COURSE DESCRIPTION :
This class explores the rich period in French art that follows the heyday of Impressionism and which is characterized by a great variety of styles and artistic ambitions. We will examine the later art of founding members of the Impressionist Movement like Monet, Renoir and Cézanne. We will look at Seurat's search for a scientific painting style in Divisionism, the expressive and symbolic use of colour by Van Gogh and Gaugin, the importance of myth and legend to the Symbolists (Moreau and Redon) and the search for a new decorative style in the art of the Nabis and Toulouse-Lautrec at the end of the 19th century.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY :
The course is developed through lectures and use of slides. Students are responsible for preparing the reading material and research projects in order to participate in class discussion.
In class are covered :
- Overview of Early Impressionism
- Late Impressionism: Renoir, Monet, Cézanne
- Seurat's Neo-Impressionism
- Romantic symbolism: Moreau and Redon
- Modern symbolism: Gaugin & Van Gogh
- Art Nouveau and decorative painting – the Nabis
- The Poster and late Realism – Toulouse-Lautrec
TEXT :
Modern Art : Impressionism to Post-Modernism, Ed. D.Brill, Thames & Hudson, 2003
EVALUATION :
The final grade will be made up of class tests, class participation, a research projects and the
final examination.