Art History Quiz 5

Artist: Frank Lloyd Wright Name: Fallingwater Material: concrete, stone, wood and glass Place: Mill Run, PA Culture: American Modern

This is Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright it is an example of fusing architecture with nature with what Wright calls an "organic" style. The residency was commissioned by Edgar Kaufmann he wanted Wright to reinvent his family summer home. The house is immersed and connected to nature through water flowing around the home. Also the fireplace is connected to slabs of rock and foliage is also fused with the outside structure. Wright was firm in his belief that the industrial style of cities should be removed and replaced with this nature like style.

Artist: Thomas Jefferson Name: Monticello Material: wood and brick Place: Near Charlottesville, VA Culture: American Neoclassical

This is Monticello the Virginia residence of Thomas Jefferson who became the third President of the US, in his spare time was an amateur architect. He designed this residency twice over once when it was originally built in the 1770s and then again when he returned from a diplomatic trip to France in the 1780's he redesigned it in the 1790's with intense inspiration from French design. The home now has french doors and heightened skinny windows. The structure of the home with the dome and temple like features is more reflective of British architecture than French. Monticello is also where Thomas Jefferson is buried.

Artist: Jacques-Louis David Name: Napolean at the Saint Bernard Material: oil on canvas Place: unknown Culture: French Neoclassical

This is Napoleon at the Saint Bernard by Jacques -Louis David it was painted between 1800 and 1801. The painting is meant to illustrate the ideal future of Napoleon leading his troops triumphantly into Italy. He was able to do this except in real life he was on a donkey not a horse as the painting shows. Stylistically it is classified as french neoclassical but it does have hints of baroque technique with the diagonals and draperies present. David was the official "court painter" for the leader Napoleon.

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh Name: Starry Night Material: oil on canvas Place: unknown Culture: French/ Dutch Post Impressionist

This is Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh it is an example of the artists feelings overriding the actual physical appearance of a scene. The piece was created in 1889. For example the exploding stars are more likely related to how Van Gogh was feeling towards the end of his life when he made this than the actual appearance of stars. He also further symbolizes his feelings through including a cyprus tree in the painting which is a symbol for eternal life and death. It is currently placed in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC.

Artist: Dorothea Lange Name: Migrant Mother Material: Gelatin-silver print photo Place: Nipomo, CA Culture: American realist

This is The Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange it is the most famous images captured by the freelance photographer in 1936. Lange dedicated her work to photographing the struggling poor population of America during the Great Depression. Her work was very influential and lead to state officials building migrant labor camps. This photo is of a woman struggling due to the Depression, Florence Thompson a mother of ten children she is gazing out of sight exemplifying the uncertain future while he children huddle around her for protection. The photo is currently in the Library of Congress in Washington DC.

Artist: John Singleton Copley Name: Paul Revere Material: oil on canvas Place: unknown Culture: American Neoclassical

This is a portrait of Paul Revere by John Singleton Copley it was created before Revere's involvement with the American Revolution and his "midnight ride" to warn that the British were coming. In this portrait Revere appears pensive and focused. Copley was famous for bringing people to life through his portraits. He did this by paying special attention to their physical appearance and capturing their emotion or personality. This piece is in the MFA in Boston.

Artist: Gustave Eiffel Name: The Eiffel Tower Material: puddle iron Place: Paris, France Culture: modern industrial (1000 ft)

This is an image of the Eiffel Tower by Gustave Eiffel it is a massive symbol of the importance the French placed upon science and technology as its a magnificent feat of architecture. It was a highlight of the universal exposition that showcased art with focus to the application and decoration of science and industry. The initial public response to the Eiffel tower was split some enjoyed its presence while others felt it was "useless." Either way it sparked a lot of discussion and was one of the most photographed French structures in 1889. It is a super popular tourist attraction and is the modern day symbol of France.

Artist: Georges Seurat Name: Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte Material: oil on canvas Place: unknown Culture: French Neo-Impressionist

This is called Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat was shown in the last impressionist exhibition in 1886. The whole piece was made by Seurat using only 11 colors in three values. The painting has been long debated in interpretation because the differences in perspectives from looking far away and up close give the painting different effects. It does differ from traditional impressionist paintings with the figures being much more rigid and geometric in their structure. It is currently housed in the Art Institute of Chicago.

Artist: Francisco Goya Name: The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters Material: print with etching and aquatint on paper Place: unknown Culture: Spanish Neoclassical

This is called the Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters by Francisco Goya, a dually famous painter and printmake of the romantic period. This piece was a part of a series originally published by Goya but taken back probably from pressure from the Church who did not like how they were portrayed. This piece was published in 1799. It was originally published with accompanying text that spread a more hopeful message of reason being plagued with monsters but still being the head figure of the arts. Without the text this painting can be interpreted as very dark with the image of reason being surrounded by evil and monsters.

Artist: Jackson Pollock Name: Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) Material: oil on canvas Place: unknown Culture: American Abstract Expressionist

This is the Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) by Jackson Pollock it is a part of a series by the artist focused on linear abstractions. The canvas demonstrates many overlapping lines gracefully criss crossing one another. This pattern is shown throughout the whole piece and creates a mesmerizing effect on the viewer. It is noted by Pollock that this piece was meant to make a nod to the primal forces during a time when technology was seeing monumental advances. It is currently in the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art in NYC.

Artist: Pablo Picasso Name: Guernica Material: oil on canvas Place: unknown Culture: Spanish/French Modern with Cubist and Surrealist influences

This is the Guernica by Pablo Picasso was made in response to the German bombing of the city Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. This was a horrific massacre and the first intentional bombing of civilians. Picasso captures the intensity and cruelty of war in this painting with the disturbing and contorted imagery he includes. The colors used black, white and grey tones are intentional and meant to mimic the style in which newspaper images depicted the tragedy. The overall image serves to exemplify the immense Spanish suffering during this conflict.

Artist: Andy Warhol Name: Marilyn Diptych Material: oil, acrylic and silk screen on enamel on canvas Place: Unknown Culture: American Pop Art

This is the Marilyn Diptych by Andy Warhol it is made in 1962 in response to actress Marilyn Monroe's death (possible suicide). Warhol chose to depict the celebrity image of Marilyn Monroe and not her individually with her real name "Norma Jeane." The image he chose clearly highlights the physical characteristics Monroe was known for including her blonde hair and signature bright red lipstick. Through this image he is almost immortalizing Monroe and her fame. This makes sense because Warhol is often regarded as having and obsession with fame himself.

Artist: Salvadore Dali Name: The Persistence of Memory Material: oil on canvas Place: unknown Culture: spanish surrealist

This is the Persistence of Memory by Salvadore Dali it was made in 1931. This is stylistically an example of surrealist art as the location of the scene is very realistic but the warped and almost melted clocks show his ability as an artist to break away from strictly conventional thought. One of the clocks is placed in a draped fashion over an amoeba and Dali says its his self portrait. Many interpret this self portrait as Dali having anxiety about his sexuality. The theme of anxiety is presented again by the clock covered in ants exhibiting issues from Dali's childhood. It is placed in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC.

Artist: Maya Ying Lin Name: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Material: black granite Place: The National Mall, Washington, DC Culture: American Minimalist

This is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial by Maya Ying Lin it is engraved with thousands of names of Vietnam Veterans who lost their lives or are missing. The piece is especially reflective as the number of names is overwhelming and also you can see your own reflection in the structure thus connecting yourself to the soldiers who gave their lives for us. Also visible in the reflection is the George Washington monument and the Lincoln Memorial. Overall the piece combines abstract with personalization. It creates a pensive and reflective space for visitors to ponder sorrow, human suffering, and the ultimate sacrifice that so many of our soldiers gave for us.

Artist: Claude Monet Name: Impression Sunrise Material: oil on canvas Place: unknown Culture: French Impressionist

This is the impression sunrise by Claude Monet it was created in 1872. The piece was originally part of an exhibition that Monet participated in with other artists in 1874. The term "impressionist" was given to Monet's piece and others within the gallery originally as a criticism from a journalist. However, Monet liked the term as it defined his goal of capturing one fleeting moment in a painting. Monet employed a style of brush strokes with pure color especially placed with discrete marks.

Artist: Robert Smithson Name: Spiral Jetty Material: rock encrusted with salt Place: Great Salt Lake, Utah Culture: American Earthwork

This is the spiral jetty by Robert Smithson he designed it with the intention to illustrate his interest in the forces that shape nature as well as the forces that destroy it. The structure is a 1500 foot platform arranged in a spiral formation. He also believed that the lake represented new life while the abandoned oil rigs showed the abandoned remains of lost civilizations. Crystallized salt has formed over the structure making it clearly visible from engines like google earth. It was made between 1969 and 1970.