Marriage a la Mode II: The Tete a Tete works like a meme rather than just a painting. That’s because William Hogarth was more than a mere master painter. He was a writer and satirist with an unabashed bawdiness and humor that made Hogarth an icon. In fact, his work punctuated a significant part of …
What’s the story behind Manet’s painting Mademoiselle V. in the Costume of an Espada?
– Manet’s favorite model dresses the part
– Realness and violence in a blurred background
– A lurking unconscious portrayed in paint
What makes the Juan de Pareja by Diego Velázquez an important painting?
– The enslaved artist follows us with his eyes
– A lace collar tops a soldier’s ensemble
– Preparation for the Pope’s portrait
Why does the simple portrait Black and Brown Blouse by Alex Katz make me want to cry?
– Flat canvas full of feelings
– The unconscious pull of deep relationships
– A proprietary technique stays relevant
Why did Jules Bastien-Lepage paint Joan of Arc in 1879?
– 400 years later – Joan of Arc became a hero
– The 100 years war parallels the Franco-Prussian war
– A saint in the backyard … surrounded by angel messengers
Why does James Whistler not even mention his mother in the painting title Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1. ?
– Rebellion in grey and black planes
– Whistler inherited her cold manner
– He only cared for form and composition