Summary - Impressionism, Japanisme, Orientalism, Brutalism
Impressionism
1855 - Gustav Courbet started his own gallery by building his own pavillion, he called it the "Painters Studio". His painting, "the Allegory", was considered a masterpiece and was one of the primary reasons for Courbet to begin his exhibition. This came about after the French Art Acadamy of the time rejected 2500 paintings for its annual exhibition. Napolean the III got involved, the ruler at the time and suggested that artist such as Courbet (brisque) should be entitled to exhibit their art. The Academy refused the head of state and so the "Salon des Refuses" was started, this was a rival place for the popular annual "Salon" viewing. ref. "A Real Allegory" by Kennith Clarke, artchive.com and Wikipedia "Salon Des Refuses"
The Allegory
Through changes within the French government and the artworld, Impressionism was born. A defining moment at an exhibition was created as a critic described one of Monet's paintings as unfinished, stating “Wallpaper in its embryonic state is more finished than that seascape.” (quoted Tess notes, Wikipedia on Monet’s Impression painting)
A lot of the different art movement happened as an indirect change in government or social structure including war. The Impressionist artists including Cezanne, Monet, Renoir and Sisley exhibited 8 times over 30 years. Their unity was essential to the movement. Otherwise the alternative was structure and rigidity from the Art Acadamie, hope for a spot on their wall and struggle on until you were noticed. It seems this exhibition at well know photographers, Felix Nadar, was a revolution in the art world, because the pieces were no longer being censored by the Academe, so bright vibrant colours and nudes etc were allowed. The exhibiton also changed the way art would be shown in the future, people starting up their own exhibitions in groups, in their own space. ref. impressionism.org.
Japanisme
The term Japonisme was coined by Phillipe Burty published in a french local rag, classifying it to all things Japanese. After the treaty of Kanagawawas signed in 1854, which ended sanctions on anything Japanese, Japanese Art started to flood the Western Art world.
Popular Wood block prints like the one below were being re-created by Western Artists
Popular western Artists were intrigued with Japanese art, usually becoming collectors in their own right. Van Gough first saw Japanese Art in Antwerp in 1885 and bought a few pieces. In 1886, Van Gogh's brother Theo, who ran an art gallery in Paris, put him in contact with a famous Japanese Artist Ukiyo-e. A slight co-incidence that an art gallery called, the Bing Gallery, was next door to Van gogh's apartment in Paris. They were a major supplier of Japanese Art and Vincent bought several of Ukiyo-e's works. ref Artlino.com
Primitivism
Primitivism is defined as by the online dictionary.com:
a recurrent theory or belief, as in philosophy or art, that the qualities of primitive or chronologically early cultures are superior to those of contemporary civilization.
The Primitivism scene was best known for its exotic scenes and wildlife. Africa was being invaded by the white colonies and the art world was standing up and taking notice. Bright colours and animals were the main focus of the artist.The artist concentrated on simple forms but provided a real edge with emotional undertone conveyed in their painitings.
Henri Rousseu's image "Gypsy", shows a lion sniffing out a sleeping gypsy....
Changing Social Conditions
As society became more industrialised art stopped being about the elitist and became more mainstream, offering a fresh and raw view on the art world. With the existence of photography came a new debate about art work being copied and the legitimacy as photography as an art form. This could be looked at from a positive painters view point though, providing painters no need to capture the easily captured through film therefore concentrating on broader art forms.
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