Rainna's explorations in art.

      Surrealism was created as a reaction to the horrors of the 1930s. War brought pain and destruction to so many individuals and countries. Art is an expressive way to cope and process what's happening. With Sigmund Freud's theories on unconsciousness, I believe society hid in the recesses of their minds rather than see the death of war. I chose three works of art by three unique artists and mediums to discuss. There are more than just painted artworks that were used to help process the war. There is a variety in their pain and the art from this time shares that.  Otto Dix, S kull , 1924      Otto Dix was another victim of trauma from the war. He was an artillery gunner in trenches on the eastern front. He created a portfolio called Der Krieg, which means the war. In this portfolio, he presents a series of prints that don't promote ww1 nor heroize the soldiers who fought in said war. His prints were about the reality of the death and distraction caused by the aftermath

     I chose the pre-raphaelite and the Hudson River school to discuss. I personally like the pre-raphaelite paintings. The connection between nature and femininity is something I love. It brings out my inner romantic, and I like that about the style.                                         John William Waterhouse, The Soul of the Rose, 1908      I have a sticker of this painting, and I found his painting is both quite alluring and calming to look at, but it is painted from a painful yet romantic poem, the "Maud" written by Alfred Lord Tennyson.      This woman is based on a woman from a poem, that's about two tragic lovers who die at the end of the tale. This painting was an impressionist piece of one of the most famous lines of the poem, "come into the garden, Maud ''.        Waterhouse is an English painter who paints in the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood’s style. He's known for painting love-sick women in nature settings. The women he paints are powerful

    Art is used for Propaganda all the time, since before the French revolution and long after. Neoclassical art is a very direct natural movement, and propaganda is quite a direct art form. Many painters during the French revolution were commissioned to paint images of a small man and make him larger than life. Napoleon is depicted as very idealized in paintings. He looks like a strong leader anyone would want to follow to victory.                                           Napoleon Crossing the Alps , Jacques-Louis David, 1801        When I think of the French Revolution and Napoleon, this particular painting is the first thing I think about. It's such a popular painting for history, and its impeccable techniques. Napoleon looks quite dignified upon his horse, surrounded by doom. Neoclassical art is all about natives and this painting tells a story of victory.       The king of Spain commissioned this painting ‌to show their improved relatio