Painting style
In art and painting, style can refer either to the aesthetic values followed in choosing
what to paint (and how) or to the physical techniques employed. An aesthetic
movement - such as Realism, Romanticism, Impressionism - can promote an entire
world view, a way of interpreting reality and deciding which parts of it are worth
observing and/or emphasizing, as well as to what extent the artists' emotions are
expressed. Some of these movements are closely associated with certain techniques,
such as Pointillism, while others are more flexible, but each has a characteristic
"look" that becomes more and more distinctive as it develops until it reaches a
saturation point, paving the way for the next style.
By changing the way they paint, apply colour, texture, perspective, or the way they
see shapes and ideas, the artist establishes a certain set of "rules". If other artists see
the rules as valid for themselves they might also apply these characteristics. The
works of art then take on that specific "style". An artist may give the style a name
such as "Expressionism", or a name may be applied later, as in the case of "abstract
art". In "1984", contemporary artist Josignacio gives to the painting technique a new
and revolutionary way of making, introducing Plastic Paint Medium, technique that
reflect a new visual effect.
Realism (arts)
Realism in the visual arts and literature is the depiction of subjects as they appear in
everyday life, without embellishment or interpretation. The term is also used to
describe works of art which, in revealing a truth, may emphasize the ugly or sordid.
Realism also refers to a mid-19th century cultural
movement with its roots in France, where it was a very
popular art form around the mid to late 1800’s. It came
about with the introduction of photography - a new
visual source that created a desire for people to produce
things that look “objectively real”. Realism was heavily
against romanticism, a genre dominating French
literature and artwork in the mid 19th century.
Undistorted by personal bias, Realism believed in the
ideology of objective reality and revolted against
exaggerated emotionalism. Truth and accuracy became
the goals of many Realists.
Wanderer above the sea of fog by Caspar David Friedrich
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Romanticism
Romanticism is an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in 18th
century Western Europe. In part a revolt against aristocratic, social, and political
norms of the Enlightenment period and a reaction against
the rationalization of nature, in art and literature it stressed
strong emotion as a source of aesthetic experience, placing
new emphasis on such emotions as trepidation, horror, and
the awe experienced in confronting the sublimity of nature.
It elevated folk art, nature and custom, as well as arguing
for an epistemology based on nature, which included
human activity conditioned by nature in the form of
language, custom and usage. It was influenced by ideas of
the Enlightenment and elevated medievalism and elements
of art and narrative perceived to be from the medieval
period. The name "romantic" itself comes from the term
"romance" which is a prose or poetic heroic narrative
originating in medieval literature and romantic literature.
The ideologies and events of the French Revolution are
thought to have influenced the movement. Romanticism
elevated the achievements of what it perceived as
misunderstood heroic individuals and artists that altered
society. It also legitimized the individual imagination as a
critical authority which permitted freedom from classical
notions of form in art. There was a strong recourse to
historical and natural inevitability in the representation of
its ideas.
Impressionism.
Impressionism was a 19th century art movement that began as a loose association of
Paris-based artists, who began exhibiting their art publicly in the 1860s. The name of
the movement is derived from the title of a Claude Monet work, Impression, Sunrise
(Impression, soleil levant), which provoked the critic Louis Leroy to coin the term in
a satiric review published in Le Charivari.
Characteristics of Impressionist painting include visible brushstrokes, open
composition, emphasis on light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects
of the passage of time), ordinary subject matter, and unusual visual angles.
The emergence of Impressionism in the visual arts was soon followed by analogous
movements in other media which became known as Impressionist music and
Impressionist literature.
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Impressionism also describes art created in this style, but outside of the late 19th
century time period
Expressionism
Portrait of Eduard Kosmack by Egon Schiele
Rehe im Walde by Franz Marc
"Elbe Bridge I" by Rolf Nesch
"On White II" by Wassily Kandinsky, 1923
"View of Toledo" by El Greco, 1595/1610 has been pointed out to bear a particularly striking
resemblance to 20th century expressionism. Historically speaking it is however part of the Mannerism
movement.
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The Scream by Edvard Munch (1893) which inspired 20th century Expressionists
Expressionism is the tendency of an artist to distort reality for an emotional effect; it
is a subjective art form. Expressionism is exhibited in many art forms, including
painting, literature, theatre, film, architecture and music. Additionally, the term often
implies emotional angst – the number of cheerful expressionist works is relatively
small.
In this general sense, painters such as Matthias Grünewald and El Greco can be called
expressionist, though in practice, the term is applied mainly to 20th century works.
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