ArtExpertOnLine

     This week as we end another year, I chose a painting about dreams, looking into the future.  As with all Art, we, as viewers, are allowed to take what the artist has presented to us and make our own decisions about its meaning.  And, each day, those opinions may change depending on the trials and joys of our own life.     This week's artist is Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966).  He is remembered today as primarily a commercial artist and illustrator.  He was an artist whose work was so well accepted he financially profited, so after 1920 his focus was mainly painting.  It is known that at the height of his career one in four American homes owned some type of Parrish's work.  It could have been a print, an illustrated book, or a magazine cover.  Today it is possible in an antique or collectable store to find an old frame preserving a Parrish illustration once removed from a magazine or calendar.      "Dream C...

      This week we return to Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890).   Here we are inside the little yellow house he rented in Arles, France.   Back in 2020 I reviewed the painting of the exterior and now let us take a good look inside.  Van Gogh painted this room several times, this one the 1889 version.   Many experts have written about him and this painting, but I like to think of why he painted it.     It is typical for a painter to run out of ideas, "nothing to paint today".  And Van Gogh was dedicated, working everyday as most artists are compelled to do.  I think it fun to think the the first time he tried this subject, maybe, it was a very cool day, or maybe it was raining, to miserable to paint outdoors?  Maybe he was tired of portraits, and just felt like wanting a day by himself?   We don't know those things, but,  in creating this composition he gives us his personal space, and learn about him fr...

   It has been a while since we have looked at a contemporary artist and new work, and this particular image by Jimmy Baker is somewhat different from others of his.   At first glance our painting for this week appears to be a landscape, maybe a setting or rising sun.  Our attention is drawn to the circle just slightly above middle center, and the arches above and swirls of color high light it.  Look at the lower half, the earth.  The light has highlighted rocks or wood chips, but we are unable to distinguish more.   I think this painting allows us to determine for ourselves what to make of it.   Is this a dying earth, or one recovering from tragedy?         Jimmy Baker (1980-) is from Ohio.  He was born here, received his education in Ohio, and is presently and associate professor at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.  His work has achieved critical acclaim with solo exhibitions in Europe and across t...

    This week we are traveling to the United Kingdom for a very interesting family portrait.  The year is 1760 and our artist is Johan Zoffany (1733-1810), a popular portrait painter of the day.   And, according to sources, this work is typical of his style of painting.  When viewing, I think of the writings of Jane Austen ( Pride and Prejudice,  Sense and Sensibility)    If you remember this is the time when the Lord of the manor was "king" of his own little kingdom.  Women could  not inherit or own property, and all inheritance went to the oldest son.   So, here we have a family group with two women, one man, and four children.  In reading about the painting, I learned that the woman in red is the wife/mother and the woman in grey holding the fruit is the sister of Lord Bradshaw.   We do not know her circumstances but assume she is single, therefore under the care and household of her brother.   ...

    This week we are dipping way back to the 17th century for what is considered a genre painting.  Card playing must have been  a favorite pastime in Europe for generations as many artists tackled the subject, all the way up to Cezanne, and maybe later.   Our artist today is Judith Lester, (1609-1660).  Her work is often mistaken for Frans Hal, a man with whom she studied and worked beside.  Although it is impossible to know for sure, most references accredit them as simply artists of a like mind, and that Lester seems to have achieved her successes on her own merits.  She did become a member of the artists guild of the day, which was a considerable achievement.                 In this case, "genre" painting refers to painting of the everyday, or images of people going about their everyday life, and almost always it is not the upper class, but the middle class or poor.   This painting sh...

     I was looking for an abstract, contemporary image, until I ran into this.   Far from abstract, this is true realism, and so realistic it is a specific stadium, a specific game, featuring a great player up to bat.  The year is 1951 and we are in Griffin Stadium, in Washington D.C.  The Washington Senators are in the field, with the New York Yankees up to bat.  Baseball historians will recognize the batter as Joe DiMaggio because of his characteristic wide stance.  Also, 1951 is his last year of play.   The pitcher is not identified, but the posture of all the Senators shows the tension as the pitcher is about to throw the ball to one of the greatest hitters of all time.      Marjorie Acker Phillips (1894 - 1985) is our artist.  She was married to Duncan Phillips who was a huge baseball, Washington Senator fan.  They had box seats and attended most games, and Marjorie took her sketchpad with her, mak...

   This is one of those images that make me happy a few things have improved with time.   This painting was done in 1912 but it took another fifty years (and plus) before the automatic washer and drier were used in most American households.  Our artist is John Sloan (1871-1951) and he painted this scene after viewing it out his apartment window in New York City.   If you know this city, the exact location is East 22nd Street.   It is described as a tenement house, which is an apartment building owned by one person, divided into units which are rented out to others.  A tenement is usually thought of as a building meeting minimum standards required by a city for multiple occupancy.       This is an interesting time in American history.   Edith Warton wrote novels about life of the super elite, rich and photographer Lewis Hine was photographing young children forced into hard labor rather than attend school....