Possibilities of Exploring, Understanding, and Appreciating Art by Tiambria Phillips

         The first time I heard "Romantic Era," I immediately thought that the artwork would be full of people professing their love or having a deep love for their artwork. Instead, it seemed to be full of judgment and change. Several different kinds of art were made during this time. My personal favorites were by pre-Raphaelite painters.  John Everett Millais, Ophelia , 1851–52, oil on canvas, 76.2 x 111.8 cm  Ophelia by John Everett Millais is one of the most well-known paintings from the Pre-Raphaelite period (SmartHistory 2025). It is based on the Hamlet story by William Shakespeare. What Millais chose to paint was the moment in the Hamlet play when Ophelia was "driven mad by Hamlet's murder of her father, drowns herself was very unusual for the time" (SmartHistory 2025). There was so much attention to detail at all points of the painting. At first glance, one may assume it was a photograph of a woman. Instead, it was a painting brought to life t...

     In classical art, various styles come to mind. A personal favorite of mine is the Rococo style, which is "a celebration of joy, wealth, and careless pleasure" (Kirpalov 2024). This art style caused many in the lower classes to start expressing resentment toward the nobility because it showed their lack of care and low morals. A particular piece of art that stands out to me is called The Bolt by Jean-Honore Fragonard, which Louis-Gabriel Véri-Raionard, Marquis de Véri commissioned, but they had to wait four years for it to be completed (Kirpalov 2024). The Bolt , Jean-Honore Fragonard. 1777. Oil on canvas, 73 x 93 cm Musée du Louvre, Paris.           Various themes can be seen within this painting: the Baroque style with the play on light and the diagonal forms that the man and woman make, and the Rococo style through the embrace between the man and woman as he bolts the bedroom door. It is clear to all the viewers what sort of acts will ...

      Artwork during the Baroque Era connects to emotions on a physical level. The contrasts of light and dark create an illusion that they are a part of our space. Moments that a painting seems to be real moments, whether they are in the middle of pouring a liquid or looking out of a window. During this era, the Medici family was still commissioning artwork. One of those artists is assumed to be Artemisia Gentileschi. The Medici family commissioned Donatello for the sculpture of Judith moving to cut off Holofernes' head. Donatello, Judith and Holofernes , 1460, bronze, 236 cm high (Palazzo Vecchio, Florence).      While it is not entirely sure, it is believed that they were interested in the story of Judith and Holofernes, which is why they are supposed to have commissioned Artemisia Gentileschi for her four paintings of this story from the Jewish. Bible, "The Uffizi Judith was likely either commissioned by or gifted to the Medici, Florence's ruling ...

       During the Renaissance, there was a movement towards humanism, in which artists focused on humans' intellect and achievements rather than solely on religion. Humanism relates to art, where the artist highlights the people and actions within the pieces. Leonardo Da Vinci was a key person during the Italian Renaissance (1452-1519) for humanism. Da Vinci was a man who was constantly in pursuit of knowledge, "In his explicit turn back to an ancient model in search of knowledge and wisdom, Leonardo follows early humanist practice" (Jones). This often led to his sketching various parts of human forms and even plants. An example of the human form is the Vitruvian Man , a sketch created in 1490. When it was created, it was not so much for artwork but rather a process of research where each line was carefully thought about and how to display the scientific concepts.  Leonardo da Vinci, “Vitruvian Man,” c. 1490, pen and watercolor over metalpoint on paper, 34....

Analyzing art is something anyone can do and most likely does without even noticing it. Often, people can say whether they like a piece of art but cannot explain why they don't. This is something that I could not even relate to until I learned about Art Elements, which are line, shape, tone, color, pattern, texture, and form. There is also another way to describe why a specific piece of art is not for the viewer's enjoyment, and that is the emotions the art elicits in the viewer.  Tiziano Vecelli (1488/90-1576) also known as Titian, was known for his paintings that focused on landscapes and color while also telling a story. All of his work was done in Venice, where he was an Italian Renaissance painter who paved the way for Western Art. Many of his artworks focus on religious moments, but there are some that are portraits or centered around Greek Mythology. One of those paintings from Greek Mythology is Orpheus and Eurydice, which was painted in 1508 and will be focused on from...

       Hi! My name is Tiambria Phillips. I am currently in my sophomore year of college at UAF taking classes through distance learning to get my elementary education degree. It took me a long time to work up the courage to go to college because I was afraid of the debt associated with it. However, it got to the point where I realized that I would rather have debt and work in a field I love than be debt-free and full of regrets. This is why I am a 27-year-old just starting college. But enough about that and let us get to why you are really here.  Chinese Landscape Painting     Throughout my life, I have always had a love for Chinese landscape painting because they're simple but beautiful. While I found many other types of art beautiful like the Renaissance period, I've still always been drawn to landscapes. The lack of overwhelming color and simplicity of it seems to always catch my eye. When I was younger, I took several art classes, and I never seeme...