Museum reviews: Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin, Germany
November 7, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Impressionist
The Alte Nationalgalerie belongs to the Museum Insel museum group in Berlin, Germany. This gallery is dedicated to the nineteenth century paintings and sculptures. The building of the gallery is shaped like a Greek temple that stands apart from the surrounding, which implies that it is a sanctuary for art. Currently, the area surrounding the Alte Nationalgalerie is under renovation which will finish in 2009 so the view is spoiled and access to the gallery is somewhat uncomfortable.
As said above, the collection of the Alte Nationalgalerie features sculptures and paintings of the nineteenth century artists. It starts from the donation of the consul and banker Joachim Wagener, which consists of 262 paintings, to the prince regent of Prussia. Works by German artists are the majority but there are also many works of artists from other European country, notably French. Art pieces representative of important art movements and famous artists of the century such as Thorvaldsen, Menzel or Monet are presented. Apart from the artistic part, this gallery may be of interest to someone who likes history. Many artworks here give a lively feel about life in the 19th century Europe, especially Germany (after all, this is the German national gallery) as artists of Realism or Impressionism were often inspired by real life. They reflect not only the intellectual movements but also social and economic changes. The topics range from important events (the display of a technological achievement, a parade of the prince in Potsdam, etc) to everyday life (portraits of various people, working scene in a factory, etc).
The sections, each of which is dedicated to its respective movement, are arranged such that visitors will be able to tour the evolution of art of the nineteenth century from Classicism to post-Impressionism. The first floor belongs to Classicist sculpture and Realist paintings. The second floor features Idealist, Realist and post-Impressionist artworks. The third floor is the realm of German artists of Classicism and Romanticism. The downside of the Alte Nationalgalerie is that not all titles are translated to English from German. It is only the case of the lesser works though. For the important pieces, the introduction are thorough and proper covering from the history of the piece to its artistic meaning. Another small problem is that in case of the sculptures, sometimes the introduction is not always besides the piece but attached to the wall. Thus it takes time to find the respective introduction of the piece.
Like other museums of the Museum Insel groups, the entrance fee of the Alte Nationalgalerie is eight euros for adults and four for children above six years old and students. Services like coat and bag deposit or refreshment are satisfactory, befitting one of the largest state museum of Germany.
Popular Painting Styles
October 2, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Abstract & Cubism
In painting world there are so many styles that are very popular. But before giving an account of different popular styles we need to know what the term “style” means. In fact, there is not any certain definition of “style”. It may be understood in the aesthetic terms as what to paint or which physical technique implied in painting. Aesthetic movements like realism, romanticism and impressionism belong to this explanation of style. To further understand it, we may say that style is said to be the ways an artist paints and applies colors and texture. The perspective and the way in which an artist looks at the things visible and invisible characterize his or her style.
Scholarly discourse on style has given more technical term “movement” or “school” to which an artist can be associated with. Inclusion of an artist to certain school or movement may be done by the deliberate affiliation of the artist to such movement or by the art historians.
Some of the popular painting styles are discussed under following heads:
Constructivism: This movement had started in Russia in the wake of socialism. It was not purely an art but was a fusion of art and architecture. This movement was principal inspiration in raising many socialist establishments in Russia after the October revolution. Constructivism was on high in the period between 1919 to 1934. The chief proponents of this style of art were Alexander Rodcheckno, Liubov Popava, Vladimir Tatlin and Olga rozanova.
Fauvism: This is painting style in which proponents believed in the use of color as a massive emotional force. This style was marked by expression of feelings in colors with severe roughness and clumsiness. The use of simplified lines to expressively reveal the subject and theme of the painting was also used to be the attempt of the artists. They preferred spontaneity and freshness over the finish in any work of art. Pioneer of this art style was Gustave Moreau.
Classicism: This term refers to the paintings style employed by the ancient Roman and Greek painters. Classicism is characterized by the simplicity and adherence to the basic rules and principles of painting. This art style is refined and elegant, disciplined by order and symmetry. Classicism is unique style which does not encourage self expression and individuality. Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Mantegna were the painters who tried to imitate this ancient style of art.
Besides, there are so many other styles and schools which are significant and have expressed different thoughts and subjects of the self and society in a unique way. Noteworthy of them are- abstract art, aboriginal art, aestheticism, art brut, art nouveau, baroque, Byzantine art, cubism, dada, dragging, encaustic, paintings, expressionism, gothic paintings, impressionism, mannerism, marbling, minimalism, modernism, neoclassicism, orientalism, primitivism, ragging & stippling, realism, spattering, surrealism, symbolism, theorem paintings and wood graining.
To have more comprehensive idea about Popular Painting Styles please visit Ethnic Paintings
Develop Your Artistic Skills In Oil Painting Reproductions
September 28, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Abstract & Cubism
Many artists have left a great legacy through the years. There are several artistic movements that marked the history until the present. The most important are the following: Abstract expressionism, Art deco, Art nouveau, Baroque, Classicism, Conceptual art, Constructivism, Cubism, Expressionism, Fauvism, Futurism, Gothic, Impressionism, Mannerism, Minimalism, Neoclassicism, Pop art, Postimpressionism, Realism, Renaissance, Rococo, Romanticism, Surrealism and Symbolism.
The best Oil Painting Reproductions represented these artistic movements. An important way for learning about paints and art in general is reading about famous painters. This time we will learn something in relation with a famous German Painter. First, don’t forget to buy Oil Painting Reproductions.
Lucas Cranach “the Elder” (born 4 October 1472 – died 16 October 1553) was a German painter, printmaker, engraver and illustrator. Cranach was one of principal old masters of the Northern Renaissance. He established the Danube school, and became renowned for his erotic nudes and portraits. His father was also an artist, so he like that his son follow his footsteps.
Besides his artistic abilities, Lucas was a smart businessman too; he had a chemist shop for many years. It was between 1500 and 1504 while he lived in Vienna where he painted portraits. Cranach painted dozens of portraits during his life. Among his main paintings we can mention the following: The Crucifixion (1502), Portrait of Dr. Johannes Cuspinian (1502), Rest on the Flight to Egypt (1504), Venus and Cupid (1509), Portrait of Henry the Devout of Saxony (1514), Portrait of Martin Luther (1553), The Fountain of Youth (1546), Judith with the head of Holofernes (1530), Cupid Complaining to Venus (1530) and The Melancholy (1553).
Find artworks of Lucas Cranach in Oil Painting Reproductions.