ART PROJECT by Alma Garcia-Parrado Sagrera

- Expressionism:

Castle and Sun, Paul Klee

Castle and Sun' is instantly recognizable
due to its distinctive composition and
visual style. Klee employs geometric
shapes, bold colors and intricate lines to
create a surreal landscape that
transcends traditional depictions of
reality. The angular shapes of the castle
and the radiant sun above it give the
painting a whimsical, dreamlike quality.
This unique style distinguishes 'Castle
and Sun' from other works of art of its time and continues to capture the
imagination of viewers. Beyond its fascinating appearance, 'Castle and Sun'
has a deeper symbolic meaning. Klee was deeply influenced by explorations of
spirituality and mysticism, which are reflected in the painting. The castle
symbolizes stability, order and civilization, while the radiant sun represents
celestial and divine powers. The contrasting elements of the painting provoke
contemplation of the interplay between nature and human constructions, the
physical and the metaphysical, resulting in an engaging and
thought-provoking visual experience.

Don Quijote, Pablo Picasso

Throughout four centuries, Don Quixote de la
Mancha has ridden around the world inspiring all
kinds of artists because of the spiritual and
ideological force that Miguel de Cervantes
Saavedra, its author, gave him. Pablo Picasso's
drawing of Don Quixote depicts four central
figures seated and standing in the foreground,
namely the characters Don Quixote, on the right,
seated on his horse called Rocinante, and Sancho
Panza, on the left, seated on his donkey called the
donkey. Don Quixote is the largest figure and
appears in profile, that is, in profile. He is
depicted slender and seated on his equally slender and tall horse. Both tower
above Sancho Panza and his donkey. He looks forward or downward toward
Sancho Panza. The texture in Pablo Picasso's Don Quixote is evident in the
medium used by the artist, which consists of black areas of ink. In Pablo
Picasso's Don Quixote, texture is evident in the medium used by the artist,
consisting of inky black areas, which also imply the texture of the environment
through the black squiggly patterns of line in a seemingly hasty and
rudimentary manner, for example, the grass and soil on the hill in the
foreground or the lines emanating around the sun to imply its light and bright
nature.

Autumn sea XII, Emil Nolde

Emil Nolde painted Autumn Sunset in
Utenwarf, in his native Schleswig, which
would become Denmark after the war. In
that area Nolde had acquired a house in
1916 where he would spend long periods
each year. This melancholy painting, which
according to Peter Vergo was executed
between May and October 1924, depicts the
flat landscape of the area, with its
characteristic large clouds, in the midst of an agitated storm, giving it an
aspect of disturbing menace. Like most of his paintings of the 1920s, in
Autumn Sunset the colors become more saturated and are charged with
symbolic and emotive connotations. From his first steps as a painter, Nolde
had attached special significance to color.

- Surrealism:

The persistence of memory,

Salvador Dalí
Dalí's mythical painting of soft
watches is, contrary to what many
think, a rather small canvas, but it
is nonetheless fascinating and is
one of the stars of the MoMA in
New York. A simple seascape
(typical of Dalí's Cadaqués, with
Cape Creus and its rugged
coastline) in which there is an
unusual scene: a strange creature sleeping or perhaps inert on the sand (some
see a self-portrait of the painter) and some clocks melting on it and on other
elements of the painting. According to Dalí himself, who was 28 years old
when he painted it, two things were his inspiration for this painting. First, he
was inspired by Camembert cheeses (“tender, extravagant, solitary and
paranoid-critical”) and Einstein's relativity. We know that Dalí was in love
with science and followed the scientist's work with curiosity. Apparently the
melting clocks are an unconscious symbol of the relativity of space and time.
They are very realistic clocks that keep telling the time (6 PM or so). Dalí's
technique was very academic and his paintings look like real dreams.

The son of man, René Magritte

This is supposedly a self-portrait of Magritte,
although of course, you can't see his face. It is
covered by a flying apple that rotates in front of
him and does not allow us to recognize the
portrait. This is typical of Magritte, who
thought in a very wise and surrealistic way that
everything we see hides something else, and of
course we always want to see what is hidden,
even if what we see hides nothing.
But three things cannot hide the fact that we
are in front of a Magritte painting:
First of all the apple, a recurring element in the
artist's work that can allude to sin (Adam and
Eve), temptation and even immortality. A religious symbol that may be
associated with the title “son of man”, which refers to Christ, although
Magritte's titles always hide something, something that is probably nothing.
Then we have the character in a bowler hat and suit, a garment with which the
artist himself walked and that wants to represent “a normal and ordinary
man”. Of course there is nothing less ordinary than normality. Let's remember
that we all hide something, even if it's nothing. And another thing that appears
in several of the artist's works is covering someone's face. Whether with an
apple, a bunch of flowers or a damp cloth, or perhaps representing the figure
from behind or even multiplying it to make it anonymous, the person is
hidden, thus awakening our interest.
 Harlequin carnival, Joan
Miró
The Harlequin Carnival is a
surrealist work by the Catalan
painter Joan Miró. In it, Miró
created a poetic and dreamlike
language, where a series of
elements appear, which would be
part of his later works. The
multitude of figures represented,
creates a confusing amalgam of
elements that seem to float over
the illusory room, all of them having a meaning for the painter. The most
outstanding elements are the following: the harlequin adorned with a large
mustache, an automaton playing the guitar, a cat chasing a ball, a ladder with
an embedded ear or a window. Also, we find scattered throughout the scene,
different insects, fish, musical notes or pentagrams, globes, and elongated
figures. All these elements symbolize the hunger that Miró suffered at that
time of his life, a situation that, according to the painter, produced various
hallucinations that he tried to capture in his work. The range of colors used by
Miró is primary. The blue, yellow, red, white and black, create a focus of
attention on the figures and the scene. The perfect composition and
perspective created, denote the study and detail that the painter invested in
the work. Joan Miró was a fauvist painter in his early years, slipping into
cubist and neo-cubist art, to finally base his style on an abstract surrealism.

- Abstract expressionism:

Abstract eye, Richard Pousette-Dart

The artwork Abstract eye is a creation from the
famous artist Richar Pousette-Dart, known for
being one of the pioneers of abstract
expressionism in the United States. The
painting is characterized by his bold use of
color and texture, elements that are hallmarks
of his artistic style. In “Abstract eye”,
Pousette-Dart uses a palette of vibrant and
contrasting colors, which creates a sense of
movement and energy in the work. The strokes
and brushstrokes are dynamic, bringing a sense of fluidity and vitality to the
composition. The texture is palpable, adding depth and dimension to the
painting. The title “Abstract eye” suggests the possibility of an abstract or
subjective view, inviting the viewer to interpret the work through their own
experiences and emotions. The central circular shape evokes the image of an
eye, which may suggest the idea of observation or introspection. In summary,
“Abstract eye” is a work that reflects Pousette-Dart's mastery in creating
dynamic and evocative compositions. His use of color, texture and form invites
an immersive visual experience that stimulates the viewer's imagination and
emotions.

The sheaf, Henri Matisse

"The Sheaf" by Henri Matisse is a
renowned painting that captures the
essence of simplicity and vibrant colors,
characteristic of the artist's style. The
painting depicts a sheaf of wheat, centrally
positioned and surrounded by a vivid
background consisting of blues, greens,
and yellows. At first glance, one might
interpret this artwork as a celebration of
nature, harvest, and the rural landscape.
Matisse's exceptional use of color and form
allows the painting to exude a sense of
vitality and joy. The significance of "The Sheaf" lies in its ability to convey the
beauty and abundance found in the natural world. Matisse's brushstrokes
emphasize the richness of the wheat, exalting the agricultural symbol that has
been central to human survival for centuries. Additionally, the carefully
chosen colors add depth and intensity to the composition, further adding to
the sense of energy emanating from the painting. However, upon delving
deeper into the layers of Matisse's masterpiece, a different interpretation
emerges, one that challenges the traditional understanding of the artwork.

- Hyperrealism:

Lilium tingitane, Claudio Bravo

“Lilium tingitane” is a work by
acclaimed Chilean artist Claudio
Bravo, known for his technical mastery and ability to capture beauty and
precision in his hyper-realistic works. This painting depicts a lily (lilium) of
the tingitane variety, a species characterized by its delicate and elegant
flowers. In “Lilium tingitane”, Bravo demonstrates his mastery in depicting
the texture and intricate details of the flower with astonishing precision. Each
petal, stigma and stamen is presented with photographic fidelity, allowing the
viewer to appreciate the natural beauty and complexity of the flower on an
intimate level. The carefully balanced composition and skillful use of light and
shadow give the work a sense of serenity and stillness. The neutral background
highlights the beauty of the flower, allowing it to be the absolute focal point of
the painting. In addition, the title “Lilium tingitane” provides botanical
information about the flower depicted, adding an educational element to the
work. This combination of technical precision, aesthetic beauty and
informational content is representative of Bravo's distinctive approach to his
hyperrealist works. In summary, “Lilium tingitane” is an impressive example
of Claudio Bravo's talent for depicting nature with astonishing precision,
conveying to the viewer a renewed appreciation for the delicacy and
complexity of natural forms.

Crystal dish with melons, Mauro

David
In this painting we can see how Mauro
David painted this plate like it was a
photo, making it look like a real life
photo. He captured a situation in his
real life and tried to paint it as realistic
as possible. We can see how he just
went straight to anything he had
around, trying to improve his artial
skills by simply drawing anything he could see. This painting is not very
popular, but it is fantastic to see, like if you were in his house at the same time,
he couldn't get popular in his time and his paintings were not recognised, but
that doesn't deny how good some of his paintings are.