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Topic #461
Who is your favorite artist? (Painting, photo, sculpture…)
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Back in 2018, the question of what are my top five favorite pieces of art (paintings) was asked. Time changes everyone and everything, but I have remained consistent on the matter of my top Artist. That’s either because I don’t have a lot of time to explore art, or the art I have run across has not made such an impression upon me as these works have. Some pieces are just a comfort we hold onto.
Coming from a European background, and the way the world has been so Eurocentric, it isn’t a surprise to me that my favorite artist or artists (there are two) are male and French. French food also has a deep hold on me. Hopefully, someday, I can get to visit on a vacation and take in the sights, or see the paintings in person, and stuff my face to my heart’s content. That would be amazing.
My favorite artist is Van Gogh, but the artist whose paintings I like in numbers is Bouguereau, If you click the link above, you can see two of the paintings, one by each of these artists, that top my list. Nothing surprising there. So, what is it that attracts me to these images?
For Van Gogh, Starry Night makes me think of my dreams, which inspired my books. His use of blue tones really appeals. It’s my favorite color. Further, it’s the details, the choice of brush strokes that when observed closely seem like lines and dots you’d find on a petri dish or something. However, when you step back, these lines and dots create a clear picture. A lot of texture, like a blanket or needlepoint. Have you ever stood outside on a starry night and observed the world? Does it look tapestry like to you?
Recently, I learned that Van Gogh is believed to have been color blind. A subset of men fall into this category, and observe the world differently than we do. Thus, Van Gogh’s work is a window into this difference. I find that fascinating, and it explains much of the tonal uses in his work. Think about that for a moment. Recall all the paintings you know by him, and you’ll see the blue and yellow tones repeated over and over in their varied richness. I highly recommend the article linked, as it will show you the paintings has Van Gogh may have seen them, and how the lines and dots smooth further, creating a softer shift in color and texture.
Did you know that Starry Night was painted the same month (not year, don’t be silly) in which I was born? More facts about Starry Night at this link.
Now, flipping over to Bouguereau you’ll find a far more realistic world depicted. This fascinates me. I love art that is difficult to discern from photographs–such as pencil drawings. The amount of skill that takes blows me away. The human brain is a fascinating computer. Bouguereau is still clearly a painter. That said, he captures images that provide a window on how people saw themselves, or he saw them in his time. Photography was still a developing art (starting in the 1000s with the camera obscura). For some reason, this technology took us quite a while to perfect.
In the meantime, painting and drawing were achievable methods of capturing the real world on paper. Just as we see artists capable of photo-realistic art today, so were some artist in times gone by. As you know, not everything survives the ravages of time, so we will not be able to assert with absolute certainty when photography and photorealism became a thing and by who. Archaeology is still digging things up. Remember, many of us authors are fading into obscurity day by day, as we have not put enough copies out in the world to increase the probability of them being discovered later.
Regardless, these two have vastly different styles which were at odds in the art world as far as favor. Both are interesting because of their history and skill, and I love comparing them, as they occupied the same time frame. If you’re not aware, I have a special place in my heart for the aesthetic of this period. Wildly, there was quite a bit that was deadly despite the beauty. Use this search suggestion to explore the many ways in which the era was fraught with danger.
Van Gogh, unlike Bouguereau, was not nearly as popular in his time. So, the amount of preserved works is higher for Bouguereau. Not to mention how popularity can boost productivity. Van Gogh suffered depression and frustration in creating his art. He was not respected until after his passing. Bouguereau enjoyed an academic station that helped catapult his work to respect among peers and students.
Thanks for taking the time to look at my favorite artists with me and exploring why they’re so interesting, as well as what drew me to them. Click on the links below to further explore the art that appeals to the authors on the Open Book Blog Hop. Don’t forget to drop your email into my subscription box to have this hop delivered to your inbox each Friday. See you next time!
I like Van Gogh’s paintings too. I didn’t know he was colour blind.
Just incredible to think about.
That is so interesting that Van Gogh may have been color blind. I think at the very least he had a color vision deficiency that may have influenced his expressionistic style and the use of complimentary colors side by side.
I agree! That adds a whole new layer to the work.
It’s sad that there are no many artists and authors whose imprint on the world will fade so quickly.
I wasn’t familiar with Bouguereau. Thanks for the new artist to look up! @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
Enjoy! He’s brilliant. Check out his wife, too. they painted similarly and used a lot of the same models. She’s extremely talented but gets less credit.