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art is life... life is art » Lists » Some of My Favorite Works of Art, Part V
Some of My Favorite Works of Art, Part V
-
Jan 26, 2010
- by Count_Orlok_22
- posted in art is life... life is art
This is my fifth and final list in this series, which I created to showcase my favorite pieces of art.
Lists 1, 2, 3, and 4 can be viewed here. In creating these lists, I tried to give a sampling of my diverse and eclectic tastes. I've covered different styles and movements including Renaissance, post-impressionism, realism, Pre-Raphaelite, expressionism, surrealism, etc.. In the past I organized my lists (somewhat) based upon their themes and artists. Here I basically abandoned that approach and pretty much set up a free-for-all.
As with my prior lists, this one is not placed into any order of preference and I've included very brief explanations as to why I've placed each piece on the list.
Lists 1, 2, 3, and 4 can be viewed here. In creating these lists, I tried to give a sampling of my diverse and eclectic tastes. I've covered different styles and movements including Renaissance, post-impressionism, realism, Pre-Raphaelite, expressionism, surrealism, etc.. In the past I organized my lists (somewhat) based upon their themes and artists. Here I basically abandoned that approach and pretty much set up a free-for-all.
As with my prior lists, this one is not placed into any order of preference and I've included very brief explanations as to why I've placed each piece on the list.
1
It should come as no surprise that I should top off my final art list (of this series) with the artwork for my favorite film, Nosferatu. Albin Grau's conceptual drawings and promotional posters are classic examples of modern film art and are highly collectible, not to mention extraordinarily rare. Grau took his inspiration from a number of different sources including the growing genre of expressionism, 17th, 18th, and 19th century romantic and Gothic art, as well as medieval frescoes and engravings.
2
Jim Fitzpatrick's classic and iconic image of Argentinian Communist revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara. This is the original version, which was done in 1968, and was later pirated in a Warhol-inspired montage by Gerard Malanga. However, it is this version which remains the most memorable and has been reprinted perhaps more than any other image in the last half century.
3
A powerful indictment of violence and industrial progress at the expense of nature. One of my favorite expressionist images.
4
Truly bizarre and classic all at once. Magritte's use of strange mannequins was common during his days, but he was certainly the master at giving them personality. Truly bizarre and classic all at once. Magritte's use of strange mannequins was common during his days, but he was certainly the master at giving them personality.
5
One of the most extraordinary paintings I have ever seen! Beautiful, ominous, and poetic, the painting depicts a dark female angel (the Angel of Death) releasing the soul from a grave-digger's body. Truly awesome!
6
Howard Pyle's greatest painting!!! Growing up, I was terrified of this image and now it's my favorite artistic depiction of the legendary ghost captain and his crew. Awesome!
7
One of my favorite modern paintings. A perfect, anarchic expression of dislike for all institutions and forms of authority.
8
Another incredible Wiertz image! This one is perhaps even more mysterious and disturbing than The Premature Burial because it adds a hint of eroticism, in addition to the fear of death. Dark and gloomy, but also beautiful.
9
An unusually orthodox image for Escher, but I suppose that his creativity was probably progressive and he had to start somewhere. I do love the over all simplicity and almost medieval style to this particular image, though.
10
A post-impressionistic painting showing the results of the Industrial Revolution, as a beautiful sunset is tainted by a thick cloud of pollution emanating from an industrial factory.
11
Munch's unusual symbolic work that shows three different periods in a woman's life. There's been some debate among artistic scholars as to exactly what three stages of womanhood they are. The first two are self-explanatory, since they are clearly childhood, womanhood (note the sense of sexual freedom that the intermediate woman appears to be experiencing), but the third phase is a little less clear... Some say that it is widowhood, which explains the black garbs, yet not the other figure on the far left. However, others say that it represents death and the other figure is that of a mourner.
12
This should come as no surprise that I would top off my final list of artwork with the conceptual art of my favorite film, Nosferatu. Grau's designs were interesting in that he was inspired by a number of different sources. One of them was the growing genre of German Expressionism, while another was the Gothic and Romantic art of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. He also took inspiration from his old medieval drawings.
13
Rivera's atmospheric and stylized portrayal of the Mexican holiday is so alarmingly real in mood and full of Hispanic culture. I love the skulls!
14
One of the all-time great Escher images. This one is more simplistic in that it doesn't contain a physical or mathematical contradiction, but it is beautifully drawn, particularly the sphere which looks quite real.
15
This classic piece of American propaganda from WWII is commonly mistaken with Rosie the Riveter, but perhaps what is so interesting is that when people talk of Rosie the Riveter they usually picture this image.
16
Rockwell's painting was part of a four part series known as the Freedom Series. This particular image resonates most with me, mainly because it shows a less idealized portrait of America and it displays the power of the individual as well as the community.
17
The official Rosie the Riveter, by Norman Rockwell. Not quite as empowering, but certainly entertaining.
18
Magritte's strangely futuristic and ominous depiction of flying machines made from mundane, everyday objects.
19
Jean Auguste Domique Ingres' painting was harshly criticized by realist painters who said that it was anatomically incorrect due to the unusual length of the woman's spine. In actuality, this was entirely intentional on Ingres' part since he elongated her back for a more alluring pose.
20
Gorgeous colors and texture. You can almost hear the jungle animals.
21
One of Escher's signature images. I love this one because of the misleading and impossible passage of the water. Escher was a genius when it came to designing impossible architecture that could only exist in a two-dimensional image.
22
Chagall's astoundingly personal painting of a humble newspaper salesman. At once, this painting is both heartbreaking. Clearly, the newspaper salesman is poor and desperate. I love the colors.
23
Titian's classic Renaissance painting of a newlywed sitting with Cupid and Venus. Lovely tones and texture.
24
A beautiful and touching painting of slave abolitionist John Brown being escorted to the gallows.
25
A great Escher image that is highly evocative and reminds me of various myths about floating mountains with unreachable fortresses on top of them. Done in a simple, but memorable style.
26
Sort of a sequel to Escher's Paradise, this time detailing humanity's fall from grace. Very stylized and cleanly designed, which is a contrast to what the story of the picture is all about.
27
Lichtenstein's famous image has been thought by some to be a reproduction of a comic book panel, and although it was inspired by a real scene, the image is actually an original. Also, it has caused some controversy, because there's been some question as to whether it glorifies violence or is making an ironic statement about society's violent tastes.
28
One of those classic pirate images that makes you want to head out on an adventure on the seas and travel to exotic islands to find buried treasure. One the one hand it captures the essence of a child's fantasy of what a pirate's life would be like, but it also hints at the darker, more violent reality.
29
A graceful and delicate Rococo portrait that places a great deal of emphasis on the facial features.
30
Another wonderful Boucher portrait of Madame de Pompadour. I love the shade of pink used on her dress.
31
One of those paintings that manages to be beautiful and somehow off-putting. I love the use of color , lighting, and the facial expressions, but the two characters seem as though they belong to two different paintings.
32
The colors, lighting, and facial expressions here are still astounding, yet this painting, unlike the other, manages to seem more complete. Lovely.
33
A visual metaphor for the immediacy and brevity of passion. Lovely colors.
34
A great example of American art and its reflection of American folklore.
35
What can I say? This is just awe-inspiring.
What did you think of this list?
Helpful
15
Thought-Provoking
15
Fun to Read
15
Well-Organized
15
About the list creator
Count_Orlok_22
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Dec 16, 2008
Last Login: Jun 7, 2012 07:25 PM UTC
Last Login: Jun 7, 2012 07:25 PM UTC
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