T: Starry Night

A: Vincent Van Gogh

D: 1889

Vincent Van Gogh was born in Groot-Zundert, Holland on March 30, 1853. Although Van Gogh was upbrought from very religious parents, he was highly emotional and had very low self-esteem. When Van Gogh decided to pursue a career in art, he was devastated by 2 failed romances and had poor jobs at the time. After studying in Britain and meeting artists like Monet, Pissarro, and Gaugin, and working in Paris, Van Gogh began to lighten his very dark palette and to paint in the short brushstrokes of the Impressionists. He didn't really associate with many due to his anxiety problems. Later on, Van Gogh and Gaugin faced problems and Van Gogh attacked him with a razor but ended up cutting his own ear off. He later went to a treatment center and two months after release he shot himself "for the good of all". 

By 1886 Critics had accepted impressionists as artists, but most had felt the movement was at an end. Post impressionists felt that impressionists neglected formal elements too much. During this period, there is not just one specific style. Artists become the principal style. Some artistswere more emotional/ representational than others. We see many concepts of internalization,personal understanding of the world. There was much experiment between artists and their art.

This image represents Van Gogh's view of the world. The symbolism from his point of view is that this landscape is from his room at the mental treatment hospital he stayed at. This image is usually seen as bright, but it was meant to be gloomy, knowing the type of character he had. There is a persuasive use of blue to identify with his mood of depression. Van Gogh expressed himself most in the night sky; the idea of this was getting across his perspective of the questionable world( also known as his own inner turmoils).

I feel this is related to today's society because of all the questions in today's society. We have many loosing their minds, found in dark oxygen-less boxes, people who can't deal with their emotional problems. They don't all paint images all in blue, but we have really high suicide rates. Like Van Gogh, and his representations of the world , people become antisocial and don't see themselves as a part of the world and tend to isolate themselves.

1. http://www.vangoghgallery.com/
2. 03.18.14 Impressionism Notes

Napoleon Enthroned

A: Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres
T: Napoleon I on his Imperial Throne
D: 1806
L: Musee de l’Armee, Paris
Bio Of Ingres: Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres was introduced to art through his father which passed the culture of art to Ingres since he was the most talented. Beggining his career, many of his works were known to be controversial, throughtout his whole career his works were harshly criticized by claiming that his art didn't fit in with the normal culture. Ingres was'nt a great fan of commissioned works, yet those were his best art form.
Brief Description Of Ramanticism: The Romanticism era was meant to capture the inner emotion. During this period in time, there were many technological advances that made artists want to depict the spirit of the external natural world. There were manypolitical and social upheavals and revolutions in society which involved many painters in revolutionary movements and started a solicitude toward the helpless and downtrodden that found most passionate and powerful expression in the works presented.
Personal Explanation: I honestly liked the fact that Napoleon used appropriation on point. As we have seen in past styles like the Baroque or Rococo, we saw a lot of playfulness but now Napoloeon brought back many old concepts that actually play a serious role into emphasizing his power and dominance.
Connection to Modern World: This is really identifyable with today's art. I see this especially with rap artists. They sit on these chairs as to seem like thrones. They all want to compete for the title of best rapper, but in this case they want to show off their riches and fame, they want to seem more dominant and more famous than others.
Resources: 

• http://www.artble.com/artists/jean_auguste_dominique_ingres/more_information/biography
• 3/6/14 Romanticism Reading Notes