The Agony of Laocoon, Adrian Gottlieb
Neoclassical Art focused on line, proportion, and order...it was an art that was to be understood through the intellect.. On the other hand, Romanticism focused on color, drama, and disorganization...an art that was to be accessed through emotion.Discuss modern day examples of each, and then (only if possible) give me a modern day example that rejects both in your opinion.
Tatianas Repast, Adrian Gottlieb
Poussinistes versus Rubenistes. Neoclassicism versus Rococo. Right Brain versus Left Brain. The age old battle of reason versus emotion continues to shape art today.
In the 20th century the 'Classical Realism' movement has created a renewed interest in academic art by emphasizing the importance of technique and beauty based on Neoclassical ideals. Classical realists advocate the importance of traditional crafts and techniques of painting, drawing and sculpture. Line is king for classical realists such as Adrian Gottlieb who is trained in the Atelier Method.
Gottlieb's work clearly communicates the classical ideals of beauty. His portraits are so realistic because he draws and paints exclusively from live models. His accuracy and craftsmanship is evident in the attention to detail. His compositions present juxtapositions of interesting objects. Most of all I like his paintings because they make you think.
On the other side of the debate, the Modern art movement can be seen as a reaction to the formality and rigidity of the Enlightenment. Modern art emphasised emotions and new ways of creating and interpreting art. Impressionist painters such as Monet, Cezanne and Post Impressionist painter Van Gogh valued color over line. Their brilliant use of color and brushstroke created ethereal paintings that elevated emotion in the experience of art.
I am drawn to art that appeals to both the intellect and emotion. I think therefore I feel. To me there is room for everyone. The variety of opinion, technique and motive creates a greater diversity within the world of art. I dont think it is possible to divorce line and color from art completely. A line is a point in motion. All art is a dance or movement of point, line and either presence or absence of color. However there are artists who oppose convential techniques and notions. Jackson Pollock was such an artist. He challenged and reinterpreted the boundaries of line as well as the optimistic use of color.
While Pollock does use color paint for his splatter paintings, he doesnt use color in the traditional sense. His rejection of traditional painting techniques and interpretation also made him a target of critics. While I am not particularly drawn to Pollock's paintings I do respect his individualism and style.
Note: All images are property of the artist(s) and used here for educational purposes.
1 comment:
truly amazing joanna in examples and in insight.
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