The Floor Scrapers

Gustave Caillebotte
Gustave Caillebotte, The Floor Scrapers, 1875
This Impressionist piece contains three workers on their knees working tediously to scrape the floors of a bourgeois apartment. The three shirtless men seem to represent a form of masculinity and strength as they are the workforce behind creating such an extravagant setting, but their hunched poses could be hinting at vulnerability and exhaustion instead. The 19th century was filled with wealthy people attempting to impress their snobby friends with baller houses and fancy clothes, which is cool until you realize that their are other guys doing labor jobs for some terrible pay.

The renovation occurring in the apartment also references the modernization of Paris with new technological developments. The city is getting filled with railroad stations, crowded streets, and luxury apartment buildings.

The costs for all these improvements are the hardships of manual labor. The floor scrapings are curled just like the curled men. The aren't in a comfortable position, and the rich would never understand how complex and difficult it is to create what they desire. That's probably why this painting was first rejected, as people did not enjoy how the bodies were portrayed.
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The Night

Ferdinand Hodler
Ferdinand Hodler, The Night, 1890
BY MOHAMMED CHAUDHRI

The Night contains a deathly figure resting on top of a terrified naked dude. This piece made a sensational debut after shocking viewers with its hilarious yet terrifying exposition. The realism found within the bodies in the piece along with the central hooded character create shocking moments for viewers living in the age of Modernism. 

Modernism served to push artists into creating more innovative pieces that bring shocking reactions in viewers. Everything has been done before, but artists were now trying to blend techniques in order to create refreshing pieces filled with confusion and complexity.

You can't really tell if the hooded figure is there to harm Hodler or arouse him. The choice of having this central figure creates questions in many viewers eyes ultimately forcing them to immerse themselves within the piece to try and find an answer. I still don't understand the actual meaning of having the hooded figure, but I enjoy this piece because it gets me to try and understand its placement even if there is no actual specific reason for it.
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Solitude

Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol, Big Electric Chair, 1967

Solitude
By Ella Wheeler

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone;
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
But has trouble enough of its own.

Sing, and the hills will answer;
Sigh, it is lost on the air;
The echoes bound to a joyful sound,
But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;
Grieve, and they turn and go;
They want full measure of all your pleasure,
But they do not need your woe.

Be glad, and your friends are many;
Be sad, and you lose them all,—
There are none to decline your nectared wine,
But alone you must drink life’s gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;
Fast, and the world goes by.
Succeed and give, and it helps you live,
But no man can help you die.

There is room in the halls of pleasure
For a large and lordly train,
But one by one we must all file on
Through the narrow aisles of pain.

Editor's Note: Students were asked to pair a poem and painting with no explanation of the connection.


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Oath of the Horatii

Jacques-Louis David
Jacques-Louis David, Oath of the Horatii, 1784
BY MOHAMMED CHAUDHRI

French painter Jacques-Louis David became the most influential artist during 18th century. He successfully set the example of Neoclassicism, a style is heavily influenced by the art and history of ancient Greece and Rome. He was a beast when it came to keeping the geometry influence in his pieces similar to how Romans and Greek dudes used to do.

The Oath of the Horatii blends ancient Rome and French Neoclassical elements, such as strong geometrical figures to define the new style that David had mastered. The piece itself tells the story of two families at war in Rome. The Horattis and the Curattis were having a conflict between three brothers on both sides. The catch is that both families have baes that are related to each-other, so if anyone dies they all suffer, which sucks.

The architecture such as the columns and arches are bold and define the dynamics of the family presented in the piece. The men are rigid and strong like the columns, while the women are curved and dependent on the columns. This is his most popular creation due to the fact that it's straight up Neo Class. 

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Anthony of Padua

Anthony of Padua
Kehinde Wiley, Anthony of Padua, 2013


BY MOHAMMED CHAUDHRI

K.Grigs,

I gift you, Anthony of Padua.

We only met three years ago, but I treat you as if you were my long-lost brother. I have never been able to relate to anyone other than you and the fact that both of our views on any subject matter are the same is freakin' absurd. The advice you gave me during our last talk has given me the strength to deal with the pressures of my life, and I want to thank you for that. I felt like I was going to be slumptfor an eternity if you wouldn't have talked some sense into me. I value your honesty with me, and I have kept your advice in my mind as I transition into a young adult.

I chose to gift you a Kehinde Wiley painting cause we both have a passion for fashion and music with a heavy urban influence. You try your hardest to understand other cultures and that's exactly why I mess with you. The paintings of Kehinde Wiley contain people from the city who remain in elegant poses with vibrant backgrounds filled with flowers. The fancy yet empowering poses remind me of how we both like to showcase our style. We keep it classy but flex at the same time. The paintings remind me exactly of how you photograph your models for Instagram. (Floral Patterns + Designer Clothes = Good Vibes)

It's been a long time since we've hung out,  but I hope that we can stay in touch for as long as possible. I'm thinking about visiting your place this summer before college takes over our lives. Just keep grinding in your art, and I'll kill it in music. We definitely need to collab in the future.
(Tyler x A$AP Rocky Visionary Movement)

 Best,


-MoMoney
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Blind Man's Bluff

Blind Man's Bluff
Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Blind Man's Bluff, 1751

BY MOHAMMED CHAUDHRI

Fragonard's Blind Man's Bluff, captures a scene where two lovers share a sensual, yet humorous moment. The flowers and greenery flourishing around the couple are reminiscent of Boucher's nature-filled compositions. The movement in the piece keeps the lovers in a carefree mood, almost as if they are playing a game. The relationship isn't specified, but it can be assumed that they are in a period of courtship, due to the blindfold being loose on the females face. She can slightly see from under the fabric, which implies a more carefree feel between the two lovers. The act of not being completely blinded shows that the female isn't being seduced blindly, but she is aware of her relationship status with the man.

The piece contains all elements of Rococo art. The French affinity for sensual experience and rural yet, fancy clothes blend together to form a piece that caters specifically towards aristocratic viewers of the 18th Century. The ornamental flowers and trees move the piece towards a more passionate relationship rather than a lustful one. Overall, Fragonard's ability to blend both sensual elements with nature showcase the recurrent themes in Rococo pieces in the 18th Century.
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Art History Hotties: Reclining Man

Art History Hotties
Konstantin Somov, Reclining Man, 1936

By MOHAMMED CHAUDHRI

Dang...just look at those sexy yet innocent eyes.

The vivid colors and sensual positioning of this Russian beauty gives viewers a man who isn't afraid to show a more sensitive side. The unbuttoned shirt of this Chris Evans (Captain America) look-alike gives off a confident look as well.

I just wish his arm would move a little so I could completely enjoy his abs. I want the whole meal, not a sneak peak. Somov was a Russian painter who certainly had  an affinity for the man above. I wouldn't judge because those lips are juicy. There are other portraits with this sexy beast with less clothing, but I will leave some room for the imagination.
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Untitled Film Still #10

Cindy Sherman
Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still #10,  1978 
By MOHAMMED CHAUDHRI

Cindy Sherman is a key figure in the evolution of photography in modern art. During the 1970s Sherman transitioned towards photography instead of realist-style paintings. Her photographs served as a tool to reveal feminine expectations and false portrayals in media. Her pieces contain cinematic moments with extravagant costumes and settings. Sherman's images examine and critique the greedy american culture of consumerism and foolish assumptions. Overall, her roleplaying and bold pictures helped to distinguish herself amongst the usual misogynistic modern artists in the 20th Century.

The image above is one of her 69 other untitled film stills. The torn grocery bag and anger in her eyes reminds viewers of tense moments in Hollywood dramas. Her other pieces share moments of her gazing at something off frame, which conveys deception and a sense of suspense. All of her pieces were created without the aid of anyone else. Her independent nature and work ethic to establish herself serves as an inspiration for women.

The collection of black and white photographs all tackle cliches of women in pop culture, but Sherman also insists that her photographs are left untitled in order to leave her pieces open to other interpretations. She claims that she has an affinity for dressing up in costumes, from movies, pornography and fashion, but it's pretty obvious that she was trying to shut down unrealistic expectations of women in the 20th Century. 

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Afro Emblems

Afro Emblems
Hale Woodruff, Afro Emblems, 1950
By MOHAMMED CHAUDHRI

Hale Woodruff's life as an African-American painter during a time of racial tension prevented his works from receiving instant appreciation. The elements of African American culture in his pieces all serve to empower and make viewers embrace their heritage. The fluid strokes and fauvist colors promote the beauty of one's culture. The square shapes and symbols within Afro Emblems are a tribute to African gold weights.

The gold weights are a flashback to Ashanti tribes prospering in a world filled with rich culture and art. Prior to slavery, Africa was filled with beauty and Woodruff's style serves to remind viewers of that golden era.
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