5. The Death of Marat
By Jaques-Louis David
Style: Oil on Canvas, Neoclassicism
Date: 1793
Museum: Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Belgium
Reason: This classical painting by Jaques-Louis David, has become the utmost famous representation of the French Revolution. The painting depicts the radical journalist, Jean-Paul Marat, who was a political theorist and philosopher in support of the French Revolution. He was killed by Charlotte Corday, an aristocrat who feared Jean-Paul was leading the country to civil war. Jaques-Louis David creates and extremely morbid painting through the use of a realistic style, pale skin, lost expression, and a motionless body carrying a letter to the people. The letter is also quite significant stating that Marat is "Too Unhappy to deserve your kindness". This is a groundbreaking painting for it's historical, political, and visual value.
4. A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
By Georges Seurat
Style: Oil on Canvas, Pointillism
Date: 1884
Museum: Art Institute of Chicago
Reason: This masterful painting by Georges Seurat has an extremely enjoyable and original style to it. At first glance it instantly heightens the senses, as an image of relaxation, peace, harmony, and happiness. It is a social gathering near a river in France, with figures in perfect form. Yet it's the painting style that especially makes this landscape all the more admirable. Through his use of pointillism, Seurat creates a very real and colorful impression with incredible light exposure and shading. Since it is exhibited very nearby in Chicago, I hope to someday see this painting in person.
3. The Starry Night
By Vincent Van Gogh
Style: Oil on Canvas, Post-Impressionist
Date: 1889
Museum: Museum of Modern Art in New York City
Reason: This masterwork has been considered Van Gogh's magnus opus, and rightfully so for it's mystifying and enigmatic appeal. Van Gogh creates an entirely original illustration of a town at night. He uses a style of wavy lines, to create a very unique and mysterious impression. In the foreground there is a strange Gothic building, perhaps a cathedral. In the background, there lies the town, presumably that of Arles, France. And in the dark night sky, lies a series of wavy lines, perhaps the wind, with shinning and spinning stars, and a tilted crescent moon. This painting is truly a celebration of the night.
2. Nighthawks
By Edward Hopper
Style: Oil on Canvas, Realism
Date: 1942
Museum: Art Institute of Chicago
Reason: This painting by Edward Hopper, in my opinion is the quintessential masterpiece of American art. In a downtown setting through the glass of a diner, we see a well dressed couple, and a well dressed man, all three being served by a waiter. Hopper creates various themes to this colorful painting, such as a contrast of love and loneliness. However the painting is also a recognition of "night-owls", people who stay up late at night, hence the title "night-hawks". I especially love this painting for it's style and depiction of American culture in the 1930s, and is definitely another painting to see in the Museum of Chicago.
1. Starry Night over the Rhone
By Vincent Van Gogh
Style: Oil on Canvas, Post-Impressionism
Date: 1888
Museum: Musee d'Orsay, Paris
Reason: This impressionist night landscape by Van Gogh, is my favorite classical painting of them all. It is quite different than his "Starry Night" painting, and preceded it by a year. In this illustration we see a couple walking along the shores of Arles on a very starry night. Once again Van Gogh glorifies the night in this painting, and does it with a mixture of realism and impressionism. The thing I espeically love about this painting, are the reflections of the shiny stars sparkling in the lake. He once again succeeds in creating a beautiful contrast of light and dark, and of mixing a real element with a mystical element. This incredible style is what makes Van Gogh the greatest painter of all time.
By Jaques-Louis David
Style: Oil on Canvas, Neoclassicism
Date: 1793
Museum: Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Belgium
Reason: This classical painting by Jaques-Louis David, has become the utmost famous representation of the French Revolution. The painting depicts the radical journalist, Jean-Paul Marat, who was a political theorist and philosopher in support of the French Revolution. He was killed by Charlotte Corday, an aristocrat who feared Jean-Paul was leading the country to civil war. Jaques-Louis David creates and extremely morbid painting through the use of a realistic style, pale skin, lost expression, and a motionless body carrying a letter to the people. The letter is also quite significant stating that Marat is "Too Unhappy to deserve your kindness". This is a groundbreaking painting for it's historical, political, and visual value.
4. A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
By Georges Seurat
Style: Oil on Canvas, Pointillism
Date: 1884
Museum: Art Institute of Chicago
Reason: This masterful painting by Georges Seurat has an extremely enjoyable and original style to it. At first glance it instantly heightens the senses, as an image of relaxation, peace, harmony, and happiness. It is a social gathering near a river in France, with figures in perfect form. Yet it's the painting style that especially makes this landscape all the more admirable. Through his use of pointillism, Seurat creates a very real and colorful impression with incredible light exposure and shading. Since it is exhibited very nearby in Chicago, I hope to someday see this painting in person.
3. The Starry Night
By Vincent Van Gogh
Style: Oil on Canvas, Post-Impressionist
Date: 1889
Museum: Museum of Modern Art in New York City
Reason: This masterwork has been considered Van Gogh's magnus opus, and rightfully so for it's mystifying and enigmatic appeal. Van Gogh creates an entirely original illustration of a town at night. He uses a style of wavy lines, to create a very unique and mysterious impression. In the foreground there is a strange Gothic building, perhaps a cathedral. In the background, there lies the town, presumably that of Arles, France. And in the dark night sky, lies a series of wavy lines, perhaps the wind, with shinning and spinning stars, and a tilted crescent moon. This painting is truly a celebration of the night.
2. Nighthawks
By Edward Hopper
Style: Oil on Canvas, Realism
Date: 1942
Museum: Art Institute of Chicago
Reason: This painting by Edward Hopper, in my opinion is the quintessential masterpiece of American art. In a downtown setting through the glass of a diner, we see a well dressed couple, and a well dressed man, all three being served by a waiter. Hopper creates various themes to this colorful painting, such as a contrast of love and loneliness. However the painting is also a recognition of "night-owls", people who stay up late at night, hence the title "night-hawks". I especially love this painting for it's style and depiction of American culture in the 1930s, and is definitely another painting to see in the Museum of Chicago.
1. Starry Night over the Rhone
By Vincent Van Gogh
Style: Oil on Canvas, Post-Impressionism
Date: 1888
Museum: Musee d'Orsay, Paris
Reason: This impressionist night landscape by Van Gogh, is my favorite classical painting of them all. It is quite different than his "Starry Night" painting, and preceded it by a year. In this illustration we see a couple walking along the shores of Arles on a very starry night. Once again Van Gogh glorifies the night in this painting, and does it with a mixture of realism and impressionism. The thing I espeically love about this painting, are the reflections of the shiny stars sparkling in the lake. He once again succeeds in creating a beautiful contrast of light and dark, and of mixing a real element with a mystical element. This incredible style is what makes Van Gogh the greatest painter of all time.
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