October 2021 – Ananya Eriyat

Katsushika Hokusai

I decided to write about Hokusai and his Mount Fuji paintings because I was amazed by how one individual, in their late seventies, was able to create 36 different perspectives of Mt. Fuji. I have seen Mount Fuji in person and was awestruck by its enormity; until this year did, I learn that Hokusai, painted this massive mountain, not once but 36 times.

Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese artist, ukiyo-e painter, and printmaker during the Edo period. Hokusai is best known for the “36 Views of Mount Fuji” woodblock print series, which includes the worldwide iconic painting “The Great Wave of Kanagawa.”

Each print design features the sacred Mount Fuji, either prominently or as a little element in the backdrop. The series is a 19th-century Japanese woodblock printing classic.

The following are some of the Mt.Fuji prints that particularly stood out to me:

I adore how subtle colour are contrasting with each other and minimalistic strokes somehow manage to create such depth in this print.

Unlike the earlier print I found it interesting as to how Mt.Fuji in the drawing is just an subtle shape in the backdrop of this busy print. But yet somehow the viewer tends to focus on the mountain in the distance.

Hokusai inspired Impressionism, with themes echoed in the work of Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, as well as art nouveau. Many European artists, including Degas, Gauguin, Klimt, Manet, and van Gogh, acquired his woodcuts. Degas had this to say about him: “In the Floating World, Hokusai is more than just another artist. He is an island, a continent, and a whole globe in his own right.”

Works cited:

Factual information: https://www.katsushikahokusai.org/biography.html

Image sources:

https://www.katsushikahokusai.org/the-complete-works.html?pageno=8

https://www.artic.edu/artworks/81212/self-portrait-as-a-fisherman

https://www.artelino.com/articles/hokusai-36-views-fuji.asp

Baskerville Typeface

Typography Zine project

I picked the Baskerville typeface for my Zine because I’ve noticed that anytime I write something on my laptop, I’m drawn to how elegant and timeless the Baskerville font appears. At first, I thought I’d chosen a popular subject and should opt for a different typeface. However, after doing some study on this type, I discovered that the origin story and growth of the font, which was inspired by old styles, was rather fascinating.

When I pick a typeface to write with, I now research it to learn about its history as well as where and how it was utilized when it was initially developed.

I would I’ve myself an 8 out of 10 since I feel I put in a lot of effort to research, understand and implement the zine however I feel I could have spent more time working on the layout design and my handwriting. I spent approximately 6 hours including my research.

Blog Post II – Frans Hals

Frans Hals was born in Antwerp between 1580 and 1581. His family relocated to Haarlem, and he lived there for the rest of his life. He was a Baroque painter who used a free technique to achieve realism.

Hals’ portraits and group portraits are his most well-known works. Pieter Van Den Broeke and Isaac Massa, whom he painted three times, are examples of wealthy people he solely painted portraits of.

Even though Hals’s paintings were high in demand, he was still struggling financially. Other than painting he also worked as an Art dealer and restorer. Many of his creditors took him to court and once he had to sell all his belongings to settle his debt with a baker in 1652.

I choose to write about Hals since I enjoy drawing people and faces as a growing artist. In my spare time, I enjoy drawing people and thinking about the techniques employed by previous artists, thus this study of Frans Hals has given me a new perspective on how to draw people.

Furthermore, while studying about Judith Leyster in class and how she was compared to Frans Hals when they drew the same painting intrigued me. I wanted to know about the painter in the past she was being compared to and analyze the differences.

‘Buffoon playing a lute’ (1623) and ‘The Jester'(1625)

Frans Hals’ painting of the ‘Buffoon playing a lute’ (1623) is on the left, and Judith Leyster’s painting ‘Jester'(1625) is on the right. I admire how Leyster’s painting is vibrant, and the details appear highly refined. I also enjoy how Frans Hals’ painting has a smooth, fluid quality to it. Both paintings provide me with a glimpse into the artist’s mind, which I adore. This example enlightens me on how two separate artists’ styles differ, as well as how their styles are both bold and unique. I admire how painters try to portray themselves on canvas.

The following paintings by Frans Hals stood out to me:

This picture piques my interest. It’s almost as if the girl in the painting is putting on a brave face after a full day of work. It’s almost as though the seagulls and stormy sky in the background are describing the challenging environment in which she works. I’m curious about the story behind the humble fisher girl depicted in this painting.

This painting stands out from the generic dull brown/grey tone that most of Frans Hals’s paintings have. The stark yet dull yellow stands out almost portraying the personality of the partially smiling man.

Works cited:

Image sources:

https://www.frans-hals.org/the-complete-works.html?pageno=8

https://en.wahooart.com/@@/8XYCUR-Judith-Leyster-The-Jester

Factual information:

https://www.frans-hals.org/biography.html

The Book of Kells

The Book of Kells was written in the 800s in Scotland, Ireland. Kells is a tiny town in Ireland’s Meath county. It takes its name from the Kells monastery in Meath County. The precise data about the exact time and people who wrote the Book of Kells are still unknown. The book of Kells is thought to have been composed by monks of the St Columbus order of Iona, Scotland, because illuminated manuscripts are typically written by monks. The mystification of this particular document piqued my interest.

The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript that contains the Christian New Testament’s four gospels. The copious use of gold and silver that lighted these books, giving them a royal and heavenly look, is why they are termed Illuminated manuscripts. Illuminated manuscripts are handcrafted books that usually contain Christian scripture and are only read aloud for ceremonial purposes. They were extremely costly to create, and only those with great financial resources could afford them.

The book has a height of 10 inches and a width of 13 inches. It was written on calfskin Vellum, which is made from stretched calfskin that is dried on frames and then utilised for writing.

page in book of kells — Illuminated illustration

The images are extremely detailed and on a bigger scale, the Book of Kells highlights this ceremonial activity, while the text is modest, with many repeats and paragraphs missing.

The Hiberno-Saxon style is used to write this work. This style combines Irish Celtic curving motifs and elaborate initials with Anglo-Saxon zoomorphic interweaving and dazzling coloration.

On every page each title has a large bright first letter that is meticulously detailed with men and animals that are engaging in a range of actions.

Book of Kells unsolved:

Other than the fact that it is unsure about the creators of the book of kells. Based on the opinions of the Annals of Ulster the book was once stolen. There are many parts of the book that are missing and the reason for that till today is unknown.I enjoyed the process of research this specific book.

Inspiration:

One of my favourite animated films, “Secret of Kells,” directed by Tom Moore and animated by Cartoon Saloon, inspired me to write about the Book of Kells. This Film revolves aroundthe ‘Book of Iona,’ which is the term for the unfinished Book of Kells, as I learnt today. It’s energising to learn so much about subjects I’ve always found fascinating and how I can better comprehend them now.

Works cited :

https://www.worldhistory.org/Illuminated_Manuscripts/

https://www.irelandbeforeyoudie.com/5-fascinating-facts-about-the-book-of-kells/

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485601/

Image sources:

https://www.irishamericanmom.com/everything-you-should-know-about-the-book-of-kells/

https://www.thoughtco.com/the-book-of-kells-1788410

https://www.botanicalartandartists.com/vellum.html

Mood board rationale

I choose to write on three inventions that occurred between 1850 and 1895. New technical discoveries have always piqued my interest, and I continue to be fascinated by technological advancements and developments today. As a result, I decided to go back and investigate the origins of the technology I use today. Researching to connect the three innovations, the telephone developed by Alexander Graham Bell (1876), the practical electric lamp invented by Thomas Edison (1879), and the Zippers invented in 1891, was a challenging but rewarding task.
This assignment made me appreciate what I have today. I would give myself an 8 out of 10 since I feel I could have researched more and pushed myself a little more to think of captivating titles.

Image sources:

https://time.com/3517011/thomas-edison/

Blog Post I – Lavinia Fontana

Lavinia Fontana, born in 1552 was a mannerist painter in the High Renaissance & Mannerism period. She was born and raised in Bologna. She painted both in the field of portraiture as well as religious and mythological paintings. Her career as a painter prospered in both Bologna and Rome.
Lavinia was trained by her father, who was a teacher at the school of Bologna.

I chose to write about her since I was impressed by how she is regarded as the first female who prevailed with the career of being an artist in western Europe and how she also made her earnings with the help of her commissions.

One of her earliest paintings, Self portrait at the clavichord with a servant (1577)

Her art style was very intricate. Not only were the subjects detailed but the environment surrounding them was also impressively detailed.
Some of her few paintings that caught my eye are the following:

Portrait of Antonietta Gonsalvus (1583) also known as ‘child of the monkey’

The assumption of the virgin with Saints Peter Chrysologus and Cassian (1584)

Lavinia was also the first woman to paint nudes. Some art historians feel this is a topic of controversy. Since women were not allowed to be exposed to nudity, this makes them consider if like Sofonisba Anguissola, who was one of the first women to become an established painter in art history, Lavinia also made her family members model for her.
It is also said that her family relied on her commissions and that her husband was her agent and helped raise their 11 children.

Works cited:

Image source : https://www.wikiart.org/en/lavinia-fontana/all-works#!#filterName:all-paintings-chronologically,resultType:masonry

Factual Information: https://nmwa.org/art/artists/lavinia-fontana/

The artisans of the Indus Valley civilization and their artistic styles

The Indus Valley civilization, also known as the Harrapan civilization, prevailed from 3300 to 1300 BCE and spanned sections of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northwestern India as far as Rajkot. The people who lived during the course of the Indus Valley civilisation seemed to be artisans or craftsmen.

They created art through many mediums. A few of them being Seals, sculptures, pottery, terracotta figurines and gold ornaments.

They not only drew flawlessly from memory and observation, but they also created their gods and goddesses using their artistic abilities and imagination.

Bust of a bearded priest, image source: https://www.harappa.com/blog/finding-priest-king

Stone sculptures:

Bust of a bearded priest(2000–1900 BCE):

This sculpture of a bearded man depicts how the craftsmen exaggerated features in order the emphasize the characteristics of the man. The elongated eyelids give a sense of peace and wisdom. The simple lines accurately depict an unembellished beard, the detail of the shawl over one shoulder tells the viewer about the type of clothing that priests during the period of the Indus Valley civilization wore. This piece of art also effectively displays the emotion of serenity and respect one feels when in the presence of this priest.

It also shows how the artisans tried to create 3-dimensional sculptures.

Male torso

This stone sculpture while being the complete opposite of the earlier stone sculpture clearly demonstrates how exceptional the observational skills of some the earliest artisans were. The sockets have been created for the attachment of the rms and the head. This sculpture has perfectly captured the weight and realistic feel of this torso.

The various styles of these stone sculptures demonstrate how various artistic forms were promoted and developed during the civilisation.

Copper Figure:

The Dancing girl, image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_Girl_(sculpture)

The Dancing Girl (2300–1750 BCE)

This is a 4-inch copper figurine that depicts a girl dancing.

The ornaments she is wearing, and her pose give the viewer so much information about how the dancer was meant to look like.

Seals:

While trying to mimic the realistic features of peoples and animals that one would see in everyday life, the artisans of the Indus valley civilization also created symbols and seals of their deities.

The Pashupati seal, image source: https://www.sutori.com/en/story/indus-river-valley-cultures-mohenjo-daro-harappa–m5vB1GXTqmzBEYP5GzmoxdaF

The Pashupati Seal(2350-2000 BCE)

The goddess of fertility. ‘Pashupati’ in the Sanskrit language means the lord of animals. Even though the Script has not been completely deciphered, this seal perfectly depicts the meaning. The tiger and elephant on the right-hand side and the rhinoceros and buffalo on the left-hand side along with the two antelopes at the bottom all surround the deity representing their worship and respect for the female goddess.

Unicorn Seal:

Archaeologists have found numerous seals depicting various animals, monsters and mythical creatures. This is one of the famous depictions of the unicorn bull.

Works cited:

Indus valley civilisation context and facts: https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/kefa102.pdf