Archive for Painters

Camille Pissarro

Posted in Père Lachaise Cemetery with tags , on March 11, 2024 by Cade

July 10, 1830 – November 13, 1903

The (arguably literal) father of French Impressionism, Camille Pissarro convened, nurtured and pushed the collective that defined one of the most famous movements in modern art history. Born on the island of St. Thomas in the Danish West Indies, Pissarro learned painting from local masters and initially concentrated on the lives and culture of the Caribbean people. He attended boarding school in France and – after spending some time in South America – returned to Paris at the age of 25 to embark on a career as an artist.

His focus on natural settings and rural life remained throughout his career. While he continued his studies at the Académie Suisse and the Académie des Beaux-Arts, Pissarro met fellow artists like Claude Monet and Paul Cézanne. They shared frustration with the strict rules that surrounded the official Salon in Paris. Together, the artists explored themes and techniques that allowed them to express themselves in new, unconventional ways.
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Rembrandt van Rijn

Posted in Westerkerk with tags , on January 22, 2024 by Cade

July 15, 1606 – October 04, 1669

Perhaps the most prolific and famous visual artist of all-time, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was a leading talent in the already-packed-with-talent, era known as the Dutch Golden Age. Throughout the prosperous 17th Century, the Dutch masters perfected a painting style which moved away from the religious subjects of previous generations in lieu of more common, everyday people and daily life. The fact that they were able to capture the nuance of light so well only added to the lasting appeal. Dozens of painters became famous for their works: Vermeer, Steen, Cuyp, legends all. But, none reached the heights of the man who is simply remembered by one name: Rembrandt.
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Eugène Delacroix

Posted in Père Lachaise Cemetery with tags , on July 18, 2023 by Cade

April 26, 1798 – August 13, 1863

One of, if not the, most important French Romantic artists in history, Eugène Delacroix shirked the neo-classical perfectionism of his contemporaries and, instead, spent most of his career trying to meticulously express passion and individualism on his canvases. Known early on for his drawing ability, Delacroix explored themes and techniques beyond his stodgy training, while making money illustrating and lithographing books by Shakespeare and other classics. He was introduced to Romanticism while in England and went on to become one of the great masters of the period. Continue reading →

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Jack B. Yeats

Posted in Mount Jerome Cemetery (IE) with tags , , on June 25, 2018 by Cade

August 29, 1871 – March 28, 1957

Being the younger brother of one of Ireland’s most famous sons is a daunting existence. But, Jack Butler Yeats – brother to Nobel-winning poet, William – was not only up for the task, he matched his sibling punch for punch. Though he, too, found some success in writing, J.B.’s true medium was art. A talented illustrator, he moved into Expressionism and went on to become the most popular Irish painter of the 20th Century. He was celebrated for depicting, what playwright Samuel Beckett called “the issueless predicament of existence.” Meaning, Jack was able to dramatically and beautifully capture life at it’s most mundane and normal.  Continue reading →

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Jean-Michel Basquiat

Posted in Green-Wood Cemetery with tags , , on January 23, 2017 by Cade

basquiat1December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988

Jean-Michel Basquiat was a significant neo-expressionist artist in the late-70s/early-80s New York City pop-cultural scene. Rising to notoriety as a street artist (he comprised half of the graffiti-art duo, SAMO), Basquiat eventually found a following in various galleries in Manhattan. His work consisted of both image and text, highly influenced by juxtaposition and dichotomy. Basquiat also created experimental music with his band, Gray (a nod to Gray’s Anatomy, the reference book that heavily influenced his work throughout his life – not the ABC television show that debuted 17 years after he died.) Through his art and music, he spoke out against institutionalized racism and power structures and made commentary on issues such as class struggle and heritage. Continue reading →

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Norman Rockwell

Posted in Stockbridge Cemetery with tags , on July 27, 2015 by Cade

February 3, 1894 – November 8, 1978

Norman Rockwell was a painter and illustrator who’s definitive style portraying every-day life in 20th Century America is instantly recognizable to generations of people. He spent nearly 50 years creating covers for The Saturday Evening Post, a weekly magazine that could be found in homes all across the country as well as countless other publications, books and stand-alone pieces. Rockwell’s ability to capture the “simple” life with humor and poignancy made him immensely popular. His ubiquitous work can still be seen today in doctors’ offices, during the holidays or in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Personal note: There was a copy of No Swimming in our guest room when I was growing up for as far back as I can remember.

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Winslow Homer

Posted in Mt. Auburn Cemetery with tags , on February 24, 2014 by Cade

homer1February 24, 1836 – September 29, 1910

A self-taught master of oils and watercolors, Winslow Homer was a New Englander through and through. He began his career as an illustrator for popular magazines like Harper’s Weekly. He continued to fine tune his craft and fixated on subjects that were considerably more common and less “picturesque” than much of the art that was popular at the time. Homer spent time in France and England before returning to New England and holing up in coastal Maine. His love of the sea and water is obvious in many of his works. Despite his time in Europe, he chose to remain true to his rough but realistic works instead of expanding to the increasingly-popular Impressionist movement. Continue reading →

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Georges Seurat

Posted in Père Lachaise Cemetery with tags , on December 17, 2013 by Cade

seurat1December 2, 1859 – March 29, 1891

The father of the post-impressionist movement known as “pointilism”, Georges-Pierre Seurat is one of the most recognizable French impressionist painters. His masterworks like A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (1884–1886) and Bathers at Asnières (1883) stand as monuments to the late 19th century French collection as much as any Monet or Cézanne piece. His direct impact on the world of art was confined to a mere 31 years. Seurat died at that age of undisclosed causes in Paris. Continue reading →

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