POST 1: Bryan Choi

             

             Neo-Classicism and Romanticism arts are from two different eras, and both periods have a very different technique. During the two periods, artists reflected their works based on the contemporary events, like Neo-Classicism artist, Jacques-Louis David, have dealt with the French Revolution, while Romanticism artist like Francisco de Goya faced the Spanish Revolution. Romanticism Artist was reflected from Neo-Classicism; therefore, Goya’s works looks very unique and different from David’s work.

                During the Neo-Classicism period, many artists were trying to bring back antiquity, which were Greek and Rome’s classical art form. The Classical were all about grand theme and perfection, the body of a male is idealized. The artworks were harmonious and balance and had a heroic touch.  Jacques-Louis David has followed all the traits from the Classical period and, one of the greatest examples from his collection of master pieces are Belisarius Begging for Alms, 1781. David has painted a mythical story during the Rome period. It depicts Belisarius, ex- great military commander under Justinian being poor and blind. His blindness was cause by his own emperor, betrayed by his own people. In the painting Belisarius is holding a little girl and begging for alms. The woman provided sympathy and gave them some alms, while in the back was a shock Justinian soldiers staring at his own commander.  This serious scene has an allegorical message that David wanted to expose. The message have a political statement saying people in France was betrayed by their own people and that everyone should show sympathy and care for one another.  Even though it is a serious theme, it also has a heroic theme by depicting a scene of a woman showing sympathy for a blind warrior and the poor, on top of that a shock warrior.

                The traits of this painting definitely relates to the technique in the Ancient Rome and Greek because the male bodies are completely idealized, look at the tone legs of the shocked soldiers and Belisarius have a toned arm.  The painting is highly detailed based on the columns and the armor design of the warriors. Everything is calculated and well balanced; there are two characters in the left and right of the painting, which makes it harmonious and elegant.

                During the Romantic period, a lot of artists have taken the ideas of painting their emotions and expressions of contemporary events. Romantic artists were a reaction from Neo-Classicism, Romantic artist didn’t want to be detailed or have mathematical proportions’ in space. They believed in heavy brushstrokes, free forms, and rich colors to capture the dramatic emotions of their viewers.

                Like David’s painting, Goya’s art also have a political statement for contemporary events. The Executions of the 3^rd of May was a painting that depicts Spanish being terrorized by the French. During this period Goya expressed many emotions towards his effects of Spanish Revolution, he was deeply disturbed about the situation. He painted a scenario where the French pointed the innocent Spanish with guns, while the innocents did not have armor or weapons. One brave Spanish man stood in middle of the action and spread his arms like he was Christ hanging by a cross. The painting has created many sensations, the dark and dim colors and the heavy brushstroke created dramatic passion towards the artworks. The face of the man in the middle have a deep sorrow that looks like he is begging the French not to kill any more people. There is nothing really heroic about this scene, is more of a reaction and sympatric scene where spectators will draw their emotions out. The figures are not idealized at all because the body proportions are inaccurate, the legs are too short and so is the body. The painting was sort of abstracted, which empowers the painter because it is in the painter’s perspective. Romantic painter didn’t want to be bind by the rules of the Classical traits of the Greek and Roman; they wanted to set their own rules. Goya wanted to express his strong emotions towards the horrific occurrence, he wanted to make a standpoint and tell his spectators that the soldiers have no right for killing the innocence.

                Overall both styles from different eras are completely dissimilar, Neo-Classical believed in structure, harmonious, grand, and idealized, while Romanticism believed in strong brushstroke, emotions, and vibrate colors. Even though the styles were different, but their goals were the same, is to make a statement of political issues.  Ultimately Romanticism has prevailed based on the fact Impressionism, Cubism, and etc have occurred right after. The later movements show abstraction and lack in details, modern artists wanted to paint for themselves and express their own emotions.  The traits of modern artists are very similar to Romanticism because it is also based on emotions and about the view point of the artists. Here are some examples of impressionist paintings.

Source:

 Eisenman, Stephen M. Nineteenth Century Art: A Critical History. 4th ed. New York, NY: Thames & Hudson, 2011. Print

"Jacques-Louis David: Belisarius." BC. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.
     <http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/his/CoreArt/art/neocl_dav_belis.html>.