Art 1010 Dylan Lloyd

Prompt: Impressionism Reflection

Reading about the impressionist was kind of mind blowing to me. I never really thought about how hard it must have been for them to do what they did. I always thought painting was just like draw it perfectly and make it look like a photo but these artists felt the light and stuff looked not how it actually looked exactly. I think that’s really brave cause back then if the salon rejected you, it was like your career was over. They didn’t care they just wanted to show what they saw and sell their paintings. That takes guts I don’t think I could do that. I laughed a lot reading how the critics reacted. They thought the paintings were sloppy and unfinished like when one critic said Monette’s Boulevard des Capucines was like wallpaper or something it made me think wow these guys were really getting roasted. But the artist just took it and ran with it. The term impressionism was supposed to be an insult but now it’s famous. I like that because it shows you can turn something mean into something good. It’s like being different isn’t bad. It’s actually what makes you stand out. I think that’s really cool. What I thought was really interesting was how they painted light and atmosphere. Monette impressionism sunrises all misty, and the sunlight reflects on the water, but you can’t even tell exactly what the boat looks like. It’s just shapes and colors. At first, it looked kind of messy to me, but then I saw how it made me feel like I was really there watching the sunrise. I think that’s what the impressionist we’re trying to do make people feel the moment instead of just see it,

I never thought about how a painting could do that. It makes me think about my own work too. I try to make everything perfect and detailed, but maybe I should focus on how it makes me feel not just how it looks. The way they used space in their paintings was also weird but cool traditional artist like David made everything super balanced, and perfect. But Monet and Degas didn’t care about rules. Monet Boulevard des Capucines put you on a balcony looking down like you were leaning over the railing Degas nightclub scene throws you into the middle of the crowd. You can’t even see everything clearly. It’s kinda like a photo snapshot but it’s a painting. At first it looks like they messed up, but I guess that was the point it makes you feel more real. I thought it was crazy how breaking the rules can actually make something feel more true. Makes me think about how we always follow rules without thinking if they even make sense. I also liked that they painted every day stuff not just history or religious scenes. People walking in parks, drinking, and cafés hanging out just normal life. Berthe Moisots painting of a woman Lorient was really pretty and it made me notice how every day things can be interesting. It makes me think about all the little stuff. I walked past and never really see. Impression is kind of make you pay attention to the world around you like notice the sunlight or how people move on. It’s kinda like seeing magic in normal life. Something else I noticed is how modern Paris itself became a subject.

The boulevard and buildings were new back then and Monet painting it from a high window, made it feel so modern. Degas’s nightclubs show the new nightlife of Paris with gas lights and crowds. I think that’s interesting because they weren’t just showing random scenes. They were showing the world as it really was changing. It’s like a history snapshot but also an art piece. It made me realize that art can be both personal and historical at the same time. Overall, I think the impressionist were really bold in creative. They weren’t just painting. They were changing the way people looked at art in life. They broke all the rules tried new things and even though people hated it at first they kept going. I think that’s really inspiring. It makes me want to try new stuff too even if it seems weird or people might laugh. Reading these articles made me realize art can be about feeling not just looking nice. The impressionist wanted people to see the world in a new way and that’s really powerful. I never thought a painting could do that but now I get it.

What really stood out to me from the TICE Art 1010 video by Nancy Ross and the SmartHistory feature on the Nike of Samothrace is how much meaning ancient Greek and Roman sculptures had. They weren’t just making art to look nice it showed what they believed in. The Greeks focused on the perfect human body, showing strength and intelligence, not regular people. The Romans were different because they made more realistic portraits and focused on real people and events, especially to honor leaders. I think that difference between Greek perfection and Roman realism is really interesting. the Nike of Samothrace was the most interesting to me because it looks like it’s actually moving, even though it’s made out of stone. The way the clothes are carved makes it seem like wind is blowing, and her pose makes it feel like she just landed.It gives a strong feeling of victory and power. Since it was made to celebrate a naval win, it was supposed to make people feel excited and proud.I think it’s cool how artists back then could create so much emotion just from a statue. You can still see how this kind of art affects modern sculptures today. Even though artists use different styles now, they still use ideas like balance, proportion, and showing meaning through their work.It’s like ancient artists started it, and people today are still building off of it. Personally, I connect to the Nike of Samothrace because it represents winning and success. Everyone goes through challenges, and that feeling of finally reaching a goal is something we all understand.The statue shows that moment of victory, and it reminds me that working hard can actually pay off.