Posted on 07/12/2005 7:06:11 PM PDT by Republicanprofessor
I thought I’d take a leaf from Liz’s book and do a quasi test on line. No grades (the best kind of test). Some of these were in the posts, but I also thought I’d get similar works by the same artists (and a couple of new ones) just to really challenge you.
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When it comes to Americana, my all time favorite is Harvey Dunn - a son of the Dakota Territory.
The Prairie is My Garden
Something for Supper
Buffalo Bones are Plowed Under
And for Americana with its tongue firmly planted in its cheek, Grant Wood (even though his American Gothic is as overworked as Pachelbel's Canon. Did you know, BTW, that the couple in that painting are brother and sister, not husband and wife?)
I am unfamiliar with Dunn's work, but I like what I see. These images show good, hardworking people who are just trying to survive. I love their spirit. I guess that's what I like about this type of art.
The surrendering German is particularly good - the rafters, the broken timbers, the legs of the discarded machine gun all pointing at him, slightly off center and backing into the background, he's cornered compositionally as well as literally -- and the naked fear in his eyes . . .
Dunn came home and painted the Dakota Territory of his youth. I think it was his counterblast to WWI, on a lot of levels.
Here's your "good, hardworking people" personified:
Have you seen that Renoir in person? Check it out sometime, at the Phillips Collection in D.C. A wonderful little mansion with great art.
1?
2 Goya
3 Rembrandt?
4 Turner/
5 Monet
6 Seargeant?
7 Cezanne
8Van Gough
9?Manet
10 Manet
11Kandinski
12Picasso
13Braque
14Magritte
15 Miro
16Dali
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18Okeefe
19 ?
20?
Now, I thought they were supposed to be father and daughter; that's why he's so protective with the pitchfork and she's looking off for a new life ?? That's what Sister Wendy Beckett said (and what I've read elsewhere too). I think Grant Wood's sister posed, along with his dentist. It is a bit over-publicized.
I hope I don't insult any here, but I also love his satire in the DAR ladies. Very prissy.
Grant Wood American Gothic and Daughters of the American Revolution
BTW, some very good answers on the "test." I'm really pleased. Answers to come later.
I confused Matisse for Manet ...unforgiveable
At least I got the M
2) I'll guess Goya, since these ladies appear to be Spanish
3) I feel I really should know this, but I don't
5) Monet
7) Cezanne
8) Van Gogh
(9&10) Matisse
11) Kandinsky - I do like him a lot, but not this particular painting
12) Picasso
15) Miro
16) Maxfield Parrish came to mind first, but I'll say Dali
18) Georgia O'Keefe
That's it for me.
That has a Cezanne look to it.
I found this Schreiber image below. There were many worthy artists working for the Federal Art Project under the WPA. They would get $100 a month for work on a mural project or one canvas per month given to the gov't. (That was a decent sum back in the 1930s.) This gave great estime to the artists, and the style was supposed to glorify Americans. 
To me, many of these works are great on an illustrational level, but, again, they don't strike me as great fine art: art that works emotionally and visually to really move me. However, it is great that you are collecting works that really move you. It is very important that citizens collect art. That's the best kind of "public" support. And important collections become worth more than the individual pieces themselves.
Excellent. Go to the top of the class.
Hey, you not only got the M, but the Ma and there's an e in there too.
The brother/sister story I read years ago, can't remember where. Father/daughter seems more likely, now that I look more closely at the apparent relative ages. If that's Wood's dentist, I bet he wasn't happy about being on exhibit everywhere! You sure could pick him out of a lineup.
class 7: American Modernism: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1440373/posts
class 6: Surrealism: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1427099/posts
class 5: Cubism: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1427099/posts
class 4: Expressionism: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1424087/posts
class 3: Cezanne and van Gogh; http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1419876/posts
class 2: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism; http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1414727/posts
class 1: Realism: Manet and Homer; http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1410117/posts
Right now alot of these WPA works of art are pretty affordable. I like to browse the art category on Ebay. It's like going to an art exhibit without having to wear shoes. LOL
Love the story about your paternal grandmother.
Parson Weems's Fable
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