Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Arts and Humanities

Catalan Poetry: A Selection of Key Works

This selection highlights significant Catalan poets and their works, spanning several centuries and exploring diverse themes.

William de Castelldefels (12th Century)

Cançonetes Flat: This troubadour's work focuses on the physical defects, alleged homosexuality, and moral vices of his enemy.

Anselm Turmeda (14th-15th Century)

Praise of Money: A satirical piece exploring the triumph of money in society, a common theme in medieval literature.

George St. George (15th Century)

Prisoner: This poem connects to the enemy army in Naples, where many Catalan and Aragonese knights, including St. George, were held as prisoners.

Ausias March (15th Century)

As Well as Cell Who Is Near Death: Depicts love as a dangerous journey.... Continue reading "Catalan Poetry Anthology: Key Authors and Themes" »

A significant new theme emerging in the 14th and 15th centuries was the *portrait*. These portraits could be of various kinds, often incorporated into or alongside religious themes, depicting figures such as praying individuals or donors within a painting.

Two notable exceptions: *Giotto* and *Jan van Eyck*, were instrumental in breaking the narrow confines of Gothic painting. They transcended their status as anonymous artisans, moving beyond the medieval world and evolving painting through new techniques.

The Evolution of Medieval Art

Giotto: A Pioneer of Italian Art

• Italian artist, worked primarily in Florence.
• Mastered the *buon fresco* technique.
• Focused on volumetric treatment and spatial arrangement of figures.
• Emphasized the humanization of

Characteristics of Baroque Sculpture

Baroque sculpture emphasizes dynamic movement, with figures and their drapery projecting outwards. Drapery swells dramatically, highlighting the sculptor's focus on capturing the movement of cloth. Surfaces are often highly polished, contrasting with more restrained finishes found in other styles. The aim is the exaltation of feeling and theatrical expression. Baroque sculpture is inherently showy, often designed to engage and even overwhelm the viewer.

Christ's Agony in Gethsemane

This scene depicts Christ's profound agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is shown kneeling, head bowed in anguish, with one arm extended towards the chalice, symbolizing his acceptance of a bitter destiny. An angel, a bright and... Continue reading "Baroque Sculpture Masterpieces: Emotion and Movement in Religious Art" »

Fauvism: Early 20th Century Art

Fauvism, emerging in the twentieth century, marked great changes in painting. It became more international, embracing abstraction and a degree of dehumanization.

Paris was the most important center.

Painters focused on relevant established themes, employing the autonomy of color. Color use was subjective. Gauguin is considered a precedent for Fauvism.

Matisse is the most representative figure of Fauvism. The term "Fauves" (wild beasts) came from critics reacting to their intense use of color.

In Fauvism, color did not have to be realistic; its use was subjective. The movement was less interested in the topic itself than in the application of color.

Cubism: A Fundamental Avant-Garde

The painter most nationally associated... Continue reading "Fauvism, Cubism, Expressionism: Modern Art Styles" »

Formal Analysis of the Painting

In this painting, "The Card Players," two men are depicted seated at a table, facing each other. Only their profiles are visible. Within the frame, the players' eyes and hands, holding all the cards, form an imaginary triangle, drawing the viewer's attention to the game. The figures and scene are constructed using geometric shapes, emphasizing form and structure.

The artwork features different colors and loose brushstrokes, which contribute to its distinctive style. Light is skillfully used to shape the image and transform the main scene. Ocher tones are prominent, and the players' equipment is clearly rendered. This painting represents a typical daily scene, a common subject for Cézanne.

Meaningful Analysis and

Decoration of the Chapels of Santa Maria Maggiore

Sistine Chapel

Sixtus V kneels in the Chapel of the Nativity, with its Greek cross plan and very rich pictorial decoration, led by Giovanni Guerra and Cesare Nebbia. The decoration of the dome is more traditional from the compositional point of view. The scallops represent the ancestors of Christ, monumental in foreshortening and use of color, influenced by Michelangelo.

Vatican Library - Sixtus V

Domenico Fontana. The influence of Pompeian painting will remain in the world of Italian painting. This painting is going to acquire a decorative character and will cover the walls.

Chapel of Paul V

Il Cavaliere D'Arpino, whose name was Giuseppe Cesari d'Arpino, knighted by Pope Clement VIII, is one of the... Continue reading "Mannerism to Baroque: Italian Painting & Architecture" »

Romanticism in Prose: Freedom and Passion

The Romantic movement in prose championed the right to freedom, both individually and collectively.

Key Characteristics:

• Precedence over classical rules; passion replaced reason.
• Emphasis on subjective works.
• Mixture of genres.
• Combination of verse and prose.
• Diverse metric structures.

Notable Authors:

• José de Espronceda (e.g., *El Estudiante de Salamanca*, *Canción del Pirata*).
• Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (e.g., *Rimas y Leyendas*).

Romanticism in Fiction and Drama: National Identity

This period focused on the evocation of the past and observation of the present, aiming to forge a national identity for Spain.

Notable Authors:

• Mariano José de Larra (known for his insightful newspaper articles).
• Duke of Rivas (e.g.

Life and Work

Pio Baroja, born in San Sebastián in 1872, studied medicine and worked as a doctor. His time and experiences served as inspiration for his literary works. In 1901, he participated in the youth magazine Revista Juventud. Baroja's early writings included contributions to newspapers and magazines, and his novel Adventures of Wild Inventors and Mystification Paradox provides an opportunity to portray Bohemian Madrid.

Independent Novels

Baroja was part of a group known as Perfeccionamiento, which published works in 1902. His protagonist, Fernando Ossorio, overcomes various difficulties in life. His novel Life: End or Nothing (1910) serves as a lively portrait of social change. The marine atmosphere is reflected in Shanti Andia (1911)... Continue reading "Pio Baroja: Life, Works, and Literary Contributions" »

Baroque Art Comparison: Flanders, Netherlands, and Italy

Italian Baroque

Characteristics

• Strong light-dark contrasts (tenebrism)
• Dynamic, unstable figures
• Realism in religious and mythological scenes
• Aerial perspective for depth

Example

The Calling of St. Matthew depicts Jesus calling Matthew to follow him, set in a 17th-century tavern. The foreground figures enhance the sense of depth.

Flemish Baroque

The Three Graces by Peter Paul Rubens

• Soft, natural lighting on figures and landscape
• Mythological theme: Three Graces dancing, symbolizing joy, celebration, and music
• Loose brushwork emphasizing the idealized female nudes
• Balanced composition with circular and repetitive lines

Dutch Baroque

The Night Watch by Rembrandt

• Frozen movement, capturing individual

Spanish Theater from 1940 Onwards

Theatrical production was influenced by:

• The loss of great playwrights.
• The economic interests of employers who only sought to please the tastes of a particular audience and profit.
• The public's preference for simple and traditional theater.
• Prior censorship, which restricted the type of subject treated in drama or prevented its staging in Spanish theaters.

The Theater of the Postwar Period (1940s)

Dramatic works were characterized by their low quality and artistic mediocrity. The drama written and depicted in these early years was purely a commercial and conservative theater, with the aim of making people laugh. It is characterized by an eagerness to escape. Notable authors include Carlos Arniches, Jose Maria Peman,... Continue reading "Spanish Theater Evolution: 1940s Postwar to 1950s Realism" »