Art Social Consciousness

Many attribute the evolution of the French revolution as the catalyst for redirection of the style of artwork from Baroque and Rococo to Neoclassical and Romanticism. Two leading masterpieces that support this aspect are respectively: Jacques-Louis David, Oath of the Horatii, (c. 1784) and Eugène Delacroix, Liberty Leading the People, (c. 1830). As commented in Essential Humanities (2016), the French revolution “in all its heroic glory and grisly destruction” (par. 10) is masterfully portrayed in Delacroix 's personification of liberty. In addition, the summons for commitment to the cause of freedom is classically rendered in David 's vow of victory or death. Within this essay both of these paintings are examined in regards to their connection to the French revolution.

This paintings powerful message can clearly be seen to the viewer, especially culturally when we see the torn up Constitution of the United States in the background, representing a “free-for-all” on this day as our American beliefs did not matter to the terrorists. We also see the diversity between the three suffering women in handcuffs, showing that this tragedy hit everyone, but we were all bound together as Americans. The visual claims that this event truly was horrific and shows the absolute loss of innocence throughout our nation on this one day. The hands of the men especially show the suffering and anguish our nation felt, as they are deformed, projecting their pain onto the viewer. This work specifically reflects a historical moment in American history in that it depicts the events of September 11th. However, it also shows the future that is to come with the old man who survived passing the information of these events onto the young innocently blindfolded girl on the bottom right. Clearly, this piece is superficial in the sense where it comments on one event, but it also goes deeper, showing the aftermath and actions to come for the American

Art is not always pleasant, but neither is society. Art and society have a reflective relationship with one another. During social, religious, and political controversy, artists such as Frida Kahlo incorporated imagery into their portraits of society which are often disturbing to the viewer. The role of an artist often includes acting as a social critic, to show us aspects of our cultural landscape that are unpleasant. In this manner, the art acts as a commentary on the negative aspects of Western civilisation. During the thirties and forties, Kahlo incorporated the hidden realities of economic and social depression into her works.

Most pieces of art have a deeper meaning than what is simply expressed on the surface. Through emotions, symbols, and motifs, an artist can portray a unique story; however, despite the use of creative symbols, distinct stories can show a similar theme. Two such examples are the short film Destino by Salvador Dali and Walt Disney and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which share the common theme of “the struggle of obtaining dreams”. Based on what is shown in these works of art, it is a challenge to attain dreams.

The front of the painting shows three African American men in the time of the Harlem Renaissance. Each of the men are doing something different. Near the three men, are factories blowing out smoke. In the lower right hand corner, a man is being held back and dragged down by what seems to be a hand made from the smoke, showing that he is still doing work that he does not want to do. Below him are cotton fields, where slaves used to have to work and do hard labor with little to no pay. The man on the bottom left side is shown to also have the hand by him, watching his moves. He is in a pose where he is frustrated and seems to have given up on his dreams. Closer to the center, higher up, stands a third man, playing a saxophone. Music can symbolize freedom and awakening. Along the outer edges of the painting, the colors are dark browns, reds, and oranges. As the focus is drawn closer to the center, lighter colors such as yellow. Darkness, as an archetype, represents despair and the unknown while lightness shows hope, renewal and intelligence. The goals of success, exuberancy, and harmony showed hope and renewal in change in

The paintings were “not meant to be mundane,” but rather express deep emotions for the first time since escaping slavery as they endeavour to cope with everyday economic and social struggles (Chambliss). In turn, authors and writers concluded the significance of the black culture as equally important as the white culture. A prominent writer, Zora Neale Hurston was one of many authors who centralized her writings on African American culture and women’s search for identity during the Harlem Renaissance.

The two artists that I have chosen are: Pablo Picasso "Guernica" and Eugene Delacroix "Liberty Leading the people". Eugene Delacroix was born in France and was under the strict mentor ship of Pierre Guerin (Przybylek, 1). When Delacroix was seventeen, he began to pursue his studies at the Rouen and under the strict membership of Guerin; he quickly lost interest in neoclassical style and began to pursue Romanticism. Romanticism can be defined as," the movement in nineteenth-century European culture, concerned with the power of the imagination and greatly valuing intense feeling"(DeWitte Larmann Shields, 405). Romanticism was used to describe the conflict of the European and American Revolution. Romanticism was used to challenge the current state of society. "Liberty Leading the People", embodies the sacrifices of a changing society. Delacroix uses an oil medium that is supported by a canvas (Artble, 1). To use an oil as medium gives the piece "a rich luminosity that captivates the emotions of the viewer"(DeWitte Larmann Shields, 186).

French Romanticism developed relatively late because of Neoclassicism being rooted in French art and especially in the society’s structure. Eugène Delacroix’s painting Liberty Leading the People depicts the July Revolution of 1830. Parisian coup d'état resulted in Charles X dethroning and replacement with Louis-Phillipe, the “citizen-king.” Although the painting is historical, it is full of contrasting human emotion, a fundamental characteristic of French Romanticism. In the foreground despair is represented by human death of both sides of the battle. In the central figure, Liberty, an allegorical symbol of freedom, shows grand heroism. Delacroix’s use of brilliant and shocking primary colors opposes classicism’s use of color as subordinate and of subtle modulation. The Death of Sardanapalus by Eugène

This piece that I have chosen has many different identifications some may know it as “The Rising Up” some may know it as “The Revolt”. This painting was based on the boat that carried the slaves from one country to the next called the La Amistad. This painting presents the moment in the movie Amistad named after the boat, where the slaves were speaking in creole about how they were going to escape. Once they got the courage, they attacked the shipmates and demand the caption to take them back to Africa. This painting captures all of that.

As you see in most of the paintings countless lives were lost and they probably knew it wasn’t going to end well either they die or be victim of heinous act thus knew they had nothing to lose so keep fighting for your liberty and for life. From the mother probably having to sacrifice not eating so her children can maybe eat a tooth sized portion of food to the girl with the pins stabbed into her to the Spanish resisters gave it all for themselves. They knew that maybe they physically lost but not mentally which means they were strong than ever going through such disasters. This should motivate us especially if we have everything to succeed and don’t have to face what they had to face to help ourselves out through the power of education and then help them.

The ideas, styles and concepts of the piece influenced by Neil Shieg with his linocut artwork of the homeless. His linocut techniques were inspired me, which his artwork detailed demonstrated the face features and successfully created feelings. His artwork provoked my emotions, as I felt related and connected to the homeless. The way Neil Shieg delivered the messages was also inspired me. He cleverly turned the thing that was forgotten in society to a meaningful image. My piece was also inspired by Teemu Maki’s skilful technique in the African Queen. Study African Queen also supported me in sending the messages since its theme and theme that I aimed for my final piece are quite similar, in which both of them discuss the sacrifices of a woman.

In both photographs I think that the artists were trying to make a point and break the social norms to which people had followed for many years. I do consider these as being work of arts. One reason why I think they are art works is because the artist went on and beyond the social norms of traditional western artworks and they’re for allowing them to express what they wanted. In both art works the artist were not satisfied with how certain systems and institution functioned in regards at to what was appropriate and not appropriate. In the case of Beuys’ artwork he tried to emphasize that need to be a balance between nature and culture. Beuys is shown with a to be wearing a gold leaf mask and honey that covers his skin, he also has a dead hare

After an introduction about the honor it is to be presenting at the Jefferson Lecture, McCullough first shifts his attention to the darkest memory he possesses. He recalls when Hitler’s seemingly unstoppable army had basically reached the coast of America and the havoc it reeked on the people. Proceeding a short, but important excerpt dealing with power of human hope or spirit; the focus is shifted to Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence. Ironically, McCullough explains, the popular painting seen by virtually every American never even occurred.

Since these French Romantic paintings have been discussed for centuries, they also have deep influences on French people and society. In France society, the various classes can be recognized by the clothes they are wearing. In Eugène Delacroix’s “Liberty Leading the People”, the young boy, the representative Parisian street urchin, positioned on the right hand side of the painting epitomizes political awareness, for he takes his destiny in hands. (Curatorialintern, 2010) The street urchin’s figure seems to illustrate the character named “Gavroche” in Les Misérables, which is written by Victor Hugo. Therefore, it is widely believed that this character—“Gavroche”, is inspired by Eugène Delacroix’s “Liberty Leading the People”. In addition, some

The revolutions of 1830 and 1848 sparked a steady stream of political artwork showing scenes of battle and rebellious uprising. Eugene Delacroix’s portrait of Liberty Leading the People, 29 July 1830 reflects the events of the French banded together from varying classes in battle following a bare breasted Liberty. Ernest Meissonier’s painting The Barricade in Rue Mortellerie, Paris, June 1848 is a sad image of a drab Parisian street with dead revolutionaries as a result of social class fighting.