Introduction to Modern Art and Visual Culture of France - Essay Example

Modern Art and Visual Culture in 18 th and 19 th Century France One of the greatest forms of expression aside from verbal would be through visual. This is a strong form of expression used to depict things that are beyond words. Today, it is more known to be as art. Art is one of the strongest forms of expression that could depict any kind of emotion, criticism, or perhaps exaltation. And one of the greatest depictions of modern and visual art would belong to the 18 th and 19 th century France.

Some of the works that were so famous during the 18 th and 19 th century France would be the interpretation of Roger Fry on Bloomsbury. You can see that in his work he depicted leisure in such a way that would tell greatly of the influences of the post impressionism movement where it was full of passion towards advanced and avant-garde French art that was centered on analysis of sensation and consciousness. His art was known for as subjects for passionate contemplation and communion which translates to aesthetic experience and pursuit of knowledge.

This is because of the fact that during “Post Impressionism” people have already reached advanced knowledge. Aside from that, his art also has a lot of influence from the social class he belonged to as he was one of the prominent members of the Bloomsbury group thus, his life was all about limitless enjoyment of modern life and enjoyment of utmost knowledge and technology. Another popular art that portrayed leisure in the 18 th and 19 th century France would be “Madame Matisse” by Henri Matisse.

This was the painting he used to portray his wife where you can see the influences of what social class they belonged to in society, and at the same time reflecting political and social environment. In this painting, you will see how his wife was portrayed as a rich woman having full of contrasts of different colors. Aside from that, the fact that during the post impressionist movement, there was pure anarchy thus reflecting vivid, thick application of paint that will reflect the strong feelings against the government and political power s during that time.

Charles Lebrun is also a famous painter whose work showed a lot about what was happening in France during the 18 th to the 19 th century. He was a bureaucrat and also a civil servant. Looking at his painting which is the “Franche-Comte Conquered for the Second Time”, you will see how this has a lot to do with political struggles as they were facing a lot of which during his time. He chose a compositional requirement rather than a discursive one which means one could read a story from out of his paintings.

In this work, he was able to show the hidden stories behind the politics and at the same time the strong people who ruled over the weaker ones. He portrayed leisure in a way that involves much movement as this was the time when people were involved in vast preparations and irregular marches because of political conspiracy. The art in the 18 th and 19 th century, though are different would have similarities or connections. The 18 th century French art would portray mostly post impressionist point of view where art would portray scientific interest through colors and lights while 19 th century French art were a more fast-forward art in a way that it was hugely influenced by modernism, hugging all new lifestyle or ideas and technological advancements.

Indeed, the kind of art that we all still remember today has a lot of outside influences such as the political challenges, family structure, or perhaps the social class and environment during that time. Unlike the idea that paintings usually come from what a certain painter or artist is going through, 18 th and 19 th century art would go beyond that by depicting the whole society’s condition. Also, they do not only convey what is past or present experiences in the history of France but at the same time the future aspiration French people had and dream of.

References: Period, Time. "Impressionism: Art and Modernity | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art." The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. /toah/hd/imml/hd_imml.htm>. " 19 th-century French art - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. /wiki/ 19 th-century_French_art>.