Styles and Movements: French Naturalism

         

      Vincent Van Gogh, The Potato Eaters,  1885*

        Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, At Grenelle, Absinthe Drinker, 1887**

        

         Eduoard Manet, A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, ca. 1882***

French Naturalism (1880-1890) was inspired by certain aspects of Realism. Realists, such as Gustave Courbet, depicted the every-day without embellishing it.  The French Naturalists depicted the reality of their world, but unlike Realism, they took more stylistic freedom. This is depicted in Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère.

French Naturalism also shared similarities with a style of literature used by Èmile Zola, Naturalism. This literary style focused on depicting that human character was shaped by society and by natural conditions.  Zola's texts, such as Thérèse Raquin, L'Assommoir , Nana, and Germinal show the most depraved but resilient side of humankind. Paintings such as Van Gogh’s The Potato Eaters and Toulouse-Lautrec’s At Grenelle, Absinthe Drinker depict this side of contemporary life. French Naturalism eventually changed because of the artist’s desire to romanticize aspects of daily life. Artists also extended beyond Realism and French Naturalism. By depicting contemporary life as it was, they produced a style that had a sketch-like quality. This style would evolve to become Impressionism.  

Notes: 
Please Refer to Wikipedia, Encyclopedia Brittanica for more information on the web or Gardner's Art Through the Ages textbook. 
* Reprinted, Robert Wallace, The World of Van Gogh 1853-1890, Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1969.
** Reprinted, Thomson, Richard, Phillip Dennis Cate, and Mary Chapin Weaver, Toulouse-Lautrec and Montmartre. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2005.
*** Reprinted, Eisenmann, Stephan F., ed, Nineteenth Century Art: A Critical History. London, UK: Thames & Hudson, Ltd, 2002.

Not Another Art Blog!

But really, why do we need another art blog?

I have spent the better part of ten years studying art history and studio art, but even I find keeping up with the current trends in the art market daunting. Aside from needing to read every new review, article, and thesis, it is incredibly difficult in our globalized world to keep up with the international, national, and the virtual art world.*

So I am starting small. This blog was made in part to help educate others and in part to guide me. I believe that the "everyday Joe" is intimidated by the contemporary art gallery, just as a latte-sipping, beret-wearing gallery owner might be intimidated by a football game. Its only natural that people like to stick with what they know.

In hopes to one day become an advocate for the arts in the 'real' world, I thought I would try to keep up with the arts in a less formal and more inviting forum. So I open up myself to your thoughts, suggestions, praises, and complaints about where this journey should lead.

Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots. -Frank A. Clark

Okay, now to the nitty-gritty, here are a couple of notes on the topics I will choose. Due to the fact that well-known artists, museums, and art centers have been covered by every art blog, art museum, and curator, this site will focus on local modern and contemporary artists, exhibitions, and events.** This will provide me with a challenge and you with rare tidbits. However, local may mean something different to you than to me. I live in several different places in one year, depending on season, holiday, and job,  so my topics will range from city to city. Enjoy!

*If you do want to read every article, my links are a good place to start!
**Although for most of my topic choices this is true, I will need to cover a range of well known and less known styles and movements.