Post-impressionism

The term 'post-impressionism' was coined by Roger Fry, an english art critic for the works of late 19th-century painters such as Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh. Most post-impressionist began as impressionist but eventually moved on from the limitations of impressionist art to post-impressionism that allowed more ambitious expression.

Post-impressionism moved away from the naturalistic approach and helped bring about two major art movements in cubism and fauvism that looked to bring out emotions through the use of colour and line.

Artist: Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), Netherlands
Art movement: Post-impressionism

Vincent van Gogh believed colour to be the main component of expression. Born to a pastor and brought up in a very religious atmosphere, he was highly emotional and did not have very good self-esteem. His earlier works were very sombre-toned and sharply lit but after moving to Paris in 1886, he was able to tutor under French painter, Fernand Cormon, and his works began to light up.

He was a very temperamental person and his fits of madness and ludicity eventually got him sent to an asylum and eventually commited suicide in 1890. During his lifetime he sold one painting, but has now become one of the most recognisable artists in the world.

Example of artwork

Vase with Twelve Sunflowers, 1889

Elements

Line: Many different types of lines used, for background, vase and flowers
Shape: Many different shapes used.
Direction: Horizontal line used in background, oblique lines used in creating sunflowers to show movement.
Size: Different sunflowers have different sizes.
Texture: Visual
Colour: Bright colours used, mostly a mixture of yellow and red.
Value: Tonal difference not very strong, causing attention to go anywhere on the painting.

Principles

Gradation: Not present.
Repetition: Sunflowers are repeated but all are different.
Contrast: Not very strong, giving the impression there is no centre of attention
Harmony: Colours used are mostly a mixture of yellow and red creating very strong harmony.
Unity: Vase and sunflowers fill up most of the painting, making transition of eyes from one point to another relatively easy.

Irises, Saint-Remy, 1889

Elements

Line: Many different types of lines
Shape: Many different shapes
Direction: Oblique lines used alot, suggesting alot of movement.
Texture: Visual
Colour: Mostly a mix of blue and yellow colours
Value:Not much tonal contrast

Principles

Gradation: Colours become more vivid from left to right
Contrast: Becomes stronger towards the right
Harmony: Similar shapes and colours used throughout
Dominance: A white flower on the left of the painting seems to stand out among all the blue flowers
Unity: Continuous flow of colours and shapes from left to right presents strong unity

Starry Night, 1889

Elements

Line: Many different types of lines used.

Shape: Many different shapes used.
Direction: Vertical lines used for houses but everything else is made of oblique lines which shows alot of movement.
Size: Different stars with different sizes.
Texture: Visual
Colour: Mostly a mix of blue and yellow.

Value: Tonal difference very strong between stars and night sky

Principles

Balance: Huge star on the far right is balanced by many other smaller stars towards the left.
Gradation: Not present
Repetition: Different stars with different sizes, recreating a real night sky.
Contrast: Stars and sky show strong tonal difference, drawing attention toward the upper half of the painting.
Harmony: Circles and oblique lines create a strong sense of harmony."
Dominance: Huge star on the far right adds interest to the painting.
Unity: No visual or tonal link between stars, allowing comfortable visual link.

http://www.artmovements.co.uk/postimpressionism.htm

http://www.vangoghgallery.com/misc/bio.html

http://www.vangoghgallery.com/catalog/Painting/

Conceptual Art

"In conceptual art the idea or concept is the most important aspect of the work. When an artist uses a conceptual form of art, it means that all of the planning and decisions are made beforehand and the execution is a perfunctory affair. The idea becomes a machine that makes the art." - Sol Lewitt

In other words, conceptual art focuses on the concept. The concept, the idea itself drives the art in very unique ways.

Artist: Joseph Kosuth (Jan 31, 1945) American

Art movement: Conceptual art

Joseph Kosuth was a pioneer in the development of conceptual art during the 60's. He analyzed the linguistic nature of art and researched in depth the implications of all aspects of art.

Example of artwork

Here is an example

Elements
Direction: Horizontal, stability
Texture: Physical
Value: Big contrast between words and background, drawing attention only to the sentence

Principles
Contrast: Centered around words and background drawing attention only to the sentence
Harmony: Words in same font

Dominance: Non-existing

Unity: Font and colour of text are the same, suggesting strong unity

Four colours four words

Elements
Direction: Horizontal, stability
Texture: Physical
Colour: 4 different colours each to represent one word, showing difference
Value: The tonal difference between the colour of the text and the background really focuses everything only on the text

Principles
Repetition: The word FOUR is repeated but in different colours, suggesting difference and similarity at the same time
Contrast: Allows focus on text
Harmony: Text has the same font throughout
Dominance: The word FOUR in red colour stands out calling focus to the fact that FOUR is used again
Unity: Difference in colour allows the text to be read easily allowing viewer to examine art piece without making big jumps

One and three frames

Elements
Line: Straight lines used to make frames
Direction: Horizontal, stability
Size: About equal for all 3 frames
Texture: Visual
Value: Varies along the whole art piece, no immediate center of attention

Principles
Gradation: Dark, light, dark, adds a little bit of movement
Repetition: With variation, allowing each frame to be viewed individually without drawing attention away from the art piece as a whole
Harmony: Mix of black, white and gray colour tones, giving a sense of unity yet uniqueness at the same time
Dominance: Non-existing
Unity: Square shaped frames in single file suggests strong unity

References

http://www.ecole-art-aix.fr/article4467.html

http://www.museomadre.it/opere.cfm?id=90

A bit bout me

The name is Johannan Sim. I am a chindian from Melaka currently doing my first year first semester in media studies here in HELP University.

Before I joined the department of communication I registered as a psychology student first. However, after attending a week of classes I began to have doubts about my decision to take psychology. I knew psychology required me to do research and experiments but I had no idea it would be so intense. I talked with a few people about it and eventually decided my talents were better suited for something more creativity based and with prayer I eventually decided to take up media studies.

Honestly I was not expecting this when I signed up for intro to design. Actually I did not know what to expect but it's a good chance to learn and appreciate art and design, see it in a way I have never seen it before.

I aspire to do something different, to change Malaysia in some way and media studies allows me to communicate to the masses in many different ways which would be very useful. As for my dreams, there are many, constantly changing and usually a bit far fetched. For example I sometimes dream of becoming a professional football player, or becoming a rock star or becoming prime minister of Malaysia. However I believe God is looking after me so I need not worry what tomorrow may bring. :D