendor of hope about to emerge.

But by giving her death as a companion, Klimt forces us to confront the reality of birth and death within the same frame.

The woman is entrapped in the irony between the commencement and the endgame of life, poised beneath the possibility of a ‘healthy birth’ or the ‘tragic premature demise’ of her child.

pregnant women in art, gustav klimt paintings

To balance out the solemn gravity, Klimt adorns this woman in a stark richness.

The woman’s gold-patterned robe—drawn flat, as clothes are in Russian icons, although her skin is rounded and dimensional—has an extraordinary decorative beauty.

Gustav Klimt paintings are another great example of great convergence of technique, pattern, and colors

Devoted to his craftwork, Klimt was among the many artists of his time who united old-fashioned traditions—like his Byzantine gold leaf painting—with a modern psychological subject.

In Hope II, Klimt revisits this theme but makes some notable changes:

More Abstract

The pregnant woman in Hope II is more abstract, with her face barely visible. Her body is covered in a richly patterned, ornamental garment, and her figure is surrounded by vibrant golden colors.

Less Death Imagery

Although Hope II retains some darker undertones, it focuses more on ornamental beauty and less on explicit symbols of death, giving it a more positive, serene mood.

Both Hope I and Hope II reflect Klimt’s fascination with the cycles of life and death, conveyed through his unique blend of sensuality, symbolism, and vibrant ornamentation.

Birth and death exist side-by-side, suspended in equilibrium, collaborators in the appetite of living. The Power of art and a curious subject like – pregnant women in art – truly executed by Klimt. Respect!

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25 Functions of Art That Make Us Better Human Beings https://www.theartist.me/art/what-are-the-functions-of-art/ https://www.theartist.me/art/what-are-the-functions-of-art/#respond Tue, 27 Jun 2023 19:17:27 +0000 http://theartist.me/?p=2484 The definition of art remains controversial and multifarious, but the diverse functions of art get better once you allow your conscience to absorb and understand diverse perspectives that art offers. The purposes, motivations, intentions, and inspirations behind the art are endless. Being one of the most creative ways of expressing human experience, we have used [...]

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The definition of art remains controversial and multifarious, but the diverse functions of art get better once you allow your conscience to absorb and understand diverse perspectives that art offers.

The purposes, motivations, intentions, and inspirations behind the art are endless.

Being one of the most creative ways of expressing human experience, we have used art as a means of telling stories.

May it be the story of a single person, of a community, or of a nation, art has in many ways contributed to the beautiful way these stories are told.

We’ve put together a list of 25 functions of art based on the viewpoints from renowned artists and philosophers for you to reflect upon

1. Art as an Expression

Art is a human activity, consisting in this, that one person consciously, by certain external signs, conveys to others feelings he has experienced, and other people are affected by these feelings and live them over in themselves.” – Tolstoy

Tolstoy’s famous “Expression Theory” centered on the idea that art elicits and provokes emotion in the viewer.

Out of many styles of expression, Abstract Expressionism is one great example where artists are empowered with the liberty to convey attitudes and emotions through nontraditional and usually nonrepresentational means.

The prominent function of art always drawn toward the expression theory.

Artists like Jackson Pollock believed that it was the viewer (and not the artist) who defines and interprets the meaning of the abstract expressionist artwork thus, there is no relevance on what the artist thinks or conveys while producing the work.

Convergence by Jackson Pollock is one of the initial art pieces of abstract expressionism and considered as the bravest action paintings ever made

The modern artist is working with space and time, and expressing his feelings rather than illustrating” – Jackson Pollock

2. Art empowers our faith in the nobility of man (Humanism)

“Art is a lie that makes us realize truth, at least the truth that is given us to understand” – Pablo Picasso 

One of the most powerful shifts resulted from the Renaissance period is that the Church was never a responsible source for their behavior and beliefs towards God and fellow men and that they themselves are responsible for the actions. One of the key aspects of what makes us human is revolving around our faith in religion, art, and culture

The School of Athens by Raphael remains one of the powerful representation of this shift in human history and also embodies the classical spirit of Renaissance

3. The creation of beauty is art

“Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art” – Ralph Waldo

When it comes to art, some may say that not all art is beautiful, that, in fact, it should not be beautiful, always.

Beauty is what you make of it, what your preference is, what calls to your heart, soul, and mind.

What is beauty in art? – Beauty is what we see as characteristic and harmonious.

Whatever different reactions art will about inside you, it is clear that the explanation is complicated and definitive.

Every piece of art, whether a painting, a vase or a statue, will have different colors, lines, and textures that will appeal to your soul and heart.

4. Know Thyself

“Creative without strategy is called ‘art.’ Creative with strategy is called advertising” – Jef Richards, educator

Art is a form of expressing oneself

Consciously or unconsciously artists are following Socrates’ command – Know thyself.

During this process, artists are exploring their subject, medium, and material, rebalancing the spiritual value of those elements, thereby experiencing the subtle preciousness of their awareness.

This interaction is beautiful which in fact leads to the inevitable desire for outward expression.

Art is born here.

5. Art is freedom in every sense

“Art is meant to disturb. Science reassures” – Georges Braque, painter

One decides to express the imagination is brave. The value of freedom in our creative expression cannot be overstated.

What about aestheticizing violence? What about creating art in gigantic forms?

What about choosing topics that are controversial? Different expressive media have a tendency to attract different personalities.

Phillipe Perrin, known for his huge artworks revolving around the subjects of evil and crime, chooses subjects that have the power to instill immediate shock and presents them in a bold way that ensures they do.

One of Perrin’s famous works, Bloodymary, blends the line between theatre, sculpture, and performance art through the lens of murder.

The artist uses unconventional medium and subject to place the viewer face to face with images inexorably tied to modern violence, subtly aestheticizing the violence in art.

The true meaning of art can be multifarious, but the purpose of art is met when such artists like Perrin uses art in innovative and unconventional ways.

6. Art sends strong messages from the sidewalk to the world at large

 “Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint” – Bansky 

Street art has proven itself to be a truly expressive art form.

It is not an inferior form of political outcry nor is it the indifferent rebellion of disaffected youth.

Street art thinks, feels, and evokes thoughts and emotions in the people that view it with an open mind.

Using iconic imagery that is often recognizable regardless of language, the street artist is able to speak his opinions and solutions to a global audience, making this a rapidly advancing form of art the world over.

7.  Art is the most intense mode of individualism

“Art is either plagiarism or revolution” – Paul Gauguin, painter

Famous artist Paul Gauguin once written – “One must always feel the plane, the wall; tapestries need no perspective”

Paul Gauguin’s art, style, and legacy reflected strongly in his artworks and often dismantled the traditional perspectives of art.

Gauguin was once of a few ordinary men that were able to leave mundane life to realize and fulfill a dream – to become an artist.

Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? by Paul Gauguin is a great example of individualism where Gauguin said to read from right to left instead of from left to right – which in fact provides an entirely different perspective to the reader, which itself shows the true power and meaning of art

8. Art shifts realism into reality

“Pop Art looks out into the world. It doesn’t look like a painting of something; it looks like the thing itself.” – Roy Lichtenstein

We’re living in a time where our beliefs and messages must be braver and rendered more boldly than ever before.

Popular culture was shrouding everything in the 1950’s and 60’s in America, and maintaining the status quo became more important than ever.

The power of pop art has been emerging since then and continuously breaking all conformist perspectives and definitions of art

Whereas abstract artists sought to let the medium control the image, such as in Pollock’s drops of paint.

Pop Artists went beyond realism into reality.

9. Great art tells meaningful stories

“Art does not reproduce what is visible; it makes things visible.” Paul Klee, artist

The Sleeping Gypsy by Henri Rousseau – One of the most perceptible modern pieces of art, currently resides in MoMA Newyork,  has been considered as one of the many inspiring works by poets and musicians and also frequently parodied.

In this masterpiece, both, lion and woman display a calm demeanor on this artwork, but actually, both are on the alert warning that the trust between two worlds may get violated anytime.

10. Art validates our sorrows

“Art grows from joy and sorrow, but mostly from sorrow. It grows from human lives” – Edvard Munch

Art helps us see that sorrow can be beautiful and noble and still be one aspect of a good life.

Art also helps us to suffer alone without the input of society so that we can show a dignified face to the world in our public sorrow.

The true meaning of art lies in the emotion, considering sorrow is one prominent expression that we embody, art always validates our sorrows. “They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn’t.

I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.” said Frida Kahlo, a great artist who infused her canvas with her native Mexican birthright and the historical epochs of her life.

11. Art is a personal act of courage

“Art is a personal act of courage” – Seth Godin

Courage is more important than creativity. Great art comes from the heart, doesn’t come from doing what you’re told. The mesmerizing charm of a great work of art doesn’t come from what is painted on the canvas. Rather, it comes from what was in the artist’s heart while he was painting. Franz Krueger’s The Parade auf Opernplatzis a great example of that. Krueger shows us that true art can be created only through courage, the strength of character, and determination. The meaning of art implies a personal and open proliferation of your thoughts.

12. Art is the signature of civilizations

“Art is the Queen of all sciences communicating knowledge to all the generations of the world.” – Leonardo da Vinci

Humanity advances on the great foundations built by ancestors. We transform the heritage of the past, learn the social aspects, identify new opportunities and invent new ways of life. In this journey, the past lives remain as a reference point as a subtle guide to build great things in this modern world.

At Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, you will be amazed by the galleries of  “The art of the Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and later South Asia” section, where you will experience some of the finest masterpieces from the Islamic world, moreover enables you to understand the artistic and scientific heritage of an entire civilization. Rightly said by Roger Seruton, the culture of civilization is the art and literature through which it rises to the consciousness of itself and defines the vision of the world – after all the definition of culture derives from greater civilizations

13. Art embodies power and of color

“Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment” – Claude Monet

Colors are powerful. Doesn’t matter what you might be creating now – a painting, or a powerpoint presentation, or an illustration –  your eyes must be straying over a palette, splashed with many colors, choosing the right one to add to your work.  To a sensitive soul, the impact of a perfect color combination is deeper and intensely moving.

Visual art always played an important role for artists to convey the life, lustre, and power of life through colors

14. Art is Attitude

“Art, freedom and creativity will change society faster than politics”- Victor Pinchuk

Art has taken a different dimension to think, feel and evoke thoughts in the people that view it with an open mind. Art represents the attitude either of an artist or of a belief system. Street art is often considered as vandalism, but it is executed with purpose, design, technique and intention. Street art heightens our experience of the visual landscape outside museum walls.

15. Art is the highest form of hope

“Art is not a thing; it is a way.” Elbert Hubbard, artist

Art can move us to tears. Beautiful art can bring tears of joy when we see a painting, sculpture or photograph of people or creatures experiencing things we want to experience. Experiencing such heart-warming feelings about it encourages us to hope for the same thing for ourselves.

Mutiny of Colours, A Project of Love, Peace, and Unity by Iranian Street Artists is one great example. The powerful messages of peace, love, and hope in a country torn apart by internal conflicts are represented by Iranian street artists through their art, and mostly these works grow in all endless direction, both metaphorically, conceptually and physically.

16. Art is about two things – Life and Death

“The goal of all life is death” – Sigmund Freud

Many artists have used death as a theme for art.

By giving death as a central theme, artists force us to confront the reality of birth and death within the same frame. Hope II by Gustav Klimt is one great art – represents a pregnant woman and the weight of hope the protagonist carried in her womb. The function of art lies around the diverse perspectives of life and death

Birth and death exist side-by-side, suspended in equilibrium, collaborators in the appetite of living.

17. Art rebalances our life

“Art is like soup. There will be some vegetables you don’t like but as long as you get some soup down you it doesn’t matter.” George Wyllie, Sculptor

Viewing art that depicts situations and feelings outside of what we normally experience on a daily basis helps us attain balance in our emotions by filling those voids.

We gain balance through art by taking a moment to observe, judge, and appreciate things we don’t normally see and our responses to them.

18. Art can be surreal

“Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos” – Stephen Sondheim

Surrealism – a philosophical and artistic movement that explored the unconscious mind – reveals human emotions and desires in an irrational, powerful, poetic and revolutionary way. The concept has a greater relevance considering it brought out the repressed inner worlds of sexuality, violence, dream, and desire.

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali shows us a few seemingly soft or melted pocket watches lying about in open land.  Dali’s message was to show that time and space are relative and that we, in fact, live in a universe of complete disorder.

“Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it.” – Salvador Dali

19. Art is You

“Art is anything you can get away with”- Andy Warhol

Art helps us to complete our own unformed thoughts and ideas. We have an ‘aha’ moment when we see a piece of art that perfectly captures a feeling or thought we have had that we couldn’t express. When this happens, we have gained a piece of new knowledge through the art that we can now communicate to ourselves and to others.

This why the best possible function of art operates via YOU.

20. Art is discovery and exploration

“Art is a discovery and development of elementary principles of nature into beautiful forms suitable for human use”- Frank Lloyd Wright

Is it not more remarkable when a natural talent emerges from nothingness to produce a work of art with an organic honesty that might have been wiped out by years of training in established structures, conventions, and accepted wisdom?

One such unlikely place was a tax collector’s office in Paris, and its unlikely talent came in the form of a Laval­born son of a plumber named Henri Rousseau. The majority of Rousseau’s life is somewhat cloudy, and with good reason—it is wholly unexceptional.

The Snake Charmer by Henri Rousseau is a dream­like depiction of mysterious human and animal forms in a jungle scene. This work is a testament to the attention Rousseau received from prominent artists during his time.

21. Art empowers the heart of people

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” – Edgar Degas

When activists are showing images of children suffering from poverty or oppression in their campaigns, this is the art pulling the heartstrings of society’s elite and powerful to make changes. Such moments – using art to raise awareness – truly validate the existence and definition of art

When photographers publish the photos of war-torn areas, it catches the attention of masses whose hearts reach out for those who need help. When the artist creates great music and movies, it entertains people around the world. This is art, making a difference in society.

22. Culture is a great friend of art

“Art speaks the soul of its culture” – Abby Willowroot

Art is also a remarkable mode of depicting culture from all over the world, art and culture complement each other very well.

When you see a Zen garden in Sydney or San Francisco, you know that it’s a practice that originated from China. When you see paper swans swarming a beautiful wedding ceremony, you know that this is origami, an art that came from Japan. When you see films featuring Bollywood music and dancing, you know that it’s a movie from India.

Destinations like Newyork, Berlin, Prague, Sao Paulo, UAE, etc. are on a helm of cultural revolution to uplift their cities with art, design, and imagination – after all culture is the collective term for human behaviors

23. Art is activism

“Art resides in the quality of doing, the process is not magic.” – Charles Eames

Art has been used many times to represent the isolation, claustrophobia, and anxiety of our society due to the tough political times that we’re living at present. Tetsuya Ishida, a Japanese artist, portrayed the Japanese life about the social, economic and academic educational structures. Many of his works exposed the Japanese people’s trials in trying to acclimate to the changes involving social and technological contemporary life. Read – Tetsuya Ishida – Saving the World With A Brushstroke

Similarly, a lot of street art has an obvious, or sometimes very subtle, anti-establishment hint in it. The very mediums it uses, owned by states or corporations, are protected by law from the artist but are used without regard or in spite of it. That illegality is often a part of the message

24. Art is harmony

“Art is harmony” – George Seaurat

The power of art lies neither in the image nor the emotions it arouses in the viewer, rather its greatness is derived from understanding the creative forces which inspired the masterpiece.  Harmony is a subjective concept, rather it emerges within a context that many factors come together. Goya’s black paintings series is a great example that proves this theory. Today, although we are exposed to images of gore, misery, and grief, much of it is sanitized and censored. Goya, on the other hand, unabashedly captures human trauma and sorrow in the paint.

25. Art as Therapy

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time”- Thomas Merton

In the famous book Art as Therapy, the authors have outlined seven functions of art and explain how art helps us grow and evolve in our understanding of ourselves, each other, and the world we live in. Taking your time to mindfully observe artwork can be of true value to your emotional well-being.

Conclusion: The functions of art remain incomprehensible

What is art?’— one question continuously steers educators, performers, practitioners, and philosophers to engage in deep analysis. But no matter what the function of art may be, the experience it delivers finally matters, and probably one reason it has been around us for as long as humans have existed. Whether or not we are aware of it, we allow art to affect our lives one way or another.

You may not know it, but your daily existence can be much more colorful with the presence and influence of art, and it only gets better once you allow your own creativity and imagination to take a turn for good.

So go ahead and open yourself up to art. It will be worth the change.

 

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20 Most Famous Raja Ravi Varma Paintings https://www.theartist.me/art-inspiration/famous-paintings-raja-ravi-varma/ Fri, 05 May 2023 12:05:49 +0000 https://theartist.me/?p=7158 Raja Ravi Varma was an Indian painter and artist who was born on 29 April 1848 in Kilimanoor and died on 2 October 1906 in Attingal. He is one of the most famous and among the greatest painters in the history of Indian art. This article features collection of 20 most famous paintings by Raja Ravi Varma. [...]

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Raja Ravi Varma was an Indian painter and artist who was born on 29 April 1848 in Kilimanoor and died on 2 October 1906 in Attingal. He is one of the most famous and among the greatest painters in the history of Indian art. This article features collection of 20 most famous paintings by Raja Ravi Varma.

Sri Krishna as Envoy

Sri Krishna as Envoy by Raja Ravi Varma

Sri Krishna as Envoy is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma in 1905. This is an oil painting on canvas which depicts Sri Krishna in his role as an Envoy of Pandavas in front of the Kaurava Court. This painting can be viewed at Sri Jayachama Rajendra Art Gallery, Jaganmohan Palace, Mysore, Karnataka.

Pleasing

Pleasing by Raja Ravi Varma

Pleasing is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma. In this painting, the artist depicts Draupadi who was the wife of pandavas, bewailing her lot to carry milk and honey to the court of Keechaka. This painting can be viewed at Sri Jayachama Rajendra Art Gallery, Jaganmohan Palace, Mysore, Karnataka.

Expectation

Expectation by Raja Ravi Varma
Expectation by Raja Ravi Varma

Expectation is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma. In this painting, the artist depicts a portrait of a North Indian Lady whose identity is still unknown. This painting can be viewed at Kowdiar Palace, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

The Milkmaid

The Milkmaid by Raja Ravi Varma

The Milkmaid is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma in 1904. This painting depicts a north Indian village girl who is carrying milk to her home. This painting can be viewed at Sri Chitra Art Gallery, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

The Suckling Child

The Suckling Child by Raja Ravi Varma

The Suckling Child is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma. This painting depicts an illustrative portrayal of Keralaite mother and her child. This painting can be viewed at Sri Jayachama Rajendra Art Gallery, Jaganmohan Palace, Mysore, Karnataka.

The Portrait of a Lady

The Portrait of a Lady by Raja Ravi Varma
The Portrait of a Lady by Raja Ravi Varma

The Portrait of a Lady is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma. It depicts a portrayed of a lady but many historians couldn’t figure out the identity of this lady. It is also considered as one of the most famous paintings by Raja Ravi Varma. This painting can be viewed at National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi.

Stolen Interview

Stolen Interview by Raja Ravi Varma
Stolen Interview by Raja Ravi Varma

Stolen Interview is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma. This is considered as one of the classic paintings depicting a boy who is meeting a girl. This painting can be viewed at Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

Disappointed

Disappointed by Raja Ravi Varma
Disappointed by Raja Ravi Varma

Disappointed is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma. In this painting, the artist depicts a lady who is looking sad after reading disappointing news in a letter. This painting can be viewed at Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

Woman Holding a Fruit

Woman Holding a Fruit by Raja Ravi Varma
Woman Holding a Fruit by Raja Ravi Varma

Woman Holding a Fruit is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma. This painting depicts an unknown lady shown, holding a fruit. This painting can be viewed at National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi.

Shakuntala

Shakuntala by Raja Ravi Varma
Shakuntala by Raja Ravi Varma

Shakuntala is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma in 1870. It depicts Shakuntala who is pretending to remove a thorn from her foot, while actually looking for her husband/lover. This painting can be viewed at National Art Gallery, Government Museum, Chennai, Tamilnadu.

The Maharashtrian Lady

The Maharashtrian Lady by Raja Ravi Varma
The Maharashtrian Lady by Raja Ravi Varma

The Maharashtrian Lady is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma. This painting depicts a woman who is traditionally dressed as a lady of Maharashtra. This painting can be viewed at Kowdiar Palace, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Yashoda With Krishna

Yashoda With Krishna by Raja Ravi Varma
Yashoda With Krishna by Raja Ravi Varma

Yashoda With Krishna is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma. In this famous painting by raja rabi varma, Sri Krishna is depicted as a young child with her foster mother Yesoda. This painting can be viewed at Kowdiar Palace, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Jatayu Vadha

Jatayu Vadha by Raja Ravi Varma
Jatayu Vadha by Raja Ravi Varma

Jatayu Vadha is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma in 1906. This painting depicts Ravana who could be seen killing Jatau. Jatau was encountering Ravana to save Seetha who is the wife of Lord Sri Rama. This painting can be viewed at Sri Jayachama Rajendra Art Gallery, Jaganmohan Palace, Mysore, Karnataka.

Harischandra in Distress

Harischandra in Distress by Raja Ravi Varma

Harischandra in Distress is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma. In this painting, the artist depicts Harischandra who is parting with his only son in an auction after having lost his kingdom and all the wealth. This painting can be viewed at Sri Jayachama Rajendra Art Gallery, Jaganmohan Palace, Mysore, Karnataka.

Sri Rama Vanquishing the Sea

Sri Rama Vanquishing the Sea by Raja Ravi Varma

Sri Rama Vanquishing the Sea is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma. The artist depicts Varuna, the lord of the ocean is trying to pacifying Sri Rama. He was angered at the intransigence of the sea to give Lord Rama a way to enter Lanka. This painting can be viewed at Sri Jayachama Rajendra Art Gallery, Jaganmohan Palace, Mysore, Karnataka.

Galaxy of Musicians

Galaxy of Musicians by Raja Ravi Varma
Galaxy of Musicians by Raja Ravi Varma

Galaxy of Musicians is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma. In this painting, the Indian women dressed in regional attires are depicted playing on a variety of musical instruments. This painting can be viewed at Sri Jayachama Rajendra Art Gallery, Jaganmohan Palace, Mysore, Karnataka.

There Comes Papa

There Comes Papa by Raja Ravi Varma
There Comes Papa by Raja Ravi Varma

There Comes Papa is a painting produced around 1893 by Indian artist Raja Ravi Varma. This Famous painting by Raja Ravi Verma depicts his daughter who is holding her daughter. This painting can be viewed at Kowdiar Palace, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala, India).

Lady in the Moon Light

Lady in the Moon Light by Raja Ravi Varma

Lady in the Moon Light is a painting produced around 1889 by Indian artist Raja Ravi Varma. This is another classic painting by the artist with extraordinary light effects. This painting can be viewed at Sri Jayachama Rajendra Art Gallery, Jaganmohan Palace, Mysore, Karnataka.

Mother and Child

Mother and Child by Raja Ravi Varma
Mother and Child by Raja Ravi Varma

Mother and Child is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma. This painting depicts a unique style showing the affection of mother towards her child. This painting can be viewed at Kowdiar Palace, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Sri Krishna Liberating His Parents

Sri Krishna Liberating His Parents by Raja Ravi Varma

Sri Krishna Liberating His Parents is a painting produced by Raja Ravi Varma. It depicts Sri Krishna with brother Balarama is freeing his parents from prison. This painting can be viewed at Sri Jayachama Rajendra Art Gallery, Jaganmohan Palace, Mysore, Karnataka.

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Top 10 Famous Artworks By Dorothea Tanning https://www.theartist.me/art/top-10-famous-artworks-by-dorothea-tanning/ Tue, 18 Jan 2022 06:32:29 +0000 https://www.theartist.me/?p=16424 Dorothea Tanning’s prolific art career spanned seven decades and two continents. The surrealist artist was born in 1910 in Galesburg, IL, and moved to Chicago in 1930. Here she attended night classes at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago while working at a restaurant. But it was when she moved to New York [...]

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Dorothea Tanning’s prolific art career spanned seven decades and two continents. The surrealist artist was born in 1910 in Galesburg, IL, and moved to Chicago in 1930. Here she attended night classes at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago while working at a restaurant. But it was when she moved to New York 5 years later that she first encountered surrealism at the Museum of Art’s seminal 1936 exhibition. This was the spark that ignited Tanning’s career. 

By the 1940s, she was an established surrealist artist, and her work focused mainly on lust, desire, and sexuality. Her work during this time caught the eye of fellow artist Max Ernst, whom she married in 1946. The couple relocated to Sedona, AZ, and later to Paris, France, where they lived until Ernst’s death in 1980. 

Over the decades, Tanning’s art went through various transformations. The first, and most obvious, the influence was surrealism and the themes of lust and sexuality. By the time she lived in Paris in the 1950’s Tanning’s paintings became more abstract. In the ’60s, Tanning changed mediums completely and began making grand-scale sculptures out of fabric. The most well-known being a life-sized depiction of an imaginary hotel room titled Chambre 202, Hotel du Pavot 1970-3. This piece depicts bodies growing out of the walls of a fictional hotel room and offers a fascinating glimpse into the mind of one of the most famous surreal artists in history. 

Tanning continued to switch mediums for the rest of her life and spent much of her time writing in her older age. Her final book of poems, Coming To That, was published in the last year of her life at the age of 101. She passed away in 2012. 

Collections of Tanning’s work are held in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Tate Gallery in London, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Here are some of the famous artworks by Dorothea Tanning: 

1. A Little Night Music

a little night music by Dorothea Tanning
image: wikiart

A Little Night Music is a Surrealist Oil on Canvas Painting created by Dorothea Tanning in 1943.

2. The Temptation Of Saint Anthony

the temptation of saint anthony
image: wikiart

The Temptation of St. Anthony is a painting by Spanish surrealist artist Dorothea Tanning in 1945.

3. Interior With Sudden Joy

interior with sudden joy by Dorothea Tanning
image: wikiart

‘Interior with Sudden Joy’ was created in 1951 by Dorothea Tanning in Surrealism style.

4. Some Roses And Their Phantoms

some roses and their phantoms
image: wikiart

Some Roses and Their Phantoms was made by Dorothea Tanning in 1952.

5. The Guest Room

the guest room by Dorothea Tanning
image: wikiart

Another fascinatingly unsettling painting by Dorothea Tanning was The Guest Room made in 1952.

6. Insomnies

insomnies
image: wikiart

The Insomnias is one of the Famous Artworks, produced by Dorothea Tanning In 1957.

7. Rainy-Day Canapé

Rainy-Day Canapé by Dorothea Tanning
image: wikiart

Rainy-Day Canapé was Made in the year 1970 by Dorothea Tanning.

8. A Mi-Voix

a mi-voix
image: wikiart

A Mi-Voix is a large, vertically oriented, abstract painting made in 1958 By Dorothea Tanning.

9. Pincushion to Serve as Fetish

pincushion to serve as fetish by Dorothea Tanning
image: wikiart

Pincushion to Serve as Fetish, 1965, was one of the earliest sculptures Dorothea Tanning made.

10. Nue couchée

Nue couchée
image: wikiart

Nue couchée, 1969-70, is one of a group of soft sculptures made by Tanning that evoke the female body.

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The Powerful Legacy of Women in Art World https://www.theartist.me/art/history-of-women-in-art-world/ Fri, 07 Jan 2022 10:13:00 +0000 http://theartist.me/?p=4217 One can always argue that women have played a pivotal role – as much as the men, in the enrichment of the arts. Strangely, their contributions always take the co-starring role when it comes to how mainstream media covers the world of art. Women in art are now the ones who’re creating meaningful and innovative [...]

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One can always argue that women have played a pivotal role – as much as the men, in the enrichment of the arts. Strangely, their contributions always take the co-starring role when it comes to how mainstream media covers the world of art. Women in art are now the ones who’re creating meaningful and innovative works at their own freedom and creativity.

“This is so good you wouldn’t know it was done by a woman.” – said by famous German painter, Hans Hoffmann  as a quote of appreciation to the influential abstract expressionist painter Lee Krasner

One would falsely believe that there are too few women artists around the world because those who hog the headlines in the art world are mostly men. This prevailing notion should be put to rest because women have always been at the forefront of art and women in art have consistently contributed heavily to design, fine arts and performance arts.

Strong Participation of Women in Art since the Ancient Times

After a sterling crusade in the late 20th century that spearheaded the feminist movement, women became more enamored and involved in the world of art. Both as a collector of art and as an artist as well, this emergence started giving credence to the women’s increasing role in both art historical discourse and artistic production.

women in the arts
Do Women Have To Be Naked To Get Into the Met. Museum? – Screenprint on newspaper

Women started off with purchasing vast amounts of artworks until this work of art became the driving influence that drove hordes of women to study in the leading art schools all over the world – giving birth to a new generation of women artists that would make waves in the modern art.

During ancient times, women are always portrayed as goddesses and mythological creatures, which influenced the many ancient arts still represented until today by the great ruins in Greece, Italy, Turkey, Iran and other countries.

The ancient art of history also suggests a good number of women artists namely; Alcisthene, Anaxandra, Kora of Sicyon, Lala de Cizique, Stratonice of Pontus and Timarete.

Women in Art – Not merely inspirational or model subjects of art

From merely art inspirations, women have become more active in the creative arena by slowly progressing in various fields of arts, fine arts, visual arts, and design to performance arts.

According to an essay published by Art and WomenRenaissance was a period of transformation in arts and in women’s lives but many customs still remained the same as the Middle Ages for women. Renaissance was a period where women gained more freedom”.

During the Victorian period in England, women started to make a name for themselves with such classic artworks such as Elizabeth Sirani’s “Portia Wounding Her Thigh”, a painting that signifies the message that a woman is now willing to distance herself from gender biasedness.

The painting’s subject depicts an act of a woman possessing the same strength as that of a man. “Portia” represents surrender because she isn’t the same type of woman known in society as weak and prone to gossip.

Porcia wounding her thigh, by Elisabetta Sirani.
Porcia wounding her thigh, by Elisabetta Sirani.

The earliest pre-modern art female painters played the role that started the revolution that ultimately opened the doors of arts to women in general.

One shining example is Emily Mary Osborn’s “Nameless and Faceless’’.

Nameless and Friendless by Emily Mary Osborn
Nameless and Friendless by Emily Mary Osborn. Image Credit : Tate

The painting conveys the uncomfortable state a woman feels in a male-controlled society where the subject is shown inside an art gallery and is being observed at awkwardly by the males surrounding her; she is fiddling with her dress and staring down The men are obviously disregarding her as a serious artist.

Women in Art – Major Contributions and Leading Contributors

  • During ancient India, it is said that “For about three thousand years, the women – and only the women – of Mithila have been making devotional paintings of the gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. It is no exaggeration, then, to say that this art is the expression of the most genuine aspect of Indian civilization.” This passage says it all about women’s contribution to art dates back to ancient times.
  • During Medieval Period, the role of women in art continued throughout the classical European period where women contributed a lot in poetry, music, textiles and other cultural art performances. The Medieval period saw the emergence of women artists such as Claricia, Diemudus, Ende, Guda, Herrade of Landsberg and Hildegard of Bingen.
  • During Renaissance period,  the world had seen art talents of more women namely; Sofonisba Anguissola, Lucia Anguissola, Marietta Robusti (daughter of Tintoretto), Properzia de’ Rossi, Plautilla Nelli, Levina Teerlinc, Mayken Verhulst, Lavinia Fontana, Fede Galizia, Diana Scultori Ghisi, Caterina van Hemessen, Esther Inglis, Barbara Longhi, Maria Ormani and St. Catherine of Bologna (Caterina dei Vigri).
  • The Baroque period saw a large number of women painters taking the self-portrait route, this period are flooded with many impressive self-portraits that elevated fine arts more as this presented a healthy competition among the male artists of this period.
  • During 20th Century to Contemporary Era, Women artists started getting known for their artworks, that have now reached a wider audience and portrays an expanded documentation of everyday life. An example of this is Zinaida Serebriakova’s “the Harvest” which simply depicts a life at the farm for a family of farmers. (Featured Image)

Expanded Women’s Contribution to Design, Visual Arts and Performance Arts

The long and winding struggle of the women gender finally reached its peak as clearly, today’s finest artists consists of a large number of women, ranging from design arts, visual arts, cultural arts, to performance arts.

Imagination is one important recipe for surreal art. Surrealism is one style of art where women has truly contributing and leading this space since ages.

Significance of Female Surrealism in a Male-dominated World

From the Dorothea Lange of the Photography world to famous contemporary artists such as Karen Kilimnik, Sarah Lucas, Yoko Ono, Jenny Saville, Carolee Schneeman, Shazia Sikander, Lorna Simpson, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Marina Abramović, Jaroslava Brychtova, Bettina Werner, Lynda Benglis, Lee Bul, Sophie Calle, Janet Cardiff, Marlene Dumas, Marisol Escobar, Jenny Holzer, Runa Islam, Chantal Joffe, Yayoi Kusama, Lisa Steele, Stella Vine, Kara Walker, Rebecca Warren, Bettina Werner and Susan Dorothea White, women’s adventure in the world of art has rightfully completed its long and arduous circle.

Because we live in a fortunate time of history when women can now freely participate and become creators of art, we should further appreciate and celebrate their continuous contributions by being more supportive and constantly on the lookout for that next great woman artist.

Women aren’t only limited to being merely inspirational or model subjects of art; women are now the ones creating art at their own freedom and creativity.

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The Subject of Tenderness, Love, and Compassion https://www.theartist.me/culture/krishna-god-theme-artworks-meaning/ Sat, 29 May 2021 09:48:31 +0000 https://www.theartist.me/?p=10176 Tenderness, love, compassion are core values of the human race. Krishna is the god of compassion, love, and tenderness in Hinduism. Most of the major gods in Indian art traditions have all been giving spouses, they are rarely known to be celibate. When reincarnated they become more explicit in their attraction for the opposite sex [...]

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Tenderness, love, compassion are core values of the human race. Krishna is the god of compassion, love, and tenderness in Hinduism. Most of the major gods in Indian art traditions have all been giving spouses, they are rarely known to be celibate.

When reincarnated they become more explicit in their attraction for the opposite sex and demonstrate it. The goddesses who happen to be the spouses of these gods are not left out in this display of affection as they often portray their love for their husbands assertively and sensually.

Gods and goddesses represent the concept of dualism, like two performers doing a duet, one relying on the other, they complement each other.

Krishna’s love encompasses the whole concept of love, commonly an emotion, a strong attachment, and personal attraction. Love is the basis for any relationship no matter how fickle and this has made it a major theme in creative arts.

Krishna by every physical standard was irresistible and appealing. Ancient texts talk about his alluring countenance, hair, complexion, and other elements of his beauty at length.

To date, he faithfully represented with a yellow garment, a crown of peacock feathers sitting pretty on his head and a smile on his lips.

1.Krishna and the Gopas huddle in the rain.

Govardan and Life of Krishna

In a forest in Braj, there is a lotus-filled pool with cattle huddled together. We see Krishna and his cowherd friends (gopals). It is the rainy season and beneath a cloudy, swirling sky it is seen that several of the gopas are putting on hooded jackets as protection against the heavy rain while Krishna takes his place under a leafy umbrella.

Indra, king of gods and lord of the heavens sent the rain as retaliation because Krishna persuaded the gopas to worship him alone and not Indra.

Shortly after taking refuge from the rain, Krishna will lift mount Govardhan represented by the large rock Krishna sits on, with his little finger. This is a show of his superpower and the gopals showing approval for his superpower to take shelter under the raised mountain.

The cloud in the sky, the tree with a gnarled look, dark colors, heavy faces, and figures are distinguishing features of the artist. Steven Kossak has called it the Master of the swirling skies. Kossak regards this picture paying attention to the overall tone, somber sky, background, and foreground with warm tones restricted to the bright red of Krishna’s dhoti and little touches of yellow.

2.Ras Lila: Krishna dances with the Gopis

Ra Lila Life of Krishan

Here, Krishna is the center of attraction as he plays the flute at the center of a circle of dancers made up of seven gopis or milkmaids, and seven figures of Krishna.

The god has magically multiplied himself so that each gopi thinks he is dancing with her alone. Musicians from different angles provide music for this show of love, while five gods, taking note of Krishna’s prominence hover in the sky.

The deities are the moon god Chandra, seen driving a chariot driven by two antelopes. Second is Indra, the god of the heavens on a white elephant. The four-headed Brahma is spotted riding on a goose, the cobra adorned Shiva on a bull, and Surya the sun god on a chariot drawn by two horses.

These gods are carting flowers to the ground as a way to pay homage to Krishna and his dance team. The flowers adorn both the earthly and the heavenly parts of the picture.

As the case is with early Pahari painting, the composition breaks into the white borders on the right and left, making it look as if the page orientation could not conveniently make room for the thrusting.

Krishna’s great team of dancers is replicated by the stunted circle of trees at the top center and by the lotus flowers, rounded buds, and leaves in the lower panel of water. You can almost hear the continuous drumbeat of the musicians and the rhythm of the dancers.

3.The lovers Radha and Krishna are in the palm grove.

Life of Krishan

Here, NANDA a cowherd who was Krishna’s father by adoption, urged Radha to accompany Krishna home because he is scared of the dark. Graced dancers, the lovers stop to share a warm embrace on the banks of Yamuna River, around them trees carry out a dance in twos, re-enacting the stages of their developing attraction for each other.

On the farther shore of the river, there are visible rounded hills beneath a sky shining bright with stars. With the beautiful interpretations of the forest during springtime, the painting gives roots to the rustic setting in which other paintings from the romantically inclined Gita Govinda series will unfold.

Gesticulations made with the hand and body as well as eye movements are seemingly more important in India than anywhere else you can think of.

This idea of nonverbal communication was put in place there at a very early date. Hand gestures or mudra’s of the gods were designed to help in communication with the devotee.

As time went by, these hand and body gestures alongside the eye movements became very essential in understanding what classical dance and drama entail.

Krishna places his left arm around Radha’s shoulders and reaches out ever so gently, for her breasts with his right hand.

Radha on the other hand, makes futile gestures, trying to restrain Krishna’s hand and pointing with her right hand, to the path which Nanda had instructed them to take. A reminder of the fact that they had deviated from Nanda’s orders.

However, there is little or no conviction in the way she tries to resist because she turns back and gazes affectionately into Krishna’s eyes as she stands like an elegant dancer, left leg lightly crossed against the right and toes touching the earth.

Conclusion:

These phenomenal works were published and illustrated here for the first time and a major characteristic that stands out is the brilliant colors and clear, powerful replications of scenes from Hindu epics.

They also offered a new way of reaching out for the divine through a form of personal devotion called Bhakti that had spread in India’s Hindu community while at the same time bringing life to the concept of gods, demons, mysterious symbols, lovers, and amazing creatures that are symbolic to literature and worship.

If you must appreciate Indian paintings and art, you must be able to relate to and fall in love with their elemental qualities such as their blazing color, dark lines, and the profound philosophy and mythology that is their good spring. [html_block id=”12849″]

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10 Most Famous Paintings by Artemisia Gentileschi https://www.theartist.me/art-inspiration/10-famous-painting-artemisia-gentileschi/ Mon, 18 May 2020 17:07:37 +0000 https://theartist.me/?p=6576 Artemisia Gentileschi was an Italian Baroque painter who was born on 8 July 1593 in Rome, Italy and died in 1653 in Naples, Italy. She was well known for one of the most accomplished painters in the generation following that of Caravaggio. Here, is a collection of 10 Most Famous Paintings by Artemisia Gentileschi. Judith [...]

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Artemisia Gentileschi was an Italian Baroque painter who was born on 8 July 1593 in Rome, Italy and died in 1653 in Naples, Italy. She was well known for one of the most accomplished painters in the generation following that of Caravaggio. Here, is a collection of 10 Most Famous Paintings by Artemisia Gentileschi.

Judith Beheading Holofernes

Judith Beheading Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi
Judith Beheading Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi

Judith Beheading Holofernes is a painting produced by Artemisia Gentileschi in 1620. Also known by the name Giuditta che decapita Oloferne. The Italian artist depicts one of the episodes of the Old Testament and this episode is narrated in the Book of Judgment. This painting can be viewed at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

Judith Slaying Holofernes

Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi
Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi

Judith Slaying Holofernes is a painting produced by Artemisia Gentileschi between 1614 and 1620. The scene depicts Judith beheading Holofernes which also represents women triumphing over powerful men. This painting can be viewed at National Museum of Capodimonte, Naples.

Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting

Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting by Artemisia Gentileschi
Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting by Artemisia Gentileschi

Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting is a painting produced by Artemisia Gentileschi between 1638 and 1639. This painting depicts Gentileschi painting herself, who is in turn represented as the “Allegory of Painting” illustrated by Cesare Ripa. The dimension of this painting is 96.5 cm × 73.7 cm.

Venus and Cupid

Venus and Cupid by Artemisia Gentileschi
Venus and Cupid by Artemisia Gentileschi

Venus and Cupid is a painting produced by Artemisia Gentileschi in 1625. The Italian artist depicts sleeping Venus who is wearing nothing except a thin wisp of transparent linen around her thigh. This painting can be viewed at Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, US.

Susanna and the Elders

Susanna and the Elders by Artemisia Gentileschi
Susanna and the Elders by Artemisia Gentileschi

Susanna and the Elders is a painting produced by Artemisia Gentileschi between 1610 and 1611. The Italian artist depicts the story of Susanna who was watched by the elders when she was bathing. This painting can be viewed at Schloss Weißenstein collection, in Pommersfelden, Germany.

The Martyrdom of St Januarius in the Amphitheatre at Pozzuoli

The Martyrdom of St Januarius in the Amphitheatre at Pozzuoli by Artemisia Gentileschi
The Martyrdom of St Januarius in the Amphitheatre at Pozzuoli by Artemisia Gentileschi

The Martyrdom of St Januarius in the Amphitheatre at Pozzuoli is a painting produced by Artemisia Gentileschi between 1636 and 1637. This painting depicts St. Januarius, Naples’s popular patron saint who protected the city from volcanic eruptions of Mt. Vesuvius. This painting can be viewed at Cathedral in Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy.

Judith and her Maidservant

Judith and her Maidservant by Artemisia Gentileschi
Judith and her Maidservant by Artemisia Gentileschi

Judith and her Maidservant is a painting produced by Artemisia Gentileschi in 1618. It depicts Judith holding a dagger and her servant who was carrying a head of man. This painting can be viewed at Pitti Palace, Florence.

Esther before Ahasuerus

Esther before Ahasuerus by Artemisia Gentileschi
Esther before Ahasuerus by Artemisia Gentileschi

Esther before Ahasuerus is a painting produced by Artemisia Gentileschi between 1628 and 1635. This painting depicts Jewish heroine Esther, who appeared before King Ahasuerus to plead for her people. This painting can be viewed at Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Danae

Danae by Artemisia Gentileschi
Danae by Artemisia Gentileschi

Danae is a painting produced by Artemisia Gentileschi in 1612. It depicts Danae who is sleeping on the bed with no clothing on and a servant is gathering flowers from above. This painting can be viewed at Saint Louis Art Museum, USA.

Madonna and Child

Madonna and Child by Artemisia Gentileschi
Madonna and Child by Artemisia Gentileschi

Madonna and Child is a painting produced by Artemisia Gentileschi in 1613. The Italian artist completed this painting when she was only 20 years old. This painting can be viewed at Galleria Spada in Rome.

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10 Most Famous Paintings by Berthe Morisot https://www.theartist.me/art-inspiration/10-most-famous-paintings-by-berthe-morisot/ Wed, 25 Mar 2020 17:01:12 +0000 https://theartist.me/?p=6605 Berthe Morisot was a French Painter who was born on January 14, 1841 in Bourges, France and died on March 2, 1895 in Paris, France. This article contains 10 Most Famous Paintings by Berthe Morisot. The Cradle The Cradle is a painting produced by Berthe Morisot in 1872. Berthe morisot was the first woman who exhibited [...]

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Berthe Morisot was a French Painter who was born on January 14, 1841 in Bourges, France and died on March 2, 1895 in Paris, France. This article contains 10 Most Famous Paintings by Berthe Morisot.

The Cradle

The Cradle by Berthe Morisot
The Cradle by Berthe Morisot

The Cradle is a painting produced by Berthe Morisot in 1872. Berthe morisot was the first woman who exhibited this painting in 1874 and is regarded as one of the most famous painting of her. This painting can be viewed at Musée d’Orsay, Paris.

Summer’s Day

Summer's Day by Berthe Morisot
Summer’s Day by Berthe Morisot

Summer’s Day is a painting produced by Berthe Morisot in 1879. This painting depicts two women seated in a row boat. This painting was stolen from the Tate museum by two Irish students which was later returned. This painting can be viewed at National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, Central London.

The Harbor at Lorient

The Harbor at Lorient by Berthe Morisot
The Harbor at Lorient by Berthe Morisot

The Harbor at Lorient is a painting produced by Berthe Morisot in 1869. During the summers of 1869, the artist visited her newly married sister, Edma Pontillon and this painting was completed there and it believed that her sister is the subject in this painting. This painting can be viewed at National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

Woman at Her Toilette

Woman at Her Toilette by Berthe Morisot
Woman at Her Toilette by Berthe Morisot

Woman at Her Toilette is a painting produced by Berthe Morisot between 1875 and 1880. The artist attempts to capture the essence of modern life and discreetly moves into the realm of female eroticism through this paitning. This painting can be viewed at Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago.

Portrait of the Artist’s Mother and Sister

Portrait of the Artist's Mother and Sister by Berthe Morisot
Portrait of the Artist’s Mother and Sister by Berthe Morisot

Portrait of the Artist’s Mother and Sister is a painting produced by Berthe Morisot between 1869 and 1870. This painting is regarded as one of the largest works by the artist which was exhibited at the Salon of 1870 and perhaps again in 1874 at the first Impressionist exhibition.

Hanging the Laundry out to Dry

Hanging the Laundry out to Dry by Berthe Morisot
Hanging the Laundry out to Dry by Berthe Morisot

Hanging the Laundry out to Dry is a painting produced by Berthe Morisot in 1875. There is a lower inscription to this painting signed as Berthe Morisot. The scene depicts two to three woman who are hanging the clothes out in the sun to dry. This painting can be viewed at National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

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Julie Daydreaming

Julie Daydreaming by Berthe Morisot
Julie Daydreaming by Berthe Morisot

Julie Daydreaming is a painting produced by Berthe Morisot in 1894. In this painting, the female figure portrayed is of Julie Manet aged sixteen who is portrayed in the sweet state of daydreams in the spring of her life. The girl is the daughter of the artist. This painting is currently in a private collection.

The Artist’s Sister at a Window

The Artist's Sister at a Window by Berthe Morisot
The Artist’s Sister at a Window by Berthe Morisot

The Artist’s Sister at a Window is a painting produced by Berthe Morisot in 1869. In this painting, the artist depicted Edma Pontillon who is her sister is shown sitting at a window. This painting can be viewed at National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

Eugene Manet on the Isle of Wight

Eugene Manet on the Isle of Wight by Berthe Morisot
Eugene Manet on the Isle of Wight by Berthe Morisot

Eugene Manet on the Isle of Wight is a painting produced by Berthe Morisot in 1875. In this painting, the artist depicts Eugene Manet who is Morisit’s husband. The figure is standing by the window watching scene of the beach. This painting can be viewed at Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, France.

Girl in a Boat, with Geese

Girl in a Boat, with Geese by Berthe Morisot
Girl in a Boat, with Geese by Berthe Morisot

Girl in a Boat, with Geese is a painting produced by Berthe Morisot in 1889. This painting depicts a scene by the lake in which a woman is seen boating in the river while the geese are on the shore. This painting can be viewed at National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

You may like to read – 10 Most Famous Paintings by Paul Klee

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Frida Kahlo’s Lust for Life https://www.theartist.me/art/frida-kahlos-lust-life/ Tue, 10 Mar 2020 14:41:17 +0000 http://theartist.me/?p=5415 Frida Kahlo lived the epitome of alegría—a lust for life. She was infamous for her social fire. She danced, flirted, and seduced. Her ferocious tongue rolled out a black sense of humor and sharp wit. She kept a home for her husband Diego. She loved her pets – spider monkeys and gods. She loved guff, [...]

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Frida Kahlo lived the epitome of alegría—a lust for life.

She was infamous for her social fire. She danced, flirted, and seduced. Her ferocious tongue rolled out a black sense of humor and sharp wit. She kept a home for her husband Diego.

She loved her pets – spider monkeys and gods. She loved guff, gossips, and jokes. She treated servants like family and kids like equals

But Frida’s vitality was juxtaposed with anguish.

“Do not forget me”, she begged her friends and lovers to visit her often. She was often lonely and was confined to the prison of the hospital bed.

Frida Kahlo paintings artwork - Two Fridas
Frida Kahlo paintings artwork – Two Fridas

Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) has often been classified as a surrealist, though she herself argues that she draws more “her reality, that her dreams”.

A brilliant painter, she is most famous for her portraits in which she paints herself in a surrealistic manner.

“The Suicide of Dorothy Hale”, one of the exceptionally powerful paintings of Frida Kahlo, depicts the suicide of the aspiring American actress Dorothy Hale. The painting combines the literal and metaphorical, the real and the surreal, showing every step of Hale’s suicide.

A life full of setbacks

Frida Kahlo endured two great life tragedies.

The first: a horrific trolley accident in her youth. In the wake of its destruction, it left Frida with her spine and pelvis broken, a crushed foot, and a lifetime of suffering and pain.

The second: The “worst” tragedy was her husband: the two-timing painter Diego Rivera and his numerous infidelities.

“Diego,” she said, “was by far the worst.”

Kahlo was distressed, but the couple attempted to compromise: Each was free to have sex with whomever they wanted. For a while, this arrangement appeared to work to an extent, and Kahlo engaged in several affairs with men and women alike.

But while she trained herself to tolerate Diego’s alliance with strangers, Kahlo was deeply betrayed by his affair with her own younger sister, Cristina.

Subsequently, Frida would have an affair with the exiled Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky. Trotsky was Frida’s el Viejo, “the old man,” who delighted her with his intellectual spirit. Of course, conducting an affair with Rivera’s idol did not please him.

Even in the midst of his philandering ways, Rivera did show his love by providing Frida financial support and exposure in the art world. He didn’t just view himself as a husband but also a fellow artist to her. It was a miracle their romance survived.

The transcending pain of Frida Kahlo paintings

In her long-drawn-out recovery, she willed herself to paint. Her compositions were surreal

Kahlo’s art had become increasingly refined and highly personal over the years. Expressionist painter Edvard Munch would be one of the few to have comprehended her exorcism.

frida-kahlo-paintings-artwork-self-portrait
Frida Kahlo paintings artwork Self Portrait

One of her “straightforward” works was “Self-Portrait,” essentially a painted mirror image of herself with a thorn necklace, not unlike Christ’s crown of thorns, piercing her neck, and a pendant in the form of a hummingbird, symbolizing the souls of Aztec warriors killed in battle.

“The Broken Column” of 1944 depicts a nude Kahlo jailed in the constraints of her medical corsets. Nails protruded from her skin like hair. Her body reveals a shattered Greek column in place of her spine. Pale tears stream down her face.

Frida Kahlo paintings artwork Broken Column

Bedridden in Mexico, Kahlo summoned her strength to paint between bouts of illness with little relief from the body aches. In the 1950s, she endured a year in a Mexico City hospital. Many treatments to straighten her spine worsened the disease. Being suspended from the ceiling with sandbags attached to her feet, they only served to damage her further.

Frida Kahlo My Grandparents-My-Parents-and-Me
Frida Kahlo My Grandparents-My-Parents-and-Me

Whether or not they were cognizant of the autobiographical context of Kahlo’s work, art communities were enchanted by her fantastical and grotesque imageries. In 1938, Frida was overjoyed when a Network gallery owner invited her to hold a one-woman show, in which she was celebrated as a painter outside of her more famous husband’s shadow.

Frida delighted in another achievement: In the spring of 1953, a gallery in Mexico presented her a solo exhibition, her only art show in her life held in her home country.

But doctors prescribed her to stay in bed. So she stayed in bed she did. But she did not stay at home. The quick-witted artist was not going to be absent from her show.

Waiting for the show, a crowd of fans watched as an ambulance deposit Frida Kahlo onto a four-posted bed in the middle of the gallery.

Her expression betrayed the life of unending pain. Yet, it glowed with exhilaration, for she was in the spotlight of attention and the center of the party.

Frida’s Immortality

Despite her paintings frequently categorized as surrealism, Kahlo considered her masterpieces as bizarre reality.

“They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn’t. I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.”

Frida Kahlo infused her canvas with her native Mexican birthright and the historical epochs of her life.

The stars, the earth, and the body all mingled with her painful reality, the long-term aftermaths of the life-changing trolley accident bleed onto the abstracts of Mexican symbols and history. It was colonial and revolutionary. The abstract was all too concrete for her, as real as the prison of pain.

While, many dislike Salvador Dali’s form of expression or undeniably love it for it is abnormal, thought-provoking style, the world has unanimously mulled over Kahlo’s diversity on the canvas

Frida Kahlo was not forgotten.

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15 Most Famous Rembrandt Paintings https://www.theartist.me/art-inspiration/famous-rembrandt-paintings/ Wed, 30 Oct 2019 16:47:53 +0000 https://theartist.me/?p=6590 Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was a dutch draughtsman, painter, and printmaker who was born on 15 July 1606 in Leiden, Netherlands and died on 4 October 1669 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This article contains 15 Most Famous Rembrandt Paintings. The Night Watch The Night Watch is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1642. It is believed that [...]

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Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was a dutch draughtsman, painter, and printmaker who was born on 15 July 1606 in Leiden, Netherlands and died on 4 October 1669 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This article contains 15 Most Famous Rembrandt Paintings.

The Night Watch

The Night Watch by Rembrandt
The Night Watch by Rembrandt

The Night Watch is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1642. It is believed that the Night Watch is one of the most famous Dutch Golden Age paintings. The location of this painting is Amsterdam Museum on permanent loan to the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

 

The Jewish Bride

The Jewish Bride by Rembrandt
The Jewish Bride by Rembrandt

The Jewish Bride is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1667. The subject of this painting was that a Jewish father bestowing a necklace upon his daughter on her wedding day. This painting can be viewed at Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

The Storm on the Sea of Galilee

The Storm on the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt
The Storm on the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt

The Storm on the Sea of Galilee is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1633. The dutch artist depicts miracle of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee. The location of this painting is still unknown since the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft in 1990.

Head of Christ

Head of Christ by Rembrandt
Head of Christ by Rembrandt

Head of Christ is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn around 1648. This painting was based on a Jewish model and thus marking a turning-point in the artist’s work. This painting can be viewed at Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.

Bathsheba at Her Bath

Bathsheba at Her Bath by Rembrandt
Bathsheba at Her Bath by Rembrandt

Bathsheba at Her Bath is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1654. In this painting, an old story is depicted in which King David sees Bathsheba bathing and, entranced, seduces and impregnates her. This painting can be viewed at The Louvre, Paris.

The Man with the Golden Helmet

The Man with the Golden Helmet by Rembrandt
The Man with the Golden Helmet by Rembrandt

The Man with the Golden Helmet is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1650. This painting is an excellent example of Dutch Golden Age painting. This painting can be viewed at Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, Berlin.

Danaë

Danae by Rembrandt
Danae by Rembrandt

Danaë is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1636. The scene depicts Danae who is presumably welcoming Zeus, who impregnated her in the form of a shower of gold. This painting can be viewed at Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg.

Self-Portrait with Beret and Turned-Up Collar

Self-Portrait with Beret and Turned-Up Collar by Rembrandt
Self-Portrait with Beret and Turned-Up Collar by Rembrandt

Self-Portrait with Beret and Turned-Up Collar is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1659. In this painting, the artist is seated in a broadly painted fur cloak, his hands clasped in his lap. This painting can be viewed at National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis

The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis by Rembrandt
The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis by Rembrandt

The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1662. Amsterdam city council for the Town Hall commissioned this work to Rembrandt. This painting can be viewed at Nationalmuseum, Stockholm.

Belshazzar’s Feast

Belshazzar's Feast by Rembrandt
Belshazzar’s Feast by Rembrandt

Belshazzar’s Feast is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1635. It is believed that this painting is Rembrandt’s attempt to establish himself as a painter of large, baroque history paintings. This painting can be viewed at National Gallery, London.

The Prodigal Son in the Brothel

The Prodigal Son in the Brothel by Rembrandt
The Prodigal Son in the Brothel by Rembrandt

The Prodigal Son in the Brothel is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1637. In this painting, two people were depicted who had been identified as Rembrandt himself and his wife Saskia. This painting can be viewed at Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden.

Old Man with a Gold Chain

Old Man with a Gold Chain by Rembrandt
Old Man with a Gold Chain by Rembrandt

Old Man with a Gold Chain is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1630. This painting was documented by Hofstede de Groot in 1915. This painting can be viewed at Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago.

The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp

The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt

The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1632. It is believed that this painting was Rembrandt’s early masterpieces. This painting can be viewed at Mauritshuis, The Hague.

Syndics of the Drapers’ Guild

Syndics of the Drapers' Guild by Rembrandt
Syndics of the Drapers’ Guild by Rembrandt

Syndics of the Drapers’ Guild is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1662. This painting is also known as Syndics of the Drapers Guild. This painting can be viewed at Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

The Return of the Prodigal Son

The Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt
The Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt

The Return of the Prodigal Son is a painting produced by Rembrandt van Rijn between 1661 and 1669. This painting is one of the last works by the Dutch artist. This painting can be viewed at Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg.

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