20th Century Art

 

Post-Impressionism

Post-Impressionism follows Impressionism. The artists involved were influenced by Impressionism although their work shares few similarities. Disinterested in recording light and color phenomena, Post-Impressionism is characterized by bright color, sharp, often outlined edges. In pursuit of individual goals, theories, and interests, they don't work or exhibit together.

 

 

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (too-LOOZ-loe-trek) 1864-1901

Fast Facts

Famous as an artist and as an aristocrat in Paris, Toulouse-Lautrec traveled and associated with the intellectuals of the era. Feeling physically grotesque, Lautrec removed himself from a traditional life in favor of the Parisian underworld from which his unromantic contemporary subjects were drawn. He painted social taboos and sordid truths of Parisian life in a straightforward unsentimental manner. The resulting work ironically elevates low life to high art. The general public found his work distasteful and shocking! He was influenced by Japanese prints and the Impressionist, Degas.

 

Quadrille at the Moulin Rouge, 1892

Artist: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901)
© Artchive
 

 

Moulin Rouge, 1893

 
Artist: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901)
© Artchive
 

 

The New Girls, 1893

Artist: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901)
© Artchive
 

Paul Cezanne (say ZAHN) 1839-1906

Fast Facts

Cezanne began painting outdoors in 1872 and exhibited with the Impressionists a few times before breaking with them in 1887. While the Impressionist's focused on dissolved form; Cezanne focused on arrangements of constructed forms. Young artists often romanticize the last twenty years of Cezanne's life spent in Provence in the South of France. Because they see him as a rebellious, reclusive primitive who “gave it all up to be an artist”, they take “artistic permission” from him. “If Cezanne did it, I can do it.”

Cezanne developed a theory of what art should be and then attempted to explain it through his paintings. He believed that there was hidden order in nature and that it was to be found in non-traditional, ambiguous space; therefore, he abandoned the traditional illusionist distinctions of foreground and background. His paintings are abstract, yet objects within them are recognizable. Cezanne's revolutionary theories and work lead to Cubism.

 

Self Portrait, 1879

Artist: Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)
© Artchive

 

Still Life with Plate of Cherries, 1885

 
Artist: Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)
© Artchive

 

Compote, Pitcher and Fruit, 1892

 
Artist: Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)
© Artchive

 

Still Life with Apples, 1895

 
Artist: Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)
© Artchive

 

Still Life with Flower Holder, 1905

 
 
Artist: Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)
© Artchive

 

The Card Players, 1892

 
Artist: Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)
© Artchive

 

Woman Seated, in Blue, 1902

 
Artist: Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)
© Artchive

 

Chateau Noir, 1900

 
Artist: Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)
© Artchive

 

Chateau, 1904

 
Artist: Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)
© Artchive

 

Mont Sainte Victoire, 1900

 
Artist: Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)
© Artchive

 

Vincent van Gogh (GOE) 1853-1890

Fast Facts

Van Gogh turned to painting after disappointing attempts at other careers. Supported by his brother Theo, he went to Paris where he associated with and was influenced by the Impressionists. His avid moralizing and unceasing need for love, friendships and approval frightened people. He and his work were intense. It is questionable that he sold even one work.

 

The Potato Eaters, 1885

 
Artist: Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
© Artchive

 

Self-Portrait with Felt Hat, 1887

 
Artist: Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
© Artchive

 

The Night Cafe, 1888

 
Artist: Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
© Artchive

 

Starry Night, 1889

 
Artist: Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
© Artchive

 

Van Gogh's Bedroom at Arles, 1889

 
Artist: Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
© Artchive

 

Portrait of Dr. Gachet, 1890

 
Artist: Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
© Artchive

 

Fourteen Sunflowers in a Vase, 1888

 
Artist: Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
© Artchive

 

Irises, 1889

 
Artist: Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
© Artchive

 

Field of Poppies, 1889

 
Artist: Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
© Artchive

 

Wheat Field Under Threatening Skies, 1890

 
Artist: Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
© Artchive

 

Paul Gauguin (go-GA(N)) 1848-1903

Fast Facts Paul Gauguin, a one-time stockbroker, left his middle class life, wife and family to establish a personal reality through art. At one point, he exhibited with the Impressionists then broke with them to work in artistic isolation. Gauguin believed that “painting should be a synthesis of remembered places rather than be the results of direct observation.” His paintings illustrate the world as he imagines it rather than as others see it.

 

Spirit of the Dead Watching, 1892

Artist: Paul Gauguin(1848-1903)
© Artchive

 

TahitianWomen, 1891

 
Artist: Paul Gauguin(1848-1903)
© Artchive

 

Van Gogh Painting Sunflowers, 1888

 
Artist: Paul Gauguin(1848-1903)
© Artchive

 

Auguste Rodin (roe-DAN) 1840-1917

Fast Facts

Prior to Rodin, academic sculpture lacked strong expression and sensitivity. Most often it was sentimental and idealized with an understood purpose to delight, inspire or educate. Rodin is the first modernist sculptor to break with that accepted tradition and make sculpture in which the experimental, creative process shows. Like Impressionist painters, Rodin was interested in the play of light on the surface of objects he observed in nature.

 

The Gates of Hell - 1880-89

Artist: Auguste Rodin (1840-1917)
© Artchive

 

The Thinker - 1879-89

Artist: Auguste Rodin (1840-1917)
© Artchive

 

The Burghers of Calais - 1884-86

Artist: Auguste Rodin (1840-1917)
© Artchive

 

The Kiss - 1886

Artist: Auguste Rodin (1840-1917)
© Artchive

 

To contact the instructor or for comments:

kathleen_grisham@westvalley.edu

 

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Kathleen Grisham
Instructor's e-mail address: kathleen_grisham@westvalley.edu
Instructor's homepage:

http://instruct.westvalley.edu/grisham