Art Gallery Visit

After days of looking at paitings in class and was able to see pieces of arts by famous artists through slides and understand different movements of arts, I thought that I have a feelings and knowledge of what art is about. However, after the visit to the art gallery, I was able to get the feeling of how it is to be looking at the works of artists in a museum or gallery. Looking at paintings in a classroom through a projector or pictures in book only give me an image of what the paintings look like through colors and concept of the paintings. On the other hand, looking at paintings in a gallery further my understanding of the concept of art through the detailed work done by the artists. Furthermore stepping into a gallery give me the feeling of realism and look at real pieces of arts by artists make me become more curious and examine the detail work done by the artists better.

I have three favorite pieces during my visit to the gallery. The first one is "Washing Away" by Trang Nguyen is an example of realism painting because of it detailed value, color, and subject along with the historical content of the castle in the background. My second favorite is "Youth Today" by Kevin Weines is an example of Impressionism and a bit of realism in it. It has the content that describes the youth of the 21st century and it's a satire of the 21st century. The last piece that I like is "shoes" I like this piece because of it detailed pencil work by the artist and it reminds me of Chardin's work, this piece has the still image of a pair of Converse shoes just like Chardin's (the artist who couldn't draw subjects that move) work.

Out of the three pieces that I like, the photographic piece is my favorite. "Youth Today" has the satire of the 21st century and a strong content. It has a lot of emotions in it. Simliar to Hogarth's Marriage Contract, which was the satire of the England society on the 1800s.

Degas Ballet Class

One of the famous artists of the impressionism movement. Edgar Degas, a French artist who even though was an aritst of Impressionism, he refused and preferred to be a realist. This "ballet class" by Degas was preferred as the most realistic piece which has the movement of the ballet dancers even though it lacks the balance of the subjects in the peice. This relates to the 21st centutry through its realism and the movements were so real which shows emotions to the viewers. It also has the realist feelings through the baclground and the subjects that connect to the 21st century.

Boating at Argenteuil

One of the earliest artist of the movement of Modern Realism was Edouard Manet, French artist who adopted the philopsphy of Baudelaire's and used it in his paintings. Boating at Argenteuil, done by Manet with the idea to shows the society of modern life. Painted in the 1870s, Manet painted a well dressed woman with a man who is dress like an ordinary person is talking with a woman in a place for rich people. Manet's goal was to show a connection of how people should face the reality, that is the beginnning of a mixed society between the rich and poor.

In the modern society, especially in the US, people can work for the whole year and will have money to spend their vacation anywhere they want. This is the connection between the society back then and the modern society. Before the poor were not allowed to be with the well off people and step into wealthy places. Manet had shows a new society in this painting and this represents Baudelaire's philosophy really well.