ArtExpertOnLine

   All of us have heard about the French Impressionists and how their work was rejected by the Academie when the movement began. So today we have a work by an instructor of the Academie des Beaux in Paris, William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905).  This painting is The Nut Gatherers , from 1882, mid to late in Bouguereau's career.  It is an oil on canvas, part of the permanent collection of the Detroit Institute of Art, gift of Mrs William E. Scripps.  It measures 44 x 62.     Bouguereau's was made famous for his main body of work featuring modern interpretations of classical subjects, usually highlighting the female nude.  This painting is an exception.  Here we have two lovely young girls in a sweet, sentimental pose. Their closeness and bare feet are to show the bond of friendship and the vulnerability of their youth.  It was painted in studio and the background trees perfectly serve the purpose of highlighting them.  If an impr...

  In the summer of 1869 the famous French Impressionists Claude Monet and August Renoir set up their easels at La Grenouillere, a boating and bathing resort on the Seine River, near Paris. Both artists produced paintings at this site, and here we have Monets.  This oil is now part of the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.   It measures 29"x 39".    This image is typical of impressionism:  it was painted outdoors and on site, it features loose, but carefully placed brushwork, and highlights everyday people enjoying a day's pleasures.   The composition is interesting.  Here again the main focal point is at the exact center will all lines of the boats, dock, and right structure leading to it.  Even the curvature of the water strokes seem to form a pattern circling around the center little island.   Notice how the rear landscape helps us determine time of day and season of year.   ...

  Returning to the 17th century for this portrait titled: Laughing Boy With Wine Glass, c.1625.    It is an oil on wood painting by the great Dutch artist, Frans Hals (1581/85 - 1666).  The work is part of the permanent collection of the Staatliches Museum, Schwerin, Germany.  At this writing, I do not have the dimensions.    I have no idea why the round format, and it is possible it is for very practical reasons, but Hals has perfectly filled the space with an appealing subject.  Just like the Bellow painting of last week, Hals catches a brief second of time  In the boys left hand (to our right) is the almost blurred image of a moving hand.  All other parts of the painting indicate the artist had amazing technical skill, so obviously the blur is intentional.    It is difficult not to like a Frans Hals painting, for his subject matter is usually common folk out enjoying an evening at the local tavern; and giving us a glimps...

 Let's have a complete change for this week!   Here is one of a series of paintings done by American artist, George Bellows.  Dempsey and Firpo is part of the collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.  It was painted in 1924, is 51" x 63", and is an oil on canvas.    This was an actual prizefight that occurred on September 14, 1923.  Jack Dempsey was the American heavyweight champion and Luis Angel Firpo was his Argentine rival.  The bout was only 4 minutes in length with Dempsey knocked down twice and Firpo 9 times; Dempsey being declared the winner.    In this image, Bellow records a moment when Firpo knocks Dempsey out of the ring. Looking on to our extreme left is Bellows, himself; the man with the balding head.     I have looked at a few of these Bellow prizefight images and I find all amazing.  Bellows' talent at recording a second of action, a second of time is so fabulous.  What s...