High definition nude painting. Shocking masterpieces of classical painting

Chinese artist and photographer Dong Hong-Oai was born in 1929 and died in 2004 at the age of 75. He left behind incredible works created in the style of pictorialism - amazing photographs similar to works of traditional Chinese painting.

Dong Hong-Oai was born in 1929 in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. He left the country at age seven after the unexpected death of his parents.

As the youngest of 24 children, Dong went to live in the Chinese community in Saigon, Vietnam. He later visited China several times, but never lived in that country again.

Upon arriving in Saigon, Dong became an apprentice in a Chinese immigrant photography studio. There he learned the basics of photography. He also fell in love with photographing nature, which he often did using one of the cameras from the studio. In 1950, at the age of 21, he entered the Vietnam National University of Arts.

In 1979, a bloody border opened between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People's Republic of China. The Vietnamese government began a repressive policy against ethnic Chinese living in the country. As a result, Dong became one of the millions of "boat people" who fled Vietnam in the late 70s and early 80s.

At the age of 50, speaking no English and having no family or friends in the United States, Dong arrived in San Francisco. He was even able to purchase a small room for developing photographs.

By selling his photographs at local street fairs, Dong was able to earn enough money to periodically return to China to photograph.

Moreover, he had the opportunity to study for some time under the guidance of Long Chin-San in Taiwan.

Long Chin-San, who died in 1995 at the age of 104, developed a photography style based on traditional Chinese depictions of nature.

For centuries, Chinese artists have created majestic monochromatic landscapes using simple brushes and ink.

These paintings were not supposed to depict nature exactly, they were supposed to convey the emotional atmosphere of nature. In the last years of the Song Empire and the beginning of the Yuan Empire, artists began to combine three different art forms on one canvas... poetry, calligraphy and painting.

It was believed that this synthesis of forms allowed the artist to fully express himself.

Long Chin-San, born in 1891, studied precisely this classical tradition in painting. At some point in his long career, Luhn began experimenting with transferring the impressionist style of art into photography.

While maintaining a layered approach to scale, he developed a method of layering negatives that corresponded to three levels of distance. Lung taught this method to Dong.

In an attempt to imitate traditional Chinese style even more closely, Dong added calligraphy to the photographs.

Dong's new works, based on ancient Chinese paintings, began to attract critical attention in the 1990s.

He no longer had to sell his photographs at street fairs; he was now represented by an agent, and his work began to be sold in galleries throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.

He no longer had to depend on individual clients; his work was now sought after not only by private art collectors, but also by corporate buyers and museums. He was about 60 when he achieved some level of financial success for the first time in his life.

Pictorialism is a movement in photography that emerged around 1885 after the extensive presentation of the photography process on wet printing plates. The movement reached its peak at the very beginning of the 20th century, and the period of decline occurred in 1914, after the emergence and spread of modernism.

The terms "pictorialism" and "pictorialist" came into widespread use after 1900.

Pictorialism deals with the idea that artistic photography should imitate the painting and engraving of that century.

Most of these photographs were in black and white or sepia tones. Among the techniques used were: unstable focus, special filters and lens coating, as well as exotic printing processes.

The goal of such techniques was to achieve the “personal expression of the author.”

Despite this goal of self-expression, the best of these photographs ran parallel to the Impressionist style rather than in step with modern painting.

Looking back, one can also see a close parallel between the composition and pictorial subject of Pictorialist genre paintings and photographs.

If you think that all great artists are in the past, then you have no idea how wrong you are. In this article you will learn about the most famous and talented artists of our time. And, believe me, their works will remain in your memory no less deeply than the works of maestros from past eras.

Wojciech Babski

Wojciech Babski is a contemporary Polish artist. He completed his studies at the Silesian Polytechnic Institute, but associated himself with. Lately he has been painting mainly women. Focuses on the expression of emotions, strives to obtain the greatest possible effect using simple means.

Loves color, but often uses shades of black and gray to achieve the best impression. Not afraid to experiment with different new techniques. Recently, he has been gaining increasing popularity abroad, mainly in the UK, where he successfully sells his works, which can already be found in many private collections. In addition to art, he is interested in cosmology and philosophy. Listens to jazz. Currently lives and works in Katowice.

Warren Chang

Warren Chang is a contemporary American artist. Born in 1957 and raised in Monterey, California, he graduated with honors from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena in 1981, where he received a BFA. Over the next two decades, he worked as an illustrator for various companies in California and New York before embarking on a career as a professional artist in 2009.

His realistic paintings can be divided into two main categories: biographical interior paintings and paintings depicting people at work. His interest in this style of painting dates back to the work of the 16th century artist Johannes Vermeer, and extends to subjects, self-portraits, portraits of family members, friends, students, studio interiors, classrooms and homes. His goal is to create mood and emotion in his realistic paintings through the manipulation of light and the use of muted colors.

Chang became famous after switching to traditional fine arts. Over the past 12 years, he has earned numerous awards and honors, the most prestigious of which is the Master Signature from the Oil Painters of America, the largest oil painting community in the United States. Only one person out of 50 is given the opportunity to receive this award. Warren currently lives in Monterey and works in his studio, and he also teaches (known as a talented teacher) at the San Francisco Academy of Art.

Aurelio Bruni

Aurelio Bruni is an Italian artist. Born in Blair, October 15, 1955. He received a diploma in scenography from the Institute of Art in Spoleto. As an artist, he is self-taught, as he independently “built a house of knowledge” on the foundation laid in school. He began painting in oils at the age of 19. Currently lives and works in Umbria.

Bruni's early paintings are rooted in surrealism, but over time he begins to focus on the proximity of lyrical romanticism and symbolism, enhancing this combination with the exquisite sophistication and purity of his characters. Animated and inanimate objects acquire equal dignity and look almost hyper-realistic, but at the same time they do not hide behind a curtain, but allow you to see the essence of your soul. Versatility and sophistication, sensuality and loneliness, thoughtfulness and fruitfulness are the spirit of Aurelio Bruni, nourished by the splendor of art and the harmony of music.

Aleksander Balos

Alkasander Balos is a contemporary Polish artist specializing in oil painting. Born in 1970 in Gliwice, Poland, but since 1989 he has lived and worked in the USA, in Shasta, California.

As a child, he studied art under the guidance of his father Jan, a self-taught artist and sculptor, so from an early age, artistic activity received the full support of both parents. In 1989, at the age of eighteen, Balos left Poland for the United States, where his school teacher and part-time artist Cathy Gaggliardi encouraged Alkasander to enroll in art school. Balos then received a full scholarship to the University of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he studied painting with philosophy professor Harry Rozin.

After graduating in 1995 with a bachelor's degree, Balos moved to Chicago to study at the School of Fine Arts, whose methods are based on the work of Jacques-Louis David. Figurative realism and portraiture formed the majority of Balos' work in the 90s and early 2000s. Today, Balos uses the human figure to highlight the characteristics and shortcomings of human existence, without offering any solutions.

The subject compositions of his paintings are intended to be independently interpreted by the viewer, only then will the paintings acquire their true temporal and subjective meaning. In 2005, the artist moved to Northern California, since then the subject matter of his work has expanded significantly and now includes freer painting methods, including abstraction and various multimedia styles that help express ideas and ideals of existence through painting.

Alyssa Monks

Alyssa Monks is a contemporary American artist. Born in 1977, in Ridgewood, New Jersey. I began to be interested in painting when I was still a child. She studied at The New School in New York and Montclair State University, and graduated from Boston College in 1999 with a bachelor's degree. At the same time, she studied painting at the Lorenzo de' Medici Academy in Florence.

Then she continued her studies in the master's degree program at the New York Academy of Art, in the department of Figurative Art, graduating in 2001. She graduated from Fullerton College in 2006. For some time she lectured at universities and educational institutions throughout the country, teaching painting at the New York Academy of Art, as well as Montclair State University and Lyme Academy of Art College.

“Using filters such as glass, vinyl, water and steam, I distort the human body. These filters allow you to create large areas of abstract design, with islands of color peeking through - parts of the human body.

My paintings change the modern view of the already established, traditional poses and gestures of bathing women. They could tell an attentive viewer a lot about such seemingly self-evident things as the benefits of swimming, dancing, and so on. My characters press themselves against the glass of the shower window, distorting their own bodies, realizing that they thereby influence the notorious male gaze on a naked woman. Thick layers of paint are mixed to imitate glass, steam, water and flesh from afar. However, up close, the amazing physical properties of oil paint become apparent. By experimenting with layers of paint and color, I find a point where abstract brushstrokes become something else.

When I first started painting the human body, I was immediately fascinated and even obsessed with it and believed that I had to make my paintings as realistic as possible. I “professed” realism until it began to unravel and reveal contradictions in itself. I am now exploring the possibilities and potential of a style of painting where representational painting and abstraction meet – if both styles can coexist at the same moment in time, I will do so.”

Antonio Finelli

Italian artist – “ Time Observer” – Antonio Finelli was born on February 23, 1985. Currently lives and works in Italy between Rome and Campobasso. His works have been exhibited in several galleries in Italy and abroad: Rome, Florence, Novara, Genoa, Palermo, Istanbul, Ankara, New York, and can also be found in private and public collections.

Pencil drawings " Time Observer“Antonio Finelli takes us on an eternal journey through the inner world of human temporality and the associated scrupulous analysis of this world, the main element of which is the passage through time and the traces it leaves on the skin.

Finelli paints portraits of people of any age, gender and nationality, whose facial expressions indicate passage through time, and the artist also hopes to find evidence of the mercilessness of time on the bodies of his characters. Antonio defines his works with one, general title: “Self-portrait”, because in his pencil drawings he not only depicts a person, but allows the viewer to contemplate the real results of the passage of time inside a person.

Flaminia Carloni

Flaminia Carloni is a 37-year-old Italian artist, the daughter of a diplomat. She has three children. She lived in Rome for twelve years, and for three years in England and France. She received a degree in art history from the BD School of Art. Then she received a diploma as an art restorer. Before finding her calling and devoting herself entirely to painting, she worked as a journalist, colorist, designer, and actress.

Flaminia's passion for painting arose in childhood. Her main medium is oil because she loves to “coiffer la pate” and also play with the material. She recognized a similar technique in the works of artist Pascal Torua. Flaminia is inspired by great masters of painting such as Balthus, Hopper, and François Legrand, as well as various artistic movements: street art, Chinese realism, surrealism and Renaissance realism. Her favorite artist is Caravaggio. Her dream is to discover the therapeutic power of art.

Denis Chernov

Denis Chernov is a talented Ukrainian artist, born in 1978 in Sambir, Lviv region, Ukraine. After graduating from the Kharkov Art School in 1998, he remained in Kharkov, where he currently lives and works. He also studied at the Kharkov State Academy of Design and Arts, Department of Graphic Arts, graduating in 2004.

He regularly participates in art exhibitions; at the moment there have been more than sixty of them, both in Ukraine and abroad. Most of Denis Chernov's works are kept in private collections in Ukraine, Russia, Italy, England, Spain, Greece, France, USA, Canada and Japan. Some of the works were sold at Christie's.

Denis works in a wide range of graphic and painting techniques. Pencil drawings are one of his most favorite painting methods; the list of themes in his pencil drawings is also very diverse; he paints landscapes, portraits, nudes, genre compositions, book illustrations, literary and historical reconstructions and fantasies.

Gil Elvgren (1914-1980) was a major pin-up artist of the twentieth century. Throughout his professional career, which began in the mid-1930s and spanned over forty years, he established himself as a clear favorite among collectors and pin-up fans throughout the world. And although Gil Elvgren is considered primarily a pin-up artist, he deserves to be considered a classic American illustrator who was able to span various areas of commercial art.

25 years of work for Coca-Cola advertising helped him establish himself as one of the great illustrators in the field. Coca-Cola advertisements featured pin-up images of the “Elvgren Girls,” most of which depicted typical American families, children, teenagers—ordinary people going about their daily business. During World War II and the Korean War, Elvgren even drew military-themed illustrations for Coca-Cola, some of which became “icons” in America.

Elvgren's work for Coca-Cola depicted the American dream of a safe, comfortable life, and some of his magazine illustrations reflected the hopes, fears and joys of their readers. These images were published in the 1940s and 1950s in a number of famous American magazines, such as McCall's, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping and Woman's Home Companion. Along with Coca-Cola, Elvgren has also worked with Orange Crush, Schlitz Beer, Sealy Mattress, General Electric, Sylvania and Napa Auto Parts.

Elvgren stood out not only for his paintings and advertising graphics - he was also a professional photographer who wielded a camera as deftly as he wielded a brush. But his energy and talent did not stop there: in addition, he was a teacher, whose students later became famous artists.

Even in early childhood, Elvgren was inspired by pictures of famous illustrators. Every week he tore out pages and covers from magazines with images that he liked, as a result of which he collected a huge collection that left its mark on the work of the young artist.

Elvgren's work was influenced by many artists, such as Felix Octavius ​​Carr Darley (1822-1888), the first artist to challenge the superiority of the English and European schools of illustration over American commercial art; Norman Rockwell (1877-1978), whom Elvgren met in 1947, and this meeting marked the beginning of a long friendship; Charles Dana Gibson (1867-1944), from whose brush came the ideal girl, which combined the “neighbor” (girl-next-door) and the “girl-of-your-dreams” , Howard Chandler Christy, John Henry Hintermeister (1870-1945) and others.

Elvgren closely studied the works of these classical artists, as a result of which he created the basis on which the further development of pin-up art was based.

So, Gil Elvgren was born on March 15, 1914, and grew up in St. Paul Minneapolis. His parents, Alex and Goldie Elvgren, owned a store downtown that sold wallpaper and paint.

After graduating from high school, Gil wanted to become an architect. His parents approved of this desire, as they noticed his talent for drawing when, at the age of eight, the boy was removed from school because he had drawn on the margins of his textbooks. Elvgren eventually attended the University of Minnesota to study architecture and design while taking art courses at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It was there that he realized that drawing interested him much more than designing buildings.

In the fall of the same year, Elvgren married Janet Cummins. And so, for the New Year, the newlyweds moved to Chicago, where there were many opportunities for artists. Of course, they could have chosen New York, but Chicago was closer and safer.

Upon arrival in Chicago, Gil tried to do everything to develop his career. He attended the prestigious American Academy of Fine Arts downtown, where he became friends with Bill Mosby, an accomplished artist and teacher who was always proud of Gil's development under his guidance.

When Gil Elvgren came to the Academy, of course, he was talented, but he did not stand out from most of the students who studied there. But only one thing distinguished him from others: he knew exactly what he wanted. Most of all, he dreamed of becoming a good artist. In two years of study, he mastered a course designed for three and a half: he attended classes at night, in the summer. In his free time he always drew.

He was a good student and worked harder than others. Gil attended every course in which he could gain at least some knowledge about painting. In two years he made phenomenal progress and became one of the best graduates of the Academy.

Gil is an incredible artist that few can match. Strong in build, he looks like a football player; his large hands are not at all like the hands of an artist: the pencil literally “sinks” into them, but the accuracy and painstakingness of his movements can only be compared with the skill of a surgeon.

During college, Gil never stopped working. His illustrations already adorned brochures and magazines of the academy where he studied.

There Gil met many artists who became his lifelong friends, for example: Harold Anderson, Joyce Ballantyne.

In 1936, Gil and his wife returned to their hometown, where they opened their own studio. Shortly before this, he takes on his first paid commission: a cover for a fashion magazine, which depicts a handsome man dressed in a double-breasted jacket and light summer trousers. Immediately after Elvgren sent his work to the customer, the company director called him to congratulate him and order half a dozen more covers.

Then came another interesting commission, which was to paint the Dionne Quintuplets, whose birth became a media sensation. The client was Brown and Biglow, the largest calendar publishing house. This work was printed in the 1937-1938 calendars, which sold millions of copies. Since then, Elvgren began to draw the most famous girls in America, which brought him enormous success. Elvgren began to be invited to cooperate with other companies, for example, Brown and Biglow's competitor, the Louis F. Dow Calendar Company. The artist's works began to be printed on booklets, playing cards and even matchboxes. Then many of his life-size paintings made for Royal Crown Soda appeared in grocery stores. This year also becomes especially important for Elvgren, as he and his wife welcomed their first child, Karen.

Elvgren continues to take orders and decides to return to Chicago with his family. He soon met Haddon H. Sundblom (1899-1976), who was his idol. Sandblom has a huge influence on Elvgren's work.

Thanks to Sundblom, Elvgren became an artist for Coca-Cola advertisements. To this day, these works are icons in the history of American illustration.

Immediately after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Elvgren was asked to paint pictures for the military campaign. His first drawing for this series was published in 1942 in Good Housekeeping magazine under the headline “She Knows What 'Freedom' Really Is” and depicted a girl dressed in a Red Cross officer's uniform.

In 1942, Gil Jr. was born, and in 1943 his wife was already expecting their third child. Elvgren's family grew, as did his business. Jill works on advertising projects and also sells her old works. He enjoyed life, as he himself was already a respected artist and a happy family man. When the third child in his family was born, Elvgren was already receiving about $1000 per painting, i.e. about $24,000 a year, which was a huge amount at the time. This meant that Gil could become the highest paid illustrator in the United States and naturally have a special place at Brown and Bigelow.

Before working exclusively for Brown and Bigelow, he accepted his first (and only) commission from Joseph Hoover's Philadelphia firm. To avoid problems with Brown and Bigelow, he accepted the offer on the condition that the painting would not be signed. For this work, entitled “Dream Girl,” he received $2,500, because... it was the largest he had ever painted (101.6cm x 76.2cm).

Collaboration with Brown and Bigelow allowed Elvgren to continue drawing for Coca-Cola, however, he could work for any other companies that did not have conflicts with Brown and Bigelow. Thus, in 1945, Elvgren and Brown and Bigelow began a collaboration that would last for more than thirty years.

Brown and Bigelow director Charles Ward made Elvgren a household name. He invited Gil to make a pin-up in nude style, to which the artist agreed with great enthusiasm. This painting showed a naked blonde nymph on the beach, under the lilac-blue moonlight in the colors of lilac. This illustration was released in a deck of cards, together with the work of another artist - ZoÎ Mozert. The following year, Ward ordered another nude pin-up from Elvgren for the next cards, but this time completely done by Elvgren alone. This project broke Brown and Bigelow's sales records and was called “Mais Oui by Gil Elvgren”.

The first three pin-up projects for Brown and Bigelow became the company's best sellers after just a couple of weeks. These images were soon used for playing cards.

By the end of the decade, Elvgren had become Brown and Bigelow's most successful artist, thanks to the media his work was widely known to the public, magazines even published articles about him. Companies he has worked with include Coca-Cola, Orange Crush, Schlitz, Red Top Beer, Ovaltine, Royal Crown Soda, Campana Balm, General Tire, Sealy Mattress, Serta Perfect Sleep, Napa Auto Parts, Detzler Automotive Finishes, Frankfort Distilleries, Four Roses Blended Whiskey, General Electric Appliance and Pangburn's Chocolates.

Faced with such a demand for his work, Elvgren thought about opening his own studio, because there were already many artists who admired his work and the so-called “mayonnaise painting” (the so-called style of Sundblom and Elvgren because the paints on the works looked “creamy” and smooth as silk). But after weighing all the pros and cons, he abandoned this idea.

Gil Elvgren traveled a lot and met many influential people. His salary at Brown and Bigelow changed from being paid $1,000 per canvas to $2,500 and producing 24 paintings a year, plus a percentage from the magazines that published his illustrations. He moved his family to a new home in suburban Winnetka, where he began building his own studio in the attic, which allowed him to be even more productive.

Gil had excellent taste, and he was also witty. His works are always interesting in composition, color schemes, and carefully thought out poses and gestures make them lively and exciting. His paintings are sincere. Gil felt the evolution of female beauty, which was very important. Therefore, Elvgren was always in demand by customers.

In 1956, Gil moved with his family to Florida. He was completely satisfied with his new place of residence. There he opened an excellent studio where Bobby Toombs studied, who rightfully became a recognized artist. He said that Elvgren was an excellent teacher who taught him to use all his skills thoughtfully.

In Florida, Gil painted a huge number of portraits, among his models were Myrna Loy, Arlene Dahl, Donna Reed, Barbara Hale, Kim Novak. In the 1950-1960s, every aspiring model or actress would like Elvgren to draw a girl in her likeness, which would then be printed on calendars and posters.

Elvgren was always looking for new ideas for his paintings. Although many of his artist friends helped him with this, he relied most on his family: he discussed his ideas with his wife and children.

Elvgren worked in a circle of artists whom he taught or, conversely, from whom he studied; who were his friends with whom he had a lot in common. Among them were Harry Anderson, Joyce Ballantyne, Al Buell, Matt Clark, Earl Gross, Ed Henry, Charles Kingham and others.

Gil Elvgren lived life to the fullest. As an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing and hunting. He could spend hours in the pool, was fond of racing cars, and also shared his children's passion for collecting antique weapons.

Over the years, Elvgren had many studio assistants, most of whom went on to become successful artists. When Elvgren was forced to refuse cooperation from companies due to the huge amount of work, art directors agreed to wait a year, or even more, if only Gil would work for them.

But all of Gil's success was overshadowed in 1966 by a terrible tragedy that befell his family: Gil's wife, Janet, died of cancer. After that, he plunged even more into work. His popularity remains unchanged, he does not have to worry about anything except the result of his work. This was the best period of Elvgren's career, if not for the death of his wife.

Elvgren's ability to convey feminine beauty was unsurpassed. While painting, he usually sat in a chair on wheels so that he could easily move around and look at the drawing from different angles, and a large mirror behind him allowed him to have an overview of the entire painting. The main thing in his work were girls: he preferred models 15-20 years old who were just starting their careers, since they had a spontaneity that disappears with experience. When asked about his technique, he said that he adds his own touches: lengthening the legs, enlarging the chest, narrowing the waist, making the lips fuller, the eyes more expressive, the nose snub, thereby giving the model greater attractiveness. Elvgren always carefully worked through his ideas from start to finish: he selected the model, props, lighting, composition, even the hairstyle was very important. After everything, he photographed the scene and started painting.

A distinctive feature of Gil’s works was that, looking at the paintings, it seemed that the girls in them were about to come to life, say hello or offer to have a cup of coffee. They looked cute and full of enthusiasm. Always charming, armed with a friendly smile, even during the war they gave soldiers strength and hope to return home to their girls.

Many artists dreamed of painting the way Elvgren did; everyone admired his talent and success.

Each year he painted with greater ease and professionalism, his early paintings appearing more “hard” compared to his later ones. He has reached the pinnacle of excellence in his field.

On February 29, 1980, Gil Elvgren, a man who dedicated himself to bringing joy to people with his creativity, died of cancer at the age of 65. His son Drake found the last unfinished, but nevertheless magnificent painting for Brown and Bigelow in his father's studio. Three decades have passed since Elvgren's death, but his art still lives on. Without a doubt, Elvgren will go down in history as an artist who made a great contribution to American art of the twentieth century.

There are eternal themes in art. One of them is the theme of women, the theme of motherhood. Each era has its own ideal of a woman, the entire history of mankind is reflected in how people saw a woman, what myths surrounded her and helped create Her. One thing is certain - in all centuries and times The feminine character has attracted, is attracting and will continue to attract special attention from artists.

The images of women created in portrait art carry the poetic ideal in the harmonious unity of its spiritual qualities and external appearance. From portraits we can judge how a woman’s appearance and her mental makeup are influenced by social events, fashion, literature, art and painting itself.

We present to you a variety of images of women in paintings of different directions

REALISM

The essence of the direction is to capture reality as accurately and objectively as possible. The birth of realism in painting is most often associated with the work of the French artist Gustave Courbet, who opened his personal exhibition “Pavilion of Realism” in Paris in 1855. The opposite of romanticism and academicism. In the 1870s, realism was divided into two main directions - naturalism and impressionism. Naturalists were artists who sought to capture reality as accurately and photographically as possible.

Ivan Kramskoy “Unknown”

Serov "Girl with Peaches"

ACADEMISM

Academicism grew by following the external forms of classical art. Academicism embodied the traditions of ancient art, in which the image of nature was idealized. Russian academicism of the first half of the 19th century is characterized by sublime themes, a high metaphorical style, versatility, multi-figures and pomp. Biblical scenes, salon landscapes and ceremonial portraits were popular. Despite the limited subject matter of the paintings, the works of the academicians were distinguished by high technical skill.

Bouguereau "Pleiades"

Bouguereau "Mood"

Cabanel "Birth of Venus"

IMPRESSIONISM

Representatives of the style sought to capture the real world in its mobility and variability in the most natural and unbiased way, and to convey their fleeting impressions. French Impressionism did not raise philosophical issues. Instead, impressionism focuses on superficiality, the fluidity of a moment, mood, lighting, or angle of view. Their paintings presented only the positive aspects of life, did not disturb social problems, and avoided problems such as hunger, disease, and death. Biblical, literary, mythological, and historical subjects inherent in official academicism were discarded. Subjects of flirting, dancing, being in a cafe and theater, boating, on beaches and in gardens were taken. Judging by the paintings of the Impressionists, life is a series of small holidays, parties, pleasant pastimes outside the city or in a friendly environment.

Boldini "Moulin Rouge"

Renoir "Portrait of Jeanne Samary"

Manet "Breakfast on the Grass"

Mayo "RosaBrava"

Lautrec "Woman with an Umbrella"

SYMBOLISM

The symbolists radically changed not only various types of art, but also the very attitude towards it. Their experimental character, desire for innovation, and cosmopolitanism have become a model for most modern art movements. They used symbols, understatement, allusions, mystery, enigma. The main mood was often pessimism, reaching the point of despair. Unlike other movements in art, symbolism believes in the expression of “unattainable”, sometimes mystical ideas, images of Eternity and Beauty.

Redon "Ophelia"

Franz von Stuck "Salome"

Watts "Hope"

Rosseti "Persephone"

MODERN

Art Nouveau sought to combine the artistic and utilitarian functions of the works created, and to involve all spheres of human activity in the sphere of beauty. As a result, there is an interest in applied arts: interior design, ceramics, book graphics. Art Nouveau artists drew inspiration from the art of Ancient Egypt and ancient civilizations. The most noticeable feature of Art Nouveau was the abandonment of right angles and lines in favor of smoother, curved lines. Art Nouveau artists often took ornaments from the plant world as the basis for their drawings.

Klimt "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I"

Klimt "Danae"

Klimt "The Three Ages of Woman"

Fly "Fruit"

EXPRESSIONISM

Expressionism is one of the most influential artistic movements of the 20th century. Expressionism arose as a reaction to the acute crisis of the first quarter of the 20th century, the First World War and subsequent revolutionary movements, the ugliness of bourgeois civilization, which resulted in a desire for irrationality. Motifs of pain and scream were used, the principle of expression began to prevail over the image.

Modigliani. Using the bodies and faces of women, he tries to penetrate the souls of his characters. “I am interested in the human being. The face is the greatest creation of nature. I use it tirelessly,” he repeated.

Modigliani "Sleeping Nude"

Schiele "Woman in Black Stockings"

CUBISM

Cubism is a modernist movement in the fine arts (mainly painting) of the 1st quarter of the 20th century, which highlighted the formal task of constructing a three-dimensional form on a plane, minimizing the visual and cognitive functions of art. The emergence of cubism is traditionally dated to 1906-1907 and is associated with the work of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. In general, Cubism was a break with the tradition of realistic art that developed during the Renaissance, including the creation of a visual illusion of the world on a plane. The work of the Cubists was a challenge to the standard beauty of salon art, the vague allegories of symbolism, and the instability of impressionist painting. Entering the circle of rebellious, anarchistic, individualistic movements, Cubism stood out among them by its attraction to asceticism of color, to simple, weighty, tangible forms and elementary motifs.

Picasso "The Weeping Woman"

Picasso "Playing the Mandolin"

Picasso "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon"

SURREALISM

The basic concept of surrealism, surreality- combination of dream and reality. To achieve this, the surrealists proposed an absurd, contradictory combination of naturalistic images through collage and moving an object from a non-artistic space to an artistic one, due to which the object is revealed from an unexpected side, properties that were not noticed outside the artistic context appear in it. The surrealists were inspired by radical leftist ideology, but they proposed starting the revolution with their own consciousness. They thought of art as the main instrument of liberation. This direction developed under the great influence of Freud's theory of psychoanalysis. Surrealism was rooted in symbolism and was initially influenced by symbolist artists such as Gustave Moreau and Odilon Redon. Many of the popular artists were surrealists, including René Magritte, Max Ernst, Salvador Dali, Alberto Giacometti.