Grantham University Surrealist Artwork Essay
ANSWER
Salvador Dali is a surrealist.
“The Persistence of Memory” is an artwork.
Date: 1931
Oil paint on canvas
The 1920s saw the emergence of the surrealist movement, which sought to reflect the unconscious mind and defy accepted aesthetic rules. Sigmund Freud’s theories greatly impacted it, and it investigated dream-like, illogical, and surreal imagery. The distinction between reality and fiction was blurred in the attempt of surrealists to capture the mind’s inner workings.
Salvador Dali’s “The Persistence of Memory” is a classic example of Surrealism. This piece of art depicts a desolate environment with melting clocks draped across various items. The scene’s hazy, dreamy aspect and warped perception of space and time reflect Surrealism’s concern with the subconscious and the absurd.
De Stijl: Piet Mondrian as an artist
“Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow” is a work of art.
Date: 1930
Oil paint on canvas
An artistic movement called De Stijl, commonly referred to as Neoplasticism, first appeared in the early 20th century, particularly in the Netherlands. It sought to distill art to its most basic components and develop a global visual language based on geometric shapes and primary hues. The abstraction used by the movement to achieve a sense of harmony and balance was influenced by spiritual beliefs.
Piet Mondrian’s “Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow” is a classic example of a De Stijl piece of art. It has rectangular fields of the main colors (red, blue, and yellow), white spaces, and a grid of black lines connecting at right angles. The movement’s emphasis on simplicity, order, and a distillation of form to its most fundamental components is reflected in this composition.
Comparison and contrast: Surrealism and De Stijl are two unique aesthetic styles, each with its own set of philosophies and visual motifs.
Ideology:
The examination of the subconscious mind, dreams, and irrationality are the main topics of Surrealism. It frequently uses bizarre juxtapositions of components to inspire a feeling of mystery and emotion.
By abstracting and condensing form to its most fundamental geometric components, the De Stijl movement seeks to achieve harmony and universality. It aims to convey a sense of harmony and order in the spiritual world.
Visual Qualities:
Surrealism: Makes use of organic, flowing shapes and lines. Vibrant and evocative colors can have a dreamy feel. The goal is to elicit awe and amazement in the audience.
De Stijl is characterized by the employment of primary colors (red, blue, and yellow), non-colors (black, white, and gray), and straight, horizontal, and vertical lines. To convey a sense of balance and precision, geometric shapes are placed precisely.
In conclusion, De Stijl and Surrealism are separate artistic traditions with opposing philosophies and aesthetics. While De Stijl strives for global harmony through geometric abstraction and color purity, Surrealism explores the mind and emotions through dreamy images.
QUESTION
Description
Discuss the features of surrealism in one Surrealist artwork (pp.915-922 Kleiner Ch 29).
Discuss Piet Mondrian’s concept of Neoplasticism (p. 922-23 Kleiner Ch 29).
Compare and contrast the visual stylistic features of surrealism and de Stijl.
Include the following aspects in the assignment:
Artist’s name, title, date, media of one surrealist artwork; artist’s name, title, date, media of one De Stijl artwork.
Explain the underlying ideology of each stylistic movement and identify any significant cultural influences
Describe the visual features of each style by applying the visual elements (line, space, shape, color)
Compare and contrast the styles of surrealism and De Stijl
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