Activity #13

The Corinthian Maid, 1782-1784, by Joseph Wright, oil on canvas and The Houses of Parliament, Sunset, 1903, by Claude Monet, oil on canvas are paintings that were done during different movements and there styles are different as well. This essay will discuss the styles, movement, period and culture of the two paintings.

The Corinthian Maid has a naturalistic style, because of the way Wright takes the two people in the painting and position them in a way that there garments are highlighted and set in very distinctive patterns. Wright records how forms are revealed by light and shadow, how bodies reflect an inner structure of bone and muscle, how fabric drapes over bodies and objects, and how gravity makes weight felt. (29) This painting was done during the western movement in time. Movements are shorter in spans of time then periods and often are associated with a period in art. (powerpoint) The period of this piece was considered neoclassicism a spin-off of the Baroque period of art. Neoclassical artists worked in a variety of individual styles, but in general, like any art labeled classical, neoclassical art emphasized order, clarity, and restraint. (586) Also, the culture of this painting was done during a time when the American Revolutionary War was taking place. Culture is defined as a stage of civilization or a society, American, French, Japanese, Russian, Indian, etc. (powerpoint) This is definitely a fine work of art and symbolizes a time when different artists experimented with styles during different movements in time.

The Houses of Parliament, Sunset, by Claude Monet, 1903, oil on canvas has a style that I would consider a classical style. Style refers to a characteristic or group of characteristics that we recognize as constant, recurring, or coherent. (34) In this painting the colors are clear and bright. There is no difficult subject matter that needs explaining. (22) The movement in this piece would be considered post-impressionism. Post-Impressionism means that the artist of that time came after the impressionism. (514) During this period known as the Modern period characterized by a time of rapid change and growth in society. (powerpoint) The culture for The Houses of Parliament, Sunset, can be described best by the time that technology took a social change in America and during the industrial revolution.

In conclusion both paintings have unique styles and were done during different movements and periods of time that had an effect on there culture.