To art or not to art.....
If we can’t understand art, let’s at least have fun with it
Anna Medvedeva
Without further ado, here’s the perfect mood boost for you! (have fun and learn)
Giuseppe Arcimboldo: "Vertumnus"
Yep, that’s the human head made up of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other natural elements. Giuseppe Arcimboldo created this portrait of Emperor Rudolf II in 1591, and his imaginative work later influenced artists like Pablo Picasso. Arcimboldo is often called the “Grandfather of Surrealism” because his art explored ideas similar to those of later surrealists, like Salvador Dalí.
Even though Surrealism wasn’t officially started until 1924, Arcimboldo’s work plays with the same kind of visual tricks and dream-like qualities. The clever mix of a face and individual vegetables creates a sense of wonder and taps into our subconscious. His impressive skill and quirky humor show that he was truly ahead of his time, blending artistic talent with creative ideas that still fascinate people today.
"The White Cat" by Pierre Bonnard
Bonnard was part of a group of Post-Impressionist artists called The Nabis, which means “prophets” in Hebrew. The Nabis believed that applied arts, like making decorative objects, were just as important as fine arts like painting and sculpture. Besides painting on canvas, they created decorative items like vases, wall panels, and tapestries. Their paintings often had a decorative style too, with carefully arranged designs and intricate details inspired by Japanese woodblock prints. Bonnard was one of the most famous members of The Nabis, and he was well supported by art patrons and critics.
In “The White Cat,” the cat is shown with its back arched, and the painting’s curved lines resemble Japanese prints, which is typical of The Nabis style. Cats were a popular subject in Japanese art, including works by Katsushika Hokusai. X-rays of the painting reveal that Bonnard spent a lot of time adjusting the cat’s paws to get them just right. Despite this effort, the cat appears cartoonish, with a body that’s out of proportion, no visible neck, and long legs. It looks somewhat like a distant relative of Salvador Dalí’s tall elephants. Among unusual artworks, this one is definitely a standout.
"Sirens" by Arnold Böcklin, 1875,
Arnold Böcklin, a Swiss artist, was a major figure in German Symbolism. He often drew inspiration from Northern European myths and ancient Greek stories, creating some unusual artworks. His paintings featured characters like satyrs, nymphs, mermaids, and even sirens—half-women, half-bird creatures known for luring sailors to their doom with their enchanting songs. According to Greek legends, these sirens drove sailors mad, causing them to crash their ships on rocks. Once the ships were wrecked, the sirens would reveal their true, monstrous selves and devour the helpless sailors.
In Böcklin’s paintings, however, his sirens look more comical than captivating. With their feathery bird-like bottoms and feet, they don’t seem as alluring as the mythical creatures they’re supposed to be. Instead of being dangerous temptresses, Böcklin’s sirens come off as oddly unattractive. Symbolist artists often used sirens to represent dangerous, seductive women, but Böcklin’s version doesn’t quite fit this role. The Pre-Raphaelites also painted sirens, and their depictions were generally more true to the myth than Böcklin’s.
"Leda and the Swan" by Paul Cézanne
Paul Cézanne, a major modern painter, influenced many artists, including Pablo Picasso, who called him the “father of us all.” Cézanne’s unique style had a big impact, but he also created some unusual artworks.
One surprising piece is Cézanne’s 1880 painting “Leda and the Swan.” It shows a story from Greek mythology where Zeus, disguised as a swan, seduces Leda, the wife of a Spartan king. The result of their encounter was the birth of Helen, who later became known as Helen of Troy. Cézanne’s painting is quite sensual and a bit strange. In it, the swan is holding Leda’s hand in its beak, and Leda poses seductively with flushed cheeks. Cézanne even sketched earlier versions where Leda holds a champagne glass.
"The Persistence of Memory" (Salvador Dalí, 1931)
The melting clocks in Salvador Dalí’s painting symbolize the fluid and meaningless nature of time in dreams. These “soft,” non-working clocks appear in his famous artwork, The Persistence of Memory (1931).
"Campbell’s Soup Cans" (Andy Warhol, 1962)
Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans (1962) is a series of 32 canvases, each featuring one of the 32 soup varieties sold by the company at that time. The Museum of Modern Art in New York displayed them in the order the soups were introduced to the American public, as Warhol didn’t specify how they should be exhibited.
So, the next time you see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre or Guernica at the Reina Sofia, remember that each artwork has its own unique story.
"Comedian" by Maurizio Cattelan
“Creativity takes courage.” – Henri Matisse
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