Post Impressionism and Art Nouveau

The two pieces I chose to compare are vastly different but made within a year of each other. The periods of each piece are Art Nouveau and Post Impressionism. The Art Nouveau period was one that was inspired by nature. Animals, trees, and even "deep-sea organisms" (Gontar) were the inspiration of many pieces of work. The period produced "architecture, painting, sculpture, and all the decorative arts" (Kleiner and Mamiya) and the artists were determined to fuse together arts and crafts; fine and practical art.

Post Impressionism was a direct result of Impressionism and put to use the artist's feelings and emotion rather than just their optical views. The main purpose of this period was to break loose of the binds that held back the potential creativity these artists felt they had within them. This period used the artist's passion to get a message across.

From the pieces I viewed, I chose an Art Nouveau piece that is seen here: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/artn/ho_2003.236.htm that is by Philippe Wolfers (Vase, ca. 1896). Wolfers has created this vase reminiscent of a gourd squash with leaves framing the bottom bulb and vines entertaining their way up the vase. The handle itself is made out of one of these curly, intricate vines. "The object employs the quintessential sculptural form, the figura serpentinata, which lures the observer into handling, turning, and admiring it from all sides" (Vase, ca. 1896).

This vase is gorgeous and very uniquely designed and who would not want to pick it up and turn it over in their hands to see all its views? This particular piece, as with many in the Art Nouveau period, could also be considered a crafted art. This can be used for practical purposes, such as displaying a small floral arrangement. It could also be used as decoration, but the option to put it to work is open to the possessor of the piece.

The Post Impressionist piece I chose to compare to the vase is seen here: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/poim/ho_1984.393.htm by Vincent van Gogh (Peasant Woman Cooking by a Fireplace 1885). This painting is very loose and the objects in the piece are defined more by color values rather than by a detailed brush. This painting shows a peasant woman who is cooking by the fireplace in what could be a shack due to the lighting, the fireplace being low to the ground and the rustic flooring. The message that van Gogh appears to be stating in this piece relates to the harsh surroundings in which this woman lives. She looks to have to make due with her sparse provision of shelter, fire, space and food. The lighting puts a harshness into the painting that casts this woman in darkness.

The reason I chose to compare these two pieces, of these two separate periods, is due to what they stand for. One is a work of art that can be used for practical use and still retain its beauty and worth. The other is a painting of a servant who is DOING the "practical" work which is reminiscent of her worth. It is ironic to me how the vase can be a practical object that is also a beautiful art piece in comparison to a painting which could be called Fine Art, that depicts a servant completing a practical task. Practicality is the similarity between these two pieces, yet it is also the conflict. I think the contrast of performance from both pieces is interesting and I like the similarities and conflicts they provide each other when side by side.

Works Cited

Gontar, Cybele. Art Nouveau. 01 October 2006. 06 September 2009 .

Kleiner, Fred S. and Christin J. Mamiya. Gardner's Art Through The Ages: A Concise History of Western Art. Ed. Sharon Adams Poore. Belmont: Thomson Learning Inc., 2008.

Peasant Woman Cooking by a Fireplace 1885. 01 December 2008. 06 September 2009 .

Vase, ca. 1896. 01 October 2006. 06 September 2009 .