ArtExpertOnLine

   Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986) was already a famous woman artist in 1939 when the Dole Company sent her to Hawaii.  Pineapple Bud  is the result of that trip, an interesting story and painting by a complex and interesting woman.  Much has been written by feminist wanting to identify O'Keeffe and her work with their movement, but she consistently declared there was no underlining meaning, and she wanted to be remember simply as an artist.  By 1939 she had struggled enough to find herself, define her life and establish her work.    O'Keeffe explored abstraction, and was strongly influenced by precisionism, an American movement centered primarily in photography (Ansel Adams, for example). However O'Keeffe's style was always her own, unique and powerful.     This painting is a perfect example.  It is typical of her famous flower paintings because of the unusual focus.  It is almost symmetrical, as the bud is almost center with the leaves radiating from it.   The co

  I am always amazed at the beautiful and original woodcut prints by Japanese artist, Utagawa Hiroshige.  The one today is from the 1858 series, Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji and is titled, Twilight Hill at Meguro.  I see this view as if we are looking out a tall window.   We can look down and see what is below us, straight out and see what is at our own level, and up to see what is above us. This is quite remarkable. Generally, western painters showed us what they could see from their own level.  For example when looking at many Vermeer paintings, it is easy to understand that the artist was seated when painting. But here, Hiroshige gives us down, up and out.   Plus the amount of detail is amazing. Notice when looking out we see five people, four of which seem to be walking toward the community nestled by the hills.  The leaves on the trees are all individual objects.  Most likely the time of day is at that very second just after the sun has set, leaving a red streak across

  This week we look at an artist who has always been a mystery to me, I think mainly because he didn't fit nicely into any of the interesting art movements of the early 20th century.   Paul Klee (1879-1940) experimented with all of them until eventually developing a unique and very expressive symbolism which often bordered on the whimsical.     The Red Balloon was painted in 1922 when Klee taught at the Bauhaus, the famous Germany design school.  The beautiful structure illustrates the Bauhaus influence. Right down the middle, the thin line cements the balloon and divides the entire format.  On the left the large green shape reminds the viewer of ground, while stacked geometric shapes indicate human structures, buildings.  Notice how the sky varies in color and value, probably indicating sunshine, daylight. From here it is up to us to take from this painting what we desire.  If we look into Klee's history we discover a very complex man.  But now, this painting must stand on

  There is a lot to write about Mary Cassatt (1844-1926), an American , living her adult life in Paris.  She was an early feminist, yet her most important art centered around the theme of loving mother and child.    This painting is titled Breakfast in Bed.  It is an oil on canvas painted 1897, and is part of the permanent collection of the Huntington Library, San Marino, California.   Cassatt's close friend and mentor in Paris was the Impressionist, Edgar Degas.  I love Degas's work because of the very strong sense of design and innovative composition; and in this Cassatt painting, we can see his influence.    Take a good look.  Notice the very young child is holding food in it's hand, sitting on the bed, with a white shirt on, but without a diaper.   Now what mother in her right mind would do this!  It is 1897, not exactly the age of electric washers and driers.  My guess is that the baby actually did have a diaper on, but Cassatt chose not to paint it in.  Why?   

  I would love to be in New York, travel to the Whitney Museum of American Art to view this almost 6 foot high oil painting.  I can image it is awesome.   Painted by Italian American artist, Joseph Stella (1877-1946) in 1939; it is titled: The Brooklyn Bridge.   Just like last week's painting, today we have one that, again,, is almost symmetrical in design. Looking closely we can imagine the city at night with what is now called Art Deco imagery, but standing back the sweeping lines and pointed Gothic arches, stained glass window colored spaces hint of cathedral.  The stability, solidarity and mechanical aspects also combine to create a 1939 symbol of modern life.     Joseph Stella had an interesting life.  He was born in Italy, spent time in Paris, but eventually made New York City his home, becoming one of the leading American artists to bring Futurism and modern painting movements to this country.  Throughout his life he experimented with a wife variety of styles, and he