Literature and the Humanities
A Comparative and Contrasting Analysis of:
“Impressionism”
&
“The Harlem Renaissance”
By:
Sean Roberts
Comparing Art periods is subjective by nature; which allows for a multitude of interpretations. Art originates in the minds of the Artists; influences to an Artist’s work can be attributed to myriad factors. Examples of such factors are: Ethnicity, Culture, Social Class, Life Experiences, Politics of a time period and maybe most influential are an individual’s personality traits.
The two Art Periods compared herein are Impressionism and The Harlem Renaissance. First covered will be Impressionism, which developed in the 19th Century; and originated in Paris, France. There are many Artists associated with Impressionism; however the most closely associated with Impressionism is Claude Monet. Like most popular and provoking art; Monet’s work sparked controversy within the Art Community of the time. It was a Monet painting which named the era; initially this work (figure 1) received negative criticism and is entitled: “Soleil Levant” – French “Impression Sunrise” – English. It’s not un-common for new ideas and concepts to be negatively criticized in the beginning.
“Louis Leroy was a French 19th century engraver, painter, and successful playwright. However; he is remembered as the journalist and art critic for the French satirical newspaper “Le Charivari” who coined the term “impressionists” to satrise the artists not known by the word. Leroy’s review was printed in “Le Charivari on 25 April 1874 with the title “The Exhibition of the Impressionists”.
The term was taken from Claude Monet’s painting “Impression: soleil levant”. Leroy’s article took the form of a dialogue between two skeptical viewers of the work”. Leroy’s exact quote is: “Impression I was certain of it. I was just telling myself that, since I was impressed, there had to be some impression in it – and what freedom, what ease of workmanship! A
“Impressionism”
&
“The Harlem Renaissance”
By:
Sean Roberts
Comparing Art periods is subjective by nature; which allows for a multitude of interpretations. Art originates in the minds of the Artists; influences to an Artist’s work can be attributed to myriad factors. Examples of such factors are: Ethnicity, Culture, Social Class, Life Experiences, Politics of a time period and maybe most influential are an individual’s personality traits.
The two Art Periods compared herein are Impressionism and The Harlem Renaissance. First covered will be Impressionism, which developed in the 19th Century; and originated in Paris, France. There are many Artists associated with Impressionism; however the most closely associated with Impressionism is Claude Monet. Like most popular and provoking art; Monet’s work sparked controversy within the Art Community of the time. It was a Monet painting which named the era; initially this work (figure 1) received negative criticism and is entitled: “Soleil Levant” – French “Impression Sunrise” – English. It’s not un-common for new ideas and concepts to be negatively criticized in the beginning.
“Louis Leroy was a French 19th century engraver, painter, and successful playwright. However; he is remembered as the journalist and art critic for the French satirical newspaper “Le Charivari” who coined the term “impressionists” to satrise the artists not known by the word. Leroy’s review was printed in “Le Charivari on 25 April 1874 with the title “The Exhibition of the Impressionists”.
The term was taken from Claude Monet’s painting “Impression: soleil levant”. Leroy’s article took the form of a dialogue between two skeptical viewers of the work”. Leroy’s exact quote is: “Impression I was certain of it. I was just telling myself that, since I was impressed, there had to be some impression in it – and what freedom, what ease of workmanship! A