The still life painting has remained one of the most popular exercises for artists. It can be extremely helpful in developing young talent, as well as keeping old masters sharp. But despite its use as a tool for teaching and practice, some have created still lifes that have gone on to take their place in the pantheon of great paintings. The genre formed in the late 16th century, drawing on practices in ancient Greece and the Middle Ages. The basic formula is for the artist to arrange inanimate objects and paint from direct observation. It is so basic, so fundamental, and yet it remains a popular genre. Once we begin to look through some of the best known still lifes in art history, we can begin to see why. With multiple types of still lifes that exist today, this genre gives us new insight into the textures and colors that fill our everyday lives. It is, in some ways, a celebration of human vision and a call to engage with your surroundings more fully. Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers (1888) by Vincent Van Gogh Vincent Van Gogh’s sunflower paintings are some of the most beloved of his entire oeuvre. Made up of two distinct series of paintings (the first painted in Paris and the second in Arles), this work from the second series is perhaps the most popular of all. The burning yellow is defined with judicious use of blue, and the bodies of the sunflowers seem alive. Van Gogh painted them for his friend Paul Gauguin. And the joy of that friendship can be felt in the canvas itself. Still Life with Fruit (1605-1610) by Caravaggio Caravaggio delivers us a sumptuous feast for the eyes. Made up of melons and an assortment of delicious fruit, these colorful bodies emerge from the dark in a small shaft of light — characteristic of the artist. While many commentators have speculated on the Renaissance-era symbolism of the fruit, we don’t really need to understand it to appreciate the painting. His ability to capture the fruit in such spectacular detail is more than enough. Violin and Candlestick (1910) by Georges Braque Braque is well known as one of the founders of Cubism, and here he applies that style to the still life. It’s an interesting combination: taking the latest breakthrough in visual arts and applying it to one of the most classic genres in painting. The objects in the still life are all given multiple points of view shown on the same surface, an impossibility for the naked eye but not the painter. Note his muted use of color as well. Vase of Flowers (1660) by Jan Davidsz. de Heem De Heem, a major name in both Dutch and Flemish Baroque painting, gives us one of the greatest depictions of flowers in all of art history. Here, the colors absolutely delight us as they come out of the dark background — note the similarity in lighting to his contemporary Caravaggio above. This painting shows what a true master can do with a still life. Note how all the fine details are expertly navigated, the wealth of visual information completely absorbed and rendered. Still Life with Skull (1898) by Paul Cezanne Cezanne is well known for his use of color, and he uses those trademark techniques to great effect in this still life. Painted late in his career, this shows a genius who has learned how to give us only what we need, no more and no less. There is no excess and no lack. The composition itself is striking. The skull is set off by ripe fruit, fruit we expect will all too soon begin to rot. This memento mori not only brings us in confrontation with our own mortality, it also reminds us that while we are here, there are things to be enjoyed, like a ripe pear. The Ray (1728) by Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin This work does what a still life rarely can — bring a sense of horror. Of course, it in part does this by cheating the rules a bit. Notice the cat at the left side of the painting! Rule bending aside, this is a great work by Chardin who excelled in still lifes for much of his career. The strange objects and the hissing animal come together to give us a sense that all is not right. While the still life genre makes it difficult to tell much of a story, Chardin gives us the emotion of a narrative all the same. What makes these still life paintings so special? There are a few things that make these still life paintings so special. First, they are all masterpieces of technique. The artists who created these paintings were masters of their craft, and their skill is evident in the way they rendered the objects in their paintings. Second, these paintings are all visually appealing. They are beautifully composed, and the colors and textures are rich and vibrant. Third, these paintings have something to say. They are not just about depicting objects; they are also about exploring themes such as beauty, life, death, and the nature of reality. Still life paintings are a wonderful way to experience the beauty and complexity of the world around us. If you have never taken the time to appreciate a still life painting, I encourage you to do so. You may be surprised at what you find. Still life Painting on RtistiQ Still life paintings are a beautiful and timeless art form that captures the beauty of everyday objects. The RtistiQ still life art collection features a wide range of still life paintings from artists all over the world, in a variety of styles, from traditional to contemporary. Whether you are looking for a new piece of art for your home or office, or you are simply interested in collecting some beautiful still life paintings, the RtistiQ still life art collection is a great place to start.

RtistiQ

21 Oct 2021

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We’ve talked about the power of black and white photography in a previous article, now it is time to dive into great black and white artworks made without a camera. The following artists have created masterpieces using only two colors. We see in their work a heightened sense of composition and the ability to communicate just as much (if not more) with a limited palette. M.C. Escher Ascending and Descending (1960) by M.C. Escher Copyright M.C. Escher The Black & White artwork of M.C. Escher continues to delight us today, teasing our minds with fascinating, mathematically inspired pieces. His work playfully explores themes like tessellation, impossible objects, and the concept of infinity. Surprisingly, Escher wasn’t a mathematician by training. Instead, he absorbed the ideas as an artist, giving them life in the studio through an artistic, rather than a mathematical, process. His most popular works (like Hand with Reflecting Sphere [1935], Drawing Hands [1948], and Tower of Babel [1928] to name only a few) have gone on to be published extensively, making his work some of the most seen and beloved in our time. Kazimir Malevich, Black Square (1915) Black Square (1915) by Kazimir Malevich Malevich lived on the bleeding edge of the art world, both as an artist and critic. When he completed Black Square in 1915, he dragged the art world out into the avant garde with him. This achievement is simply a white background with a black square painted on it, a devastatingly simple composition. Hailed (and hated) at the time for bringing art back to the “zero point of painting,” it continues to be controversial to this day. Pablo Picasso, Guernica (1937) Guernica (1937) by Pablo Picasso Copyright Pablo Picasso Picasso’s massive masterpiece Guernica was painted to lament and commemorate the bombing of the eponymous city on April 26, 1937. It was during the Spanish Civil War, and the Basque town was bombed by both German Nazi and Italian Fascist forces to support the fascistcause there. To express the depths of sadness, Picasso eliminated color — a bold choice. But taking away color did not take away any of the painting’s power, in fact, the black & white artworks highlighted the severity of destruction and the despair of the event. Bridget Riley and Op Art Movement in Squares (1961) by Bridget Riley Copyright Bridget Riley Bridget Riley is one of the most accomplished names in Op Art — a style that creates visual art using optical illusions. While Riley has plenty of color work, her most popular pieces are often in black and white (like Movement in Squares [1961], pictured above). When you see these monochromatic patterns, the eye often is tricked into visualizing movement and even color. Robert Longo Longo has had a long and productive career in many mediums, but his black and white drawings — often working off of photographs — have made up his most important output. He reached prominence through his Men in the Cities series, depicting men and women in business attire caught in contorted poses. One cannot decide if these people are lost in a dance, being shot, or suffering convulsions. By sticking with black and white, the images have the sense of being objective, clinical. The series has gone on to be recognized as one of the most important of a generation. READ: How Artists use colors in their work. Jackson Pollock There might be no bigger name in abstract art than Jackson Pollock. His kinetic process of flinging paint onto canvases has ignited the delight and imagination of millions of art lovers. While he often used color, many of his compositions were purely in black and white (like the aptly named Black and White (Number 6) [1951]). These show all the forceful energy of his work, which is his calling card, while peeling away color. Franz Kline Painting Number 2 (1954) by Franz Kline Copyright Franz Kline One of the luminaries of mid-century abstract expressionism, Kline grew to popularity with only two colors: black and white. His striking compositions are now famous, with his style becoming iconic, even beyond the name of the painter himself. The story goes that Kline landed on his style because of some friendly advice from fellow artist Willem de Kooning, who told him to break a creative lull by drawing on his studio wall using a projector. That led Kline to pursue large, abstract art. Victor Vasarely Like Bridget Riley on this list, Victor Vasarely was a pioneer in the Op Art movement. And like RIley, his work often only uses black and white to achieve its effects. In pieces like Supernovae (1961), he is able to create dimensionality and movement without color, relying on small adjustments to a repeating grid to produce optical illusions in the human eye. Black and White Wall Art When we think of black and white, we almost always think in terms of fine art photography. But this list, far from complete, shows just how much other visual artists have been able to accomplish when they bring things back to these two fundamental forces of light and dark. Discover our curated collection of Black & White Artworks today.

RtistiQ

29 Sep 2021

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As the painter Mark Rothko used orange and yellow in his mature work, our artists today continue to use these warm colors moving the viewer’s perception of a luminescence to a place of mystical insight. It is through such bold color interactions that the spiritual essence of our contemporary artists is revealed. The result, for the viewer, can be an unbounded sense of awareness-even a kind of theology presenting itself... Rothko was insistent that his art was filled with content and brimming with love ideas. Still, he tried to remove all evidence of himself in the creative process. The layering of many thin washes helped to give his paintings a lightness and brightness as if they are glowing from within. In both instances the inner life of the painter opens itself up to alchemical magic and a mystery of theological proportions. Then, one is opened to the existential questions at the base of the human condition. It is here that Rothko’s sleight of hand brings the viewer closer to their own inherent desires for a benevolent meaning behind the things of this world. The ultimate aesthetic journey is offered to us through the possibility of the intricacies of Rothko’s color. Here we experience how art helps us as a balm, a salve onto the flesh of our souls. When tracing the mature work of Mark Rothko, back to the beginnings of his first imagery, one is able to uncover a truly seminal surrealistic vocabulary. The buried bodies of mythological creatures, stacked and organized in mystical tomb-like organization have alway fascinated lovers of Abstract Expressionism. Jackson Pollock’s, surrealistic imagery of human creatures, seem to me to have piggy-backed their way into modern art by way of the early ‘buried’ figures of Rothko. It has been written that these buried stacks of mythical bodies represent dying and dead ancestors in the artist’s family. A post-WWII consideration of such a spiritual journey by members of Rothko’s kin reveal the concrete tribulations experienced by the artist and the always threatening and gaping existential maw in the life of such a devoutly serious artist. From my own contemplation of Rothko’s “Orange and Yellow”, I think of the continual paradox in science that theoretically pulses me into the hearsay world of quantum mechanics. We “blink into and out of existence” say the scientists when contemplating matters of meta-reality—time and space. In his own way Rothko was affirming, in his most momentous works, the same metaphysical paradoxes of our greatest scientists. Both as sanctuary and quiet disruption, the art of Rothko teaches the art lover to travel in humanity’s psychological states. As we age in our search for our greatest humanity, death and transcendence simply resolve into an Inevitability we have always sensed might be true. “The people who weep before my pictures are having the same religious experience I had when I painted them,” said the artist. An intellectual among the painters of his time, he was well versed in the Greek Tragedies, especially Aeschylus, and later in Shakespeare. Nietzsche’s The Birth of Tragedy was an early and important influence. In his art, Rothko both affirms religious reality and takes it away. As one Anglican vicar told the Times of London a few years ago when the Tate Modern mounted an exhibition of Rothko’s late work, “For me the paintings are the tablets of stone of Mount Sinai, but with the commandments lost. They are icons of the absence of God.” Rothko would speak of the subject matter of his paintings as “the human drama”, especially that part of the drama involving death. All art, he said, “deals with the intimations of mortality.” We can certainly see this in “Orange and Yellow.” Still, in spite of the threat of death, all art dissolves in the immensity of a truly benevolent spirit. Inspired by Mark Rothko? Discover our curated collection of artworks that incorporates Orange and Yellow. Experience the illusion of these warm colors emanating light from within.

RtistiQ

23 Sep 2021

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The climate crisis is the defining issue of our time. It calls to the world to act together in an unprecedented way, with dire stakes. As we move further into the 21st century, awareness for environmental issues will only become more pressing. We want to highlight the work that environmental artists are doing in bringing these issues to the front of the global conversation. Their work takes the discipline of making art on climate change and turns it to public advocacy, a form of artistic environmental activism. Along the way, these environmental artists have not only made statements that are timely and necessary — they’ve also made great art! 1. Wheatfield, a Confrontation (1982), Agnes Denes Copyright Agnes Denes It’s worth beginning at the beginning. Agnes Denes is renowned as one of the originators of the modern environmental art movement. Her work routinely highlights humanity’s impact on the ecosystems that we rely on and have a responsibility to steward. Wheatfield, a Confrontation is possibly her most notable piece. Here, she took control of two acres in the Battery Park Landfill in downtownManhattan. She worked tirelessly to produce a field of golden wheat amid the refuse. The outcome struck many different notes at once. It highlighted the extreme land values of Manhattan that drove the elimination of green spaces, the industrial agricultural system that makes an overabundance of food while leaving so many hungry, and waste. The amazing images of the New York skyline rising out of golden fields of wheat are especially gripping. We can’t help but be drawn to these strange views that upend our expectations. While the field no longer exists, these images continue to carry on the work of the original. View other 5 Famous Art Pieces Inspired by Nature 5 Famous Art Pieces Inspired by Nature 2. Ice Watch (2014, 2015, 2018), Olafur Eliasson The Ice Watch series is a great achievement from artist Olafur Eliasson. This art has brought one of the most critical effects of climate change to the centers of Europe, no longer letting us off the hook for the destruction we are causing far away from the cities where we live and work. In each of these pieces (the installation appeared in Copenhagen, Paris, and London), Eliasson brought enormous ice blocks into the city center. It must be remembered, these blocks are massive. Some weighing as much as 5 tonnes. These blocks of ice were then allowed to melt. These pieces brought the melting of far away glaciers into visceral reality. It is so easy for us to keep our distance from this dire process. But Eliasson does not allow us to stay blissfully ignorant of what we are doing. These installations became popular spots for selfies. People seemed drawn to these enormous objects. That natural charisma helped carry the deeper message to a public that has to reckon with climate change before it’s too late. 3. Support (2017), Lorenzo Quinn Courtesy LifeGate Lorenzo Quinn made a big impact with his installation Support. Here, enormous hands reach up out of the famous Venetian waterways, appearing to hold up the neartby Ca’ Sagredo Hotel. It immediately appeared in images around the global press. The work highlights the predictions that by 2100, Venice will be completely underwater. But while many environmental artists work with more direct representation, this surrealist piece made a deep impact in its own way. The piece is shocking. There is something about it that reminds us of the truly apocalyptic outcomes of our apathy towards climate change. And the way that it interacted with that most Venetian of landmarks — the Grand Canal — brought it in direct dialogue with the city’s self image. 4. Washed Up (2010-2015), Alejandro Durán Copyright Alejandro Durán Alejandro Durán’s series of installations takes for its materials the debris that washes up endlessly on the shores of Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Toothbrushes, water bottles, tires, ice trays, and every other thing you can imagine someone has thrown away — it likely exists in one of Durán’s installations. He combines the trash and often paints them, installing them in the Mexican landscape in oddly beautiful combinations. The many outcomes show the breadth of the artist’s imagination, not to mention the overabundance of trash that fills our oceans. These installations confront the way we treat our oceans. And the continued iterations only help to underline just how endless the waste in our global economy really is.

RtistiQ

26 Aug 2021

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As we’ve covered, nature is a tremendous inspiration to artists As we’ve covered, nature is a tremendous inspiration to artists 10 Famous Nature Artists and their work and what happens when something inspires artists? You get a lot of paintings. The subject matter of nature might be the most celebrated by artists around the world. This nature-based artwork leaves us no shortage of famous paintings to enjoy, and as the environment becomes an ever more important issue, this work is more important than ever. To highlight this long relationship between the artist and the environment, we’ve assembled a tour of 5 famous art piecesinspired by nature. And what happens when something inspires artists? You get a lot of paintings. The subject matter of nature might be the most celebrated by artists around the world. This nature-based artwork leaves us no shortage of famous paintings to enjoy, and as the environment becomes an ever more important issue, this work is more important than ever. To highlight this long relationship between the artist and the environment, we’ve assembled a tour of 5 famous art pieces inspired by nature. 1. The Oxbow (1836), Thomas Cole Thomas Cole founded the Hudson River School, one of the most formative groups in American painting. It’s members worshipped the naturally abundant beauty of the Hudson Valley. And one of the best of these is The Oxbow. It shows the Connecticut River Valley as a storm rolls off into the distance. The titular bend in the river, the foreground that frames the scene, and the drama of the rain all combine to create a masterpiece. Some commentators have noted that the painting highlights the arrival of civilization, glimpsed by the cultivated fields in the distance. Today, the Hudson Valley is covered in buildings and cut through by roads. Maybe Cole could see what was coming. 2. Wanderer above the Sea of Fog (1818), Caspar David Friedrich Caspar David Friedrich was one of the greatest of the German Romantics. His landscapes can celebrate nature, and just as often, they evoke a spookiness that still sends shivers down our spines. But this piece does something else. It stirs us, calls us to action. The wanderer stands in the center of the canvas, his back to us, looking down into the mists that roam the mountains. It’s a stunning natural image and one of the greatest in art. Its power remains more than 200 years after it was painted, and the mark it left on our visual culture cannot be overstated. To this day, the painting appears on numerous album and book covers. 3. Spiral Jetty (1970), Robert Smithson .Not satisfied with just being inspired by nature, the imminent sculptor Robert Smithson chose to collaborate with it for this legendary piece. Made out of basalt rocks, salt crystals, and mud, the enormous feature pushes out into the Great Salt Lake. The space has a haunting aura about it, like a monument from some civilization long past. It’s become a pilgrimage for art lovers for that special quality: you have to see it in person to really get it. In 1999, the Dia Art Foundation took over as the owner of the work, taking on the immense responsibility of maintenance. It’s no easy feat. While Smithson is no longer with us, his unique collaboration with the environment remains. READ: Check out 4 Artworks That Raise Awareness for Environmental Issues 4. Water Lilies (1898), Claude Monet Claude Monet’s Water Lilies series includes several pieces worthy of a spot on this list. But since there are over 250 of them, we had to pick one. But the entire series is worth looking through. These paintings examine Monet’s garden, a place of refuge and inspiration for the artist. By focusing on the water lilies, Monet focuses on the fine details available to all of us willing to take a closer look. While many artists choose to explore the natural world through big, bold landscapes, these paintings are intimate. Monet observes so thoroughly and evokes what he sees through beautiful color. 5. Red Canna (1919), Georgia O’Keeffe Georgia O’Keeffe’s early painting Red Canna reveals all of the features that would go on to define the master’s oeuvre. But it also retains that youthful flair that makes it such an exciting work. At first it seems simple, but once you begin to examine the bold color choices, the strength of the work reveals itself.There are multiple pairs of complementary colors, and a striking mixture of diagonal lines and the vertical jut of the flower itself. As she often did, O’Keeffe explores the similarity between the shapes of plants and the human body. This brings an eerie quality to the painting, making a flower all too familiar with ourselves. Nature and Art These 5 nature art paintings are only the tip of the iceberg. There really is no end to gorgeous art inspired by nature. Hopefully, this list can get you started on your own journey of discovery in this wide and wild field.

RtistiQ

20 Aug 2021

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Art, in its various forms, has enmeshed itself into the fabric of human society throughout the ages. Humans have always derived pleasure either from creating art or experiencing and appreciating it. Art plays a big role in how we see and make sense of the world and the people around us. A piece of art cuts across all divides and appeals to a person, irrespective of his nationality, ethnicity or religion. It speaks a universal language. When we think of masterpieces, specifically in the painting scenario, the names which come to our mind are the likes of ‘Mona Lisa’, ‘The last supper, ‘The Starry night’ etc. In a world where we are overwhelmed with a plethora of artwork, these pieces have cut across the realms of time and culture, carving their niche in the history of art. Indian artists too have produced some of the finest pieces of paintings which have been lauded in international circles. Apart from their apparent beauty, each piece, with its unique brush strokes and colors, holds within them a unique story. Here we rediscover some Indian masterpieces that created ripples in the world of art. ‘Self-portrait’ by Amrita Sher-Gil Amrita Sher-Gil is arguably one of the most famous women painters from India and is responsible in part for introducing western modernism to India. She is often referred to as Frida Kahlo of India, for the way in which she effortlessly combines traditional and western forms of painting, resulting in stunning and aesthetic creations. She is widely acclaimed for her series of hauntingly beautiful self-portraits. The most famous among these is an untitled self-portrait made by the artist in 1931. It is the first piece by the artist to be offered at Christie’s, London. The painting depicts the artist at age 18 and speaks volumes of her considerable talents with the use of color and brush strokes. The lady in the portrait looks directly at the viewer, with the hint of a smile. The potency of her gaze draws the viewer deeper inside, to reveal layers of melancholy within those enigmatic eyes. Amrita Sher-Gil’s paintings, continue to be among the most expensive paintings by an Indian woman painter and finds a place in the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi. Source: awarewomenartists ‘Bharat Mata’ by Abanindranath Tagore Abanindranath Tagore is the founder of the Bengal school of art and is often referred to as the father of the modern Indian art. He was the nephew of Rabindranath Tagore and one of the most famous artists in India. He sought to include Indian elements in his art form, countering the English influences which eclipsed the Indian art scene during that time. His iconic painting ‘Bharat mata’ is arguably the most famous painting in India and its muse became the face of the Swadeshi movement in the country. The watercolor painting depicts a saffron clad lady, much like a sadhvi (female ascetic), olding a sheaf of paddy, a rosary, books and a piece of clothing. It symbolizes Mother India blessing its citizens with shiksha -education, ann -food, vastra -clothes and deeksha -initiation. This was the artist’s visualization of Bharat mata or Mother India, as she waited for liberation from the British rule. This painting touched a chord with the masses and it soon became a symbol of national liberation, which makes this painting one of the most historically important pieces of art, of its times. Source: Wikipedia ‘Bapuji’ by Nandalal Bose Nandalal Bose is touted to be one of the trailblazers of modern Indian art. He was the disciple of the legendary Abanindranath Tagore. Nandalal Bose was known for his Indian style of paintings and his work is regarded by many art critics as some of the best works in modern Indian art. He was an artist at Shanti Niketan during Gandhiji’s lifetime. This painting is a linocut portrait titled ‘Bapuji’ and depicts a stalwart and inspirational image of Mahatma Gandhi. It is said to be painted after Gandhiji fondly known as Bapuji, was arrested after his historic nonviolent resistance, the Dandi march, to oppose the British tax on salt. This powerful painting is on permanent display at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi. Source: National Galley Modern Art India ‘Horses’ by M.F. Husain Maqbool Fida Husain is one of the most prominent and prolific painters on the Indian subcontinent. His works speak of sheer brilliance and ingenious use of skill and imagination. His intrepid and eye-catching use of colors and strokes in a modified Cubist style , earned him the title of ‘Picasso of India’. With distinct and pronounced strokes, the maestro has captured the agility and power of the magnificent horses, as they break into a full gallop. ‘Horses’ is arguably one of his most famous works and it was auctioned at Christie’s for a whopping figure of INR one crore. Source: Indian Art Ideas ‘ Shakuntala’ by Raja Ravi Varma Raja Ravi Varma is one of the most famous painters to have emerged from the Indian subcontinent. He successfully merged European academic art with Indian sensibilities to produce exquisite pieces of painting, that resonated with even the common man. His affordable lithographs, often depicting scenes from the epics or Hindu deities made fine art accessible to the public and brought him widespread acclaim. In this painting, which is an oil on canvas, the heroine Shakuntala, of the magnum opus ‘Abhijnana Shakuntalam’ by Kalidasa, pretends to remove a thorn from her foot while stealing shy glances at King Dushyantha. This simple body language in the hands of the brilliant artist portrayed with brilliant brush strokes and vivid colors, manages to emote the heroine’s feelings beautifully to the viewer and the entire scene of the painting resembles a frozen tableau from a movie or play. Source: Myddoa ‘Three Pujarins’ by Jamini Roy Jamini Roy who was a disciple of the eminent artist Abanindranath Tagore was one of the early modernists in the Indian art scene. Although trained in the Western model of art, he chose to focus on the Indian aspects in his paintings. Most of his beautifully executed artwork has that distilled essence of Indianness. In this very famous painting of his, he is said to be inspired by the traditional folk art of Bengal. The painting, resplendent with vibrant hues, depicts three almond eyed pujarins or priestesses, in a worshipping position. The indigo color of the Bengali style sari is said to be a subtle nod to the Indigo movement against the British government. Source: Bistrozdravo Author: Anupama Vijayakumar

RtistiQ

28 Jun 2021

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The Mona Lisa is one of the few works of art that everyone knows by name. It’s a celebrity in its own right, a legend, a cultural touchstone that connects us across the centuries. But just as important as the original is, the replicas and their reinterpretations have become a phenomenon all their own. These artworks have brought levity, political statements, and all kinds of artistic reimaginings to this important piece of work. Famous Let’s look through the history of the painting itself, the rise of replicas, and then find out where you can get some of the best and recent inspirations of the Mona Lisa today at RtistiQ. History of the Mona Lisa Painted somewhere around 1503 to 1506 CE by High Renaissance painter Leonardo da Vinci, the Mona Lisa is a portrait of Italian noblewoman Lisa del Giocondo. Of the many works attributed to da Vinci, it is one of the few that has never been in doubt. And while we are confident that the Mona Lisa is a real da Vinci, there is evidence that other copies were made by the master. Sketches of the painting include columns on either side of Lisa, but the canvas of the original has never been trimmed, and analysis of the underpainting reveals there were never any columns on the original. It was long called the Palace of Fontainebleau its home before moving to the Palace of Versailles by Louis XIV. It was then moved to the Louvre after the French Revolution before taking a brief detour in the bedroom of none other than Napoleon. At the time of writing, it can still be found at the Louvre. Why the Mona Lisa Is Popular Courtesy of Wikimedia While it was appreciated through the centuries since its creation, it wasn’t until the 20th century that the painting really became popular. It all began with its theft from the Louvre on August 21st, 1911. The popular French poet Guillaume Apollinaire was arrested for the crime, and he accused the great Pablo Picasso, who had to be brought in for questioning by the police. But it turned out to be Louvre employee Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian nationalist who believed the painting should belong to Italy. The scandal led to the Mona Lisa becoming the world’s most famous painting, thanks to the enormous amount of media coverage it received. Mona Lisa Replicas There’s no wonder, then, that so many great artists have tried their hand at creating a replica of the famous painting all their own. Even the great Raphael sketched the painting after seeing it. Some of the best artists of any given time have made replicas. A few examples give us an idea of how popular making these replicas has been. Eugène Bataille painted a version with the noblewoman smoking a pipe in 1883 (called Le Rire, or The Laugh, pictured above). Andy Warhol even took a shot in 1963, reproducing the image using a silkscreen process in 1963. More recently, Banksy has stenciled two versions of the Mona Lisa, one holding a rocket launcher (called Mona Lisa Mujaheddin) and one where she is mooning the viewer. The Mona Lisa Hekking One of the most famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) is about to go on sale in Paris. Auction house Christie’s is set to put this notorious replica on sale, where it is expected to get around €300,000 (or $365,645). Called the Mona Lisa Hekking — named for the previous owner Raymond Hekking who purchased the work in the 1950’s and died in 1977 — the painting was claimed by the owner to be the true original, casting doubt on the veracity of the Mona Lisa for the first time in almost five centuries. RtistiQ’s Mona Lisa Inspirations RtistiQ’s collection contains a raw umber tone inspiration of the Mona Lisa by the artsit Rajasekharan Parameswaran. Painted in 2017, this Monalisa inspiration captures the famous painting in a striking palette, drained of color but pulsing with detail and character. It’s an entirely new view of the classic. The painting stands a bit larger than the original, presenting an impressive presence in any room. The artist, incidentally, holds two Guinness World Records. The first came in 2008 for the world’s largest easel painting, 56.5' tall and 31' wide and holds a 25’ by 50’ portrait of the communist leader EMS Namboodiripad (famously known as EMS). The second came in 2010 for the largest Burr puzzle. His work includes portraiture and art direction for film. And his Mona Lisa reveals a profound understanding of the portrait as a form for expression. You can buy this Mona Lisa in umber tone painting today on art.rtistiq.com and own an amazing piece in the long history of artists reimagining the world’s most famous painting. Author: Jonathan M Clark

RtistiQ

17 Jun 2021

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Most expensive Western artwork ever sold in Asia Jean-Michel Basquiat's Warrior (1982) is making the headlines these days after becoming the most expensive Western work of art to be sold at auction in Asia. Offered during a single-lot auction at Christie's in Hong Kong, the painting has sold for $41.7m (fees included), according to The Art Newspaper. The American collector selling it, bought the painting in 2012 at Sotheby's London for £5.5m (fees included). A great investment one might argue. This comes as no surprise since Basquiat is no stranger to the art market records, according to Art Basel’s Art Market Report, he is in the top 5 highest selling artists at auction in 2020. Warrior (1982) Basquiat's Warrior, depicted full-length and brandishing a sword, is considered semi-autobiographical and dates to the artist's most innovative and desirable period. It has been exhibited at Akira Ikeda Gallery, Tokyo, in 1983, and was included in the 2019 exhibition Jean-Michel Basquiat at the Brant Foundation Art Study Center in New York City. As well, it had appeared at auction twice before being acquired be the current seller: selling at Sotheby's in 2005 and 2007 for $1.8m and $5.6m respectively. Who was Basquiat? Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in 1960s New York, to Haitian and Puerto Rican parents. Having a troubled childhood Basquiat spent most of his time exploring the city, first established his name through graffiti art under the tag SAMO©. Getting involved with drugs and living on the streets, he became highly involved in the party scene and regularly attended punk-art spaces as a DJ. Nevertheless, Basquiat was not the juvenile delinquent stereotype. With a passion for jazz and poetry, Basquiat became involved in the cultural Renaissance that was burgeoning in New York in the 1980’s. He soon began painting and drawing, incorporating graffiti art and poetry on his canvases. This quickly sparked his fame, with his first exhibition in 1982 being completely sold out and his fame skyrocketed when he made friends with Keith Haring and Andy Warhol and started dating Madonna. Despite having a very short life and career, he died of a drug overdose at the age of 27 (in 1988), his legacy lives on through prolific body of work. Basquiat’s legacy Basquiat absorbed an incredibly wide range of influences, which he fused together to create a new visual language blending painting, punk, graffiti, primitivism and poetry. Having never studied it, Basquiat said he learnt about art “by looking at it”. His art seems outside art chronology, he is like one of the Beat Poets of Painting. Nevertheless, the critics has found a spot for him into the narrative of art history and is often described as a Neo-Expressionist painter. Basquiat’s work is hugely influential and remains especially relevant today given the social and political climates across the world. He explores his mixed African, Latin, and American heritage through a visual vocabulary of personally resonant signs, symbols, and figures. Much of his works are commentaries on racial and social inequalities. Basquiat remains the King of the 80s’ New York culture. Image Courtesy: Warrior (1982) by Jean-Michel Basquiat Courtesy of Christie's While not everyone can own the most famous abstract paintings of the century, we definitely have the best abstract artworks from the finest contemporary artists just for you.

FLOAREA BAENZIGER

26 Mar 2021

5 min to read

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The Starry Night The Starry Night, by Vincent van Gogh, is one of the most recognized and well-known pieces of Western art. Its ethereal swirls, mesmerizing composition, and color palette can be seen on paraphernalia ranging from t-shirts and coffee mugs to phone screen savers, making the painting more famous than its creator. But not so widely known is the interesting and often bizarre facts related to this masterpiece, its provenance, and the creation of the painting itself by the brilliant Van Gogh. In this blog, we try to delve into the realms of The Starry Night and acquaint ourselves with some lesser-known facts about this masterpiece. The Story Behind The Painting The Starry Night is an oil on canvas creation which can be categorised as a moderate abstract landscape painting. It depicts the luminous night sky over a village nestled in the hillside. The enchanting colour palette is dominated by an expressive night sky roiling with brilliant blue swirls, a glowing yellow crescent moon and luminescent stars pulsing with radiance. The foreground has a couple of cypress trees, which have been described as flame like and in the background in the lower right of the painting lies an orderly village, with straight structured lines. With its slender church steeple and cottages with lit up windows against the rolling hills, the village seems like an oasis of calm, amidst the turbulence of the painting. It is said that Van Gogh painted this scene depicting the view from his bedroom during his yearlong stay at the St Paul de Mausole asylum. He got himself admitted there, after self-mutilating himself during a breakdown where he severed part of his ear. Although the premise, as well as the inspiration of the painting was the view from his bedroom window, the actual painting does not contain the iron bars which filtered his view. The village itself was said to be inspired by his homeland, the Netherlands. As an artist who mostly paints from observation, this painting was in sharp contrast as this was painted entirely from his imagination. This painting was made during the daytime relying solely on the artists memories of the night-time sky and locations which had made an indelible impression on his mind. In a sheer stroke of artistic irony, Van Gogh who was equivocal about painting from his imagination considered this painting as a failure and tragically did not get to savour its phenomenal success. In fact, Van Gogh is said to have sold only one painting during his lifetime. Provenance After Van Gogh’s death in 1890, all his paintings were inherited by his younger brother Theo. After Theo’s death, his wife Johanna Gezina van Gogh-Bonger owned the paintings, including The Starry Night. It is this formidable lady who persevered to get the correspondence between the brothers published and promoted Vincent van Gogh’s artwork and helped build his posthumous fame. In the 1900’s, The Starry Night was sold to French poet Julien Leclerq who then sold it to an artist named Emile Schuffenecker. About six years later Johanna bought it back and passed it to the Oldenzeel Gallery in Rotterdam in 1906. Till the year 1938 it was owned by Georgette P. van Stolk of Rotteram who then sold it to Paul Rosenberg. It was through Rosenberg that the Museum of Modern Art acquired the painting in 1941 where it is now housed currently. Lillie P. bliss was the daughter of a textile owner who helped set the MoMA and donated much of her private collection to set up the core of the Museum. After her death, three of the pieces from her extensive and expensive collection were sold so that Museum could acquire The Starry Night. Some Interesting Facts Van Gogh painted an original version of the starry night titled Starry Night over the Rhone. He was deeply interested in the subject of the night sky and its ethereal light and luminescence. When the UCLA compared this masterpiece to a planetarium version of how the night sky would have appeared on the day Van Gogh painted this, it was proved beyond doubt that the ‘morning star’ depicted in the painting is in fact Venus. Vincent Van Gogh, like most post impressionist artists was known for expressing their mood, emotional and psychological state through distinct style and bold use of colour. In many ways The Starry Night symbolises Van Gogh’s own turbulent state of mind as he was trying to grapple with a mental breakdown and hence in a delicate and often turbulent state of mind. The calm orderly village with brightly lit windows could stand for hope and a sense of comfort within all the overwhelming and constantly turbulent emotions. This was one of Van Gogh’s last paintings as he committed suicide the following year. His artistic career lasted for a mere 10 years but with over 800 drawings made during this time it proved to be more productive than most artists can manage in an entire lifetime. What makes this painting endure the test of time and retain its immense popularity, maybe the strong sense of emotions it evokes in the viewer and what better tribute to the creative genius of a brilliant artist who successfully translated his state of mental agitation onto the canvas. Author: Anupama Vijayakumar

RTISTIQ TEAM

26 Nov 2020

5 min to read

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