Benjamin Stock

 Romantic vs Realism Art Analysis Romantic Style      My favorite style of artwork from the Romantic era is the Romantic style itself. I appreciate this style for several reasons. One key aspect is the emphasis on individualism that artists were able to convey in their work. This departure from Neoclassicism allowed artists to express their personal feelings and emotions, resulting in unique masterpieces from each creator who embraced this style during that period. "Evening" (1818)  Théodore Géricault - France      Artist Théodore Géricault often allowed his creative impulses to manifest vividly in his work. In his canvas “Evening,” he crafted an idealized Italian landscape that reflects his nostalgia for Italy after returning to Paris. Through a rich palette and dynamic lighting, Géricault conveys his emotional state, creating a dramatic mood that resonates throughout the piece. In this painting, Géricault expresses his mindset through the use of color, light, and line. The

Classical Era - Revolution and Art          The 1700s was a significant era marked by political and social movements that profoundly influenced the histories of both America and Europe. The struggle for independence and liberty during the American Revolution paved the way for self-governance, which in turn inspired the French to seek social equality during the French Revolution. The French established a republic founded on Enlightenment principles, which emphasized the intellect and reason of the human mind. These evolving social and political values were reflected in the artwork of the time. Artists emerged, creating pieces that captured the shifts towards human rights and democracy, moving away from the traditional focus on religion and mythology. They utilized their art to promote critical thinking about the ongoing revolutions. This new artistic movement that dominated the 18th century is known as Neoclassicism. “The Death of Marat” (1793) by Jaques-Louis David in Paris, France   

  Baroque: Descent from the Cross, by Rembrandt, 1634      I chose to focus this blog on the “Descent from the Cross” by Rembrandt. This piece inspired awe in me for a couple of reasons. The first element I noticed in this painting was the lighting and shadows. The painting is relatively dark in color. However, three areas of the painting are lighter than the rest of the piece: Jesus, some other bystanders, and a piece of cloth. According to Brett and Kate McKay in “The Basics of Art: The Baroque Period,” the bystanders in the painting are the faithful women who stood behind Jesus, and the cloth is a shroud in which Jesus will return to life (McKay). Learning about the significance of these three points of focus makes me feel like there is a literal spotlight on them. Drama and theatrically heightened realism characterize the Baroque era, according to Professor Kljiach’s presentation. Therefore, the vividness and energy from the “spotlight” on these focus points invoke a dramatic emoti

  Renaissance Blog  - ‘Vitruvian Man’ (c.1490) by Leonardo Da Vinci      For this blog, I focused on the ‘Vitruvian Man’ by Leonardo Da Vinci. I chose this piece of artwork for a couple of reasons. For one, I have seen this particular drawing in multiple environments in my lifetime, even though I have never seen the original at the Gallerie dell’Accademia Museum in Venice, Italy. Because I knew nothing about the significance of this drawing, it never invoked any emotions about its details or purpose. However, my curiosity about its backstory continuously grew each time I saw it. Now that I have learned more about the significance behind this drawing, I wanted to reflect on it in my blog post so I can see the emotion and information it brought to me that I didn’t have before this class.      The period of when the ‘Vitruvian Man’ was created took place during the Italian Renaissance (c. 1490). Though we are still unsure where this drawing was created, there is a theory that it could of