Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Impressionism and Post-Impressionism: Key Art Movements

Neoclassicism

Neoclassicism was an intellectual reaction to the frivolous whims of Rococo. Enlightenment thought triumphed, illustrated by the discovery of Pompeii.

Characteristics

Neoclassical works emphasized the relation of space and structure, volume, and geometric forms. The exterior reflected internal structure, with horizontal and vertical lines and austere, classical styles. Proportion, balance, and harmony were central.

• Sculpture: technical perfection and thematic diversity, with multiple viewpoints that idealized the Greek and Roman past.
• Fusion of Neoclassical features: the use of noble materials, as seen in the work of Antonio Canova.
• Painting: historical themes. Scenes from antiquity reflected the political events of the time, with compositional clarity and a search for the ideal beauty of the Greeks.
• Colors: predominantly pagan tones.

Francisco de Goya

Goya's work went through several stages:

1. First stage (until 1792): mixed tonalities, clear compositions and arrangements, and vivid colors, with atmosphere and clarity.
2. Second stage: everyday scenes with intensity of expression and gestures, vigorous brushwork and long strokes.
3. Third stage: the independence and depression of the Spanish War, with dark and harsh imagery.
4. Fourth stage: the Black Paintings, expressive and deeply pessimistic.

Romanticism

Romantic painting focused on the interplay between emotion and reason. It emphasized color, exoticism, subjectivity, chiaroscuro, and diagonal compositions.

• English: J. M. W. Turner and John Constable.
• French: Eugène Delacroix and Théodore Géricault.
• Spanish: Goya.

Romanticism flourished in the second half of the nineteenth century. It denounced injustices and gave voice to humble characters.

Architecture

Romantic architecture showed a rapid evolution of mentalities and a variety of movements, shaped by the Industrial Revolution and the fast construction demanded by growing cities. Engineering and architecture fused, creating striking contrasts.

• Currents: historicism, favored in countries such as Great Britain (Gothic Revival), Spain (Neo-Mudéjar), and France (Neo-Renaissance).

Characteristics: bourgeois style with different coverings, a fusion of structural and decorative elements, and distinctive use of space and objects.

Types: organic, geometric, pure forms, and asymmetric designs.

Authors: Antoni Gaudí (Park Güell, Sagrada Família) and Josef Maria Olbrich.

Impressionism

Impressionist painters were passionate about painting outdoors and avoided black. The movement's name was coined by Louis Leroy, mocking a Monet painting exhibited in alternative salons, and the artists embraced it.

Features

• Free distribution of complex compositions and masses of empty space.
• Diverse viewpoints and technical innovations.
• Scenery and everyday topics, with an anti-academic stance.
• Capturing ephemeral light, with little emphasis on drawing.
• Clear, pure colors.

Authors: Edgar Degas (The Dance Class, The Races, The Absinthe Drinker), Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Luncheon of the Boating Party), and Claude Monet (Nymphs).

Sculpture

Impressionist sculpture left the academic tradition behind, with diverse viewpoints and an emphasis on expressing motion. Notable works include Rodin's The Thinker, The Kiss, the Balzac Monument, The Burghers of Calais, and The Gates of Hell.

Post-Romantic Painting

Post-Impressionism introduced a new search for artistic languages and emphasized subjectivism. It laid the groundwork for the avant-garde movements of the early twentieth century.

Authors: Paul Cézanne (Women Making Coffee), Paul Gauguin (The Yellow Christ), and Vincent van Gogh (Self-Portrait).