10. Luncheon of the Boating Party
By Pierre Auguste Renoir
Style: Oil on Canvas, Impressionism
Date: 1881
Museum: The Phillips Collection, Washington DC
Reason: This incredible impressionist painting by Renoir, is full of such lively social activity. Each person in this luncheon, has some distinctive quality or character trait, making for an extremely interesting gathering. Renoir specialized in feminine sensuality, which can especially be noted in the women's eyes. However the men also display an expressive quality of interest and curiosity, thus making the painting all the more stimulating.
9. Guernica
By Pablo Picasso
Style: Oil on Canvas, Mural
Date: 1937
Museum: Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid
Reason: This masterpiece by Pablo Picasso, gives a surreal depiction of the bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. A general instant reaction to this painting, would be one of horror, once again depicting the terrible atrocities of war. By using his style of cubism, Picasso broke the figures up into disembodied pieces, establishing a chaotic effect, in this case the after-effect of a bomb. This painting is extremely political, abstract, and truly a work of genius.
8. The Scream
By Edvard Munch
Style: Oil, Tempera, Pastel on Cardboard, Expressionist
Date: 1893
Museum: National Gallery of Oslo, Norway
Reason: This expressive masterpiece by Edvard Munch, demonstrates a person on a bridge suffering a moment of complete panic through a scream. The scream is represented through a series of wavy colors, and total disarray, representing the blurry perspective of the person on the bridge. This painting evokes a thought-provoking mood and sensation, and makes one wonder what has brought this person such horror.
7. The October Manifesto
By Ilya Repin
Style: Oil on Canvas, Realism
Date: 1905
Museum: Russian Museum, St. Petersburg
Reason: This painting to me, is the quintessential representation of the Russian spirit. In his realistic approach, Repin depicts the 1905 Russian Revolution, in which Tsar Nicholas II was forced to grant the agitated people more civil liberties. The realism in the painting captures the detail of the Russian people, united in their cause. This painting is especially fascinating because it could be seen in two opposite interpretations; a protest movement or a mass celebration. History will show, that the Russian people were not content with the October Manifesto, and in 1917, would go on to continue their revolution. Opinions aside, the general theme of this masterful painting is Russian unity.
6. Cafe Terrace at Night
By Vincent Van Gogh
Style: Oil on Canvas, Post-Impressionism
Date: 1888
Museum: Kroller-Museum, Otterlo Netherlands
Reason: This impressionist painting by Vincent Van Gogh, has some personal sentiment for me, because it was posted in my college apartment for a year. It depicts a starry evening of a cafe in Arles, France. Van Gogh succeeds in creating a beautiful contrast of darkness and light. He uses illuminating reflections and colors, thus establishing a beautiful night and a masterful painting.
By Pierre Auguste Renoir
Style: Oil on Canvas, Impressionism
Date: 1881
Museum: The Phillips Collection, Washington DC
Reason: This incredible impressionist painting by Renoir, is full of such lively social activity. Each person in this luncheon, has some distinctive quality or character trait, making for an extremely interesting gathering. Renoir specialized in feminine sensuality, which can especially be noted in the women's eyes. However the men also display an expressive quality of interest and curiosity, thus making the painting all the more stimulating.
9. Guernica
By Pablo Picasso
Style: Oil on Canvas, Mural
Date: 1937
Museum: Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid
Reason: This masterpiece by Pablo Picasso, gives a surreal depiction of the bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. A general instant reaction to this painting, would be one of horror, once again depicting the terrible atrocities of war. By using his style of cubism, Picasso broke the figures up into disembodied pieces, establishing a chaotic effect, in this case the after-effect of a bomb. This painting is extremely political, abstract, and truly a work of genius.
8. The Scream
By Edvard Munch
Style: Oil, Tempera, Pastel on Cardboard, Expressionist
Date: 1893
Museum: National Gallery of Oslo, Norway
Reason: This expressive masterpiece by Edvard Munch, demonstrates a person on a bridge suffering a moment of complete panic through a scream. The scream is represented through a series of wavy colors, and total disarray, representing the blurry perspective of the person on the bridge. This painting evokes a thought-provoking mood and sensation, and makes one wonder what has brought this person such horror.
7. The October Manifesto
By Ilya Repin
Style: Oil on Canvas, Realism
Date: 1905
Museum: Russian Museum, St. Petersburg
Reason: This painting to me, is the quintessential representation of the Russian spirit. In his realistic approach, Repin depicts the 1905 Russian Revolution, in which Tsar Nicholas II was forced to grant the agitated people more civil liberties. The realism in the painting captures the detail of the Russian people, united in their cause. This painting is especially fascinating because it could be seen in two opposite interpretations; a protest movement or a mass celebration. History will show, that the Russian people were not content with the October Manifesto, and in 1917, would go on to continue their revolution. Opinions aside, the general theme of this masterful painting is Russian unity.
6. Cafe Terrace at Night
By Vincent Van Gogh
Style: Oil on Canvas, Post-Impressionism
Date: 1888
Museum: Kroller-Museum, Otterlo Netherlands
Reason: This impressionist painting by Vincent Van Gogh, has some personal sentiment for me, because it was posted in my college apartment for a year. It depicts a starry evening of a cafe in Arles, France. Van Gogh succeeds in creating a beautiful contrast of darkness and light. He uses illuminating reflections and colors, thus establishing a beautiful night and a masterful painting.
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