Thursday, January 28, 2010

Theme Thursday Impression

I had no intention of participating this week.  I didn't even sign up.  But, after reading through some of the posts for this week's TT, I felt left out.  So, here it is, very last minute, the embodiment of what reading the TT word "Impression" felt like to me.



"La Japonaise"  Claude Monet

I was an art major in high school and my first year of college.  I switched to English Lit graduating with a B.A. as well as extensive study of music history and art history.  I once wrote an essay on the Impressionist period and the manner in which the music, poetry and art overlapped and reflected one another.


"Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe"   Edouard Manet
The Impressionist movement was a rejection of the Romantic movement which emphasized emotion, nationalism, mythology.  Impressionist art was all about the play of light and movement on the subject matter; the way a picture would look with a fleeting glance.  It was the opposite of realism.  Impressionist music also rejected the complete story of the Romantic era music, emphasizing emotion through dissonance rather than major or minor chords. Debussy and Ravel are the most famous but I prefer Erik Satie.  Listen to his "Lt Kije".  It's incredible.  Familiar impressionist writers include Joseph Conrad, Virginia Woolf and Rainer Maria Rilke who is enjoying a resurgence in popularity right now.

I've already read some very fine TT posts, poetic and photographic impressions and the like.  Find them here.

22 comments:

ratatouille's archives said...

California Girl said,"I felt left out. So, here it is, very last minute, the embodiment of what reading the TT word "Impression" felt like to me."
C.G., Sometimes good things come in small packages and at the last minute.
Thanks, for sharing the paintings of Claude Monet's "La Japonaise" and Edouard Manet's "Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe" and most definitely, a little history about your interests in the arts.
Happy TT
DeeDee ;-D

Brian Miller said...

i was an artist once...this brought back wonderful memories of painting and doing the tour of the art museums in NY.

Anonymous said...

I like this one. Tho' I'm not a student of the Arts I still find myself impressed with all that there is. I like to look past all the criticisms and just see the works for what they are. Happy TT :)

Tanna said...

Very interesting post CG. I enjoyed getting to know more about you through this. I find it interesting how different periods in art, music and architecture are "rejections" of the period preceeding them e.g. the ones you mentioned and for architecture the Arts and Crafts vs. Victorian design. The pendulum swings...

Susan said...

Those are both such beautiful paintings! I've never seen either one. Is that an early piece by Monet, before Givenchy? You should get together with my good friend Lynn who has a degree in art history. Her specialty is the Italian Renaissance. I love going to museums with her. She even lied us in to see the Vermeers collection on special exhibit at the National Gallery in 1996. She's very bold. ;)

Susan said...

BTW, I'm stealing your Playlist! I love, love, love Johnny Mercer and the Wynton Marsalis 'Skylark' is one of my favorite renditions of it! :)

California Girl said...

Tim: I typically do not respond to TT comments because I'm reading other posts but I should have said, "I left myself out and wanted back in" (I sound whiney otherwise).

Brian: you're still an artist.

Subby: it's never too late to study.

Tanna: I never thought much about revealing myself through this but you are right. I think we all reveal bits and pieces with each new post. It's funny, when I studied Impressionism in the late Sixties/early Seventies, it was just another period in art. Now, it is the most popular and probably most expensive period in the art world.

Susan: the Manet is considered his most famous work. The Monet is less well-known than his other evocative works such as "Water Lilies" or "Haystacks".

And, yes, isn't the Mercer collection great? I really had to make selections. He was so prolific.

Anonymous said...

California Girl, I did the English Lit thing waaay back in H.S. and the art basics...mahapds it's time to further my education. Thanks :)

Tess Kincaid said...

I was lucky enough to see "La Japonaise" at a special exhibit in Chicago some time back. It was stunningly magnificent in person.

(I majored in art in college, as well!)

Wings1295 said...

Beautiful choices.

Betsy Brock said...

Well, we would have felt left out if you didn't join in! ;) Love that first Monet...never seen that one before!

Stephanie said...

Wonderful art!

tattytiara said...

You know I've never really investigated the work of Manet, but now I do want to.

Coffee Messiah said...

Oh yes, Eric Satie.......and Bill Evans isn't bad either ; )

Left out? Hmmmmm, guess that never crossed my mind!

Cheers 2 U and yours!

Betty said...

I had never connected Satie with Impressionism, but, oh yes, I see what you mean. My favourites are the Gymnopedies.

Kate Hanley said...

This was such a cool post for me and brought back so many memories! I took a theater history course about ancient Greek theater and at the same time took an art history course. The similarities between how drama changed and how Greek art changed during the same period were fascinating. The next show I'm doing (after R and J) is Sunday in the Park with George, Sondheim's musical about Seurat's Sunday Afternoon sur la grande jette. Oh, I could go on...but nice job!

Candie said...

I really like your post,you were right to participate.Have a nice day!

Baino said...

I am an art lover and impressionism is one of my passions. I swear, if I get to Paris, I'll burn stare holes in the Monets,Manets, Seurats . . . all of them. They'll have to throw me out of the Louvre at closing.

ArtSparker said...

That kimono painting of Monet's imprinted itself on me permanently the first time I saw it...I think there is a whole question as to how much we become what we wear, and how e show our insides on our outside, all unaware. Thanks for posting, very inspiring.

Mike said...

Funny, I was talking to brian Miller and I said that I thought that he might be able to do something about impressionist art! LIke I really know anything about it!?

Marguerite said...

Fabulous painings! I was an art major, in college, too! Birds of a feather, really do flock together, cher! Great Theme Thursday!

anthonynorth said...

An informative post. I love art, but sadly my hands don't comply.