Nature Transformed (Part 1)

Introduction to Nature and Art

• Artists often transform nature in their works rather than simply depicting landscapes.

• This transformation reflects the artists' personal connections and needs.

Japanese Prints

• The concept of Ukiyo (floating world) represents fleeting moments captured in art.

• Mount Fuji is a significant symbol in Japanese art, particularly when it turns red (known as Red Fuji).

  • Example: Hokusai's print of Red Fuji captures this rare moment.

• The Great Wave off Kanagawa (Hokusai, 1830) illustrates Mount Fuji subtly in the background, emphasizing the enormous waves.

  • The wave appears monstrous and dominates the image, conveying danger to fishermen.

• Sudden Gust of Wind at Ajiri (Hokusai) showcases rhythm within the composition, leading viewers’ eyes through the artwork.

Bonsai Trees

• Bonsai, pronounced as "bone-sah" instead of "bon-sai," originated in China and was adopted in Japan.

• This art form involves growing trees in pots to create miniature versions of nature.

• Training bonsai involves various techniques, including wiring branches and careful pruning to shape the trees.

• Bonsai trees can be thousands of years old and are valued as national treasures in Japan.

  • The Hiroshima Bonsai, a survivor of the atomic bomb, exemplifies this heritage.

  • Crespi Ficus, around 1000 years old, resides in Italy.

  • John Naka, a prominent American artist, popularized bonsai art in the U.S. post-WWII.

Artists Exploring Nature's Meaning

• Caspar David Friedrich: A German artist known for conveying the insignificance of humans amidst nature.

  • Monk by the Sea (1810) portrays a solitary figure against a vast sea, emphasizing isolation.

  • Abbey Among the Oak Trees depicts nature reclaiming human structures, reflecting a dark, moody atmosphere.

• Joseph Mallord William Turner: An English artist who focused on light and its influence on landscapes.

  • His earlier works included standard landscapes, but he shifted toward innovative color and light in the 1830s.

  • The Burning of the Houses of Parliament: Captures a moment of chaos with vibrant color and light rather than clear detail.

  • The Slave Ship (1840) shows the horror of slavery through disaster and dramatic color, leading to increasingly abstract forms.

Transition to Impressionism

• Claude Monet: A pivotal figure in Impressionism, his work embodies pure impressionism, focusing on light and color.

  • His Impression, Sunrise (1872) is acclaimed as the origin of the Impressionist movement, emphasizing evident brush strokes and capturing reflections rather than local colors.

• Five characteristics of Monet's paintings:

  1. Reflected Color: Prioritizes colors reflected from surrounding objects.

  2. Instant Vision: Aims to capture fleeting moments of light and atmosphere.

  3. No Blending: Utilizes distinct brush strokes without blending colors.

  4. Natural Light Effects: Almost all paintings are done outdoors, reflecting natural lighting conditions.

  5. Subject Matter: Only paints what he sees directly

Monet's Series and Techniques

• Monet preferred to work in series to document changing light conditions over time.

  • Examples include his Haystacks and Rouen Cathedral series, where consistent composition allows focus on color and light changes.

• His gardens at home became favorite subjects, leading him to focus primarily on water lilies and their reflections in water.

Late Impressionism and Abstraction

• Monet's late works show further abstraction, where form begins to dissolve into color.

• His Water Lilies series become increasingly abstract, with later pieces displaying an almost non-representational exploration of color and light.

Post-Impressionism

• Georges Seurat: Known for pointillism, a technique of using tiny dots of color, producing luminous effects.

  • A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte exemplifies this approach, focusing on scientific theories of perception.

• Paul Cézanne: Focused on form and structure, challenging traditional perspective.

  • His still life works often depict objects from multiple viewpoints, emphasizing the two-dimensional nature of painting.

Pablo Picasso and Cubism

• Pablo Picasso revolutionized modern art by challenging perspective and depth in paintings.

  • His work Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907) disregards traditional perspective, presenting figures in fragmented forms influenced by African art and earlier styles.

• Picasso's approach marked a shift toward abstraction, questioning how art represents reality, laying the groundwork for Cubism.

Conclusion and Upcoming Topics

• The exploration of nature through art led to the evolution of various styles from Impressionism to Cubism.

• The next session will further discuss Picasso and Cubism.