“(Raja) Ravi Varma’s imaginary women are cyphers, they will never be realistic because very few people actually look like that. Every now and then in their own way, the women Ravi Varma imagined can and do reflect what we would like to see in ourselves and the world around us.” - Deepanjana Pal Raja Ravi Varma, one of the greatest painters in Indian history, transcended boundaries between the real, ideal, and imaginary, particularly when it came to depicting women. From simple flowers to glittering jewellery, gorgeous brocades on cascading silks, Ravi Varma embellished his iconic women, thus reinterpreting the Indian ideal of feminine beauty with his fair-skinned, doe-eyed puranic nayikas (heroines), devis (goddesses), maharanis (queens) and apsaras (celestial nymphs) whose general demeanour is one of tender piety and sublime grace. Being the first to portray the sensuality and modesty of Indian women through Indian sensibilities and European techniques, he was perhaps the biggest influencer of his time. Arguably one of the most beautiful of Raja Ravi Varma’s nayikas is Radha. She exudes a soft beauty, intelligence and sensitivity. Not surprisingly, these traits are also found in the goddesses and strong females of orthodox literature across pan-India. Since her beauty transcended other definitions of beauty, Raja Ravi Varma has to exercise extra caution when bringing her to life on canvas. As human and godly loves coalesce in this relationship, we see Radha both as a lover and a devotee of Krishna. Perhaps this explains the pooja thali present in the portrait. It also showcases other symbols of spiritual devotion like the brass thali of flower assortment and sweet desserts. This shows the character prioritizing worship and devotion over the romantic play between the two. She is shown contently sitting on the rocks near the flowing water. The faint hint of a smile shows that she may have seen him approaching her. Radha in the Moonlight, 1890 Raja Ravi Varma had a knack for depicting historical and mythological lore in all his artworks. He also made the traditional, bold, and strong Indian woman as a central theme for his works showcased at the World Columbian Exposition. There was a specific purpose behind this action. He wanted to spread the Indian woman’s sophistication and attractiveness when she adorns herself in various Indian attires. The reason behind it is not hard to fathom. The painter wanted to tell the Western world that the characters etched on canvas in his artworks were real women and not a figment of his active imagination. This was his way of helping the traditional Indian lady to be exposed to a larger audience that spanned the globe. Dressed in a gorgeous nauvari saree, Expectation is a painting of a woman expectantly waiting for someone special is a quintessential Ravi Varma nayika. This character is depicted in a light that the Western and Indian world would connect with. It is easy to recognize the culture and affluence in the artwork. No wonder that it was a part of the Chicago exhibition. Expectation, 1893 Living from 1848 until 1906, Raja Ravi Varma’s regal portraiture went above and beyond the conventions of the genre, combining a heady mix of opulence, drama, flair, and storytelling. The famous painter also had Tamil Nadu as his base for a short time. In this period, he came up with artworks depicting several members of the imperial family. These include Maharaja Thondaiman of Pudukkottai, an art connoisseur, and his soulmate Janaki Subamma Bai Sahib. Some other works also included their sons and other members of the royal family. An intelligent and 'intriguing' woman, according to the British station-in-charge of Pudukkottai, Queen Janaki Subbamma was a capable and resourceful woman who realised that in matters of governance, the latter called the shots, leaving her to protect her turf. Ravi Varma added a lot of detailing to the jewellery that adorns her body. No wonder that the illuminance radiating from her gems and pearls is a standout feature of the artwork. Art fans will be drawn to the nose ring and the oversized jhumkas that Subbmma is shown wearing. The rich and vibrant aura of the royal is as visible in her glowing jewellery and saree as through her powerfully piercing gaze. Her Highness Janaki Subamma Bai Sahib of Pudukkottai, 1879 Raja Ravi Varma specialises in adding a human touch to ethereal Goddesses. This way, he tries to bridge the gap between the human and the divine. Such artworks go a long way in letting people re-think the traditional perceptions about womanhood. The artist has been considered an early pioneer of modern Indian art. His core competency in giving a human touch to the divine figures helped add a touch of realistic essence to the artworks. This was a pathbreaking milestone in the history of Indian Art. What today is taken for granted in our collective psyche is the reference of these humanlike forms of Gods, which bridge the gap between mythology, history, and religion. Through his affordable lithographs that reached almost every household, what lingers in every Indian male memory is bowing down in respect to the mother Goddess in her many forms. Evident in his artworks is the realistic depiction of the human form while weaving in the mythological aspect of Indian goddesses where they are depicted with four hands, holding a veena, lotus, prayer beads, etc. Goddess Saraswati, Ravi Varma Press, 1890 There Comes Papa shows how a regal lady from Malabar gesticulating her husband’s arrival to her infant son, whom she carries in her arms. The painting also shows a white and grey dog looking in the direction of the father’s arrival. An excited pet dog also looks towards the arriving father. Raja Ravi Varma had dispatched 10 works of art to the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893. There Comes Papa was one of the select paintings as a part of this batch of artworks. The inspiration behind the painting is dear to the painter. This is because it featured his eldest daughter as the mother with her own son. This painting has a note to describe the artwork. It says, “A Keralite mother clad in white cloth is preparing to go to the temple with her son at her arm. A dog is following.” The painting is a depiction of the blend of Western essence like a pet canine with an affluent yet traditional Keralite female of an era gone by. There Comes Papa, 1893 Amongst these extraordinary paintings, one portrait that stands out is of his formidable mother-in-law. Known in the family as Karutha Amooma ("the dark-complexioned grandmother"), the innately human Mahaprabha of Mavelikara comes across as a woman with dark complexion, bloodshot eyes, and an imperious glare. There are many indicators of her royal lineage. Take, for instance, her posture as she is seated. Art fans also note the brass prop and her shawl, which portrays an imperial air about her. This is a documentation of a matriarch in a social system that accords the women with authority and privilege. Ravi Varma’s world too had a heavy influence of such a matriarchal society, and his paintings too reflect the strong authority wielded by female characters. It remains an exceptional work depicting a woman of stern character without softening either her powerful countenance or her distinct physical features. Mahaprabha of Mavelikkara, 1880 Ravi Varma had a knack for portraying female characters that went against the cultural rules, style, and societal expectations. As a result, he managed to let an Indian beauty emerge that transcended regional parameters. No wonder that his artworks and female characters embodied the essence of classic and contemporary. He succeeded in letting art fans blur the distinction between the imaginary as real, and thus believe in both.

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31 Dec 2021

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Starting today, the waiting list is open for early access to a never seen before, never done before NFT. The Maharaja of all NFTs is poised as a rare opportunity to own a piece of Indian Art Legacy - the works of Raja Ravi Varma one of the greatest painters in the history of Indian art. It will be brought to you by RtistiQ in collaboration with ‘Raja Ravi Varma Heritage Foundation’ and ‘Gallery G’. The iconic Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) is known as ‘The Father of Modern Indian Art’. The royal brought a historic turn in the art of India and became the most iconic Indian artist of all times. He united Hindu mythological subject matter with European realism historicist painting style, depicting Indian gods and characters. Raja Ravi Varma made use of oil painting and mastered the art of lithographic reproduction to bring a wind of change by focusing on the details with his play of light, shadows and adding depth using perspective. His artworks are either part of royal collections and housed in palaces in India or owned by eminent private collectors. Just as RtistiQ has established a game changing secure physical-digital link for artists & buyers, via this auction of Raja Ravi Varma’s works and lithographs, we want to set a precedent for a rare collectible that has stepped out of history’s canvas. This is an NFT of many firsts; the first NFT of a national treasure, the first and only digital NFT for Raja Ravi Varma, first one in collaboration with a foundation and the first with a traditional gallery representation. The Indian government has declared his works nationwide treasures and non-export antiquities. With this endeavour to tokenize a chapter of Indian art, our mission is to bring to any art aficionado a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own original Raja Ravi Varma’s works regardless of where they reside. We will be revealing more on the auction and dates soon. Make sure you join the waitlist on the RtistiQ NFT drop page. Follow us on discord https://discord.gg/HNwU7gUqjS to not miss out on any update.

RtistiQ

17 Dec 2021

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Celebrated among the greatest painters in India, and a visionary far beyond his times Raja Ravi Varma was known for the rich shades and energetic hues of his mythological prints and the ethereal power of his temperate paintings. Born into an aristocratic family in 1848 in the village of Kilimanoor, Kerala, Ravi Varma was the first one to blend European academic norms for the depiction of true details naturalism with a rich India-centric influence. Working with an illusionistic flair, Ravi Varma reimagined the Hindu mythological stories so deeply entrenched in the popular Indian imagination. Up until then, most of these characters were painted were flat, and the deities were recognized only by their accessories and mounts. Owing to modern realism, Raja Ravi Varma offered them a face thus humanizing them. And many lovely episodes from the Hindu epics came to life, in full-bodied form, colour, and emotion that were palpable. In a unique fusion and intermingling of light and shadows by using a perspective that added depth to his paintings, the artist traversed through disparate moods and emotions. His paintings reverberate with a zest to a celebration called life. This is why his paintings had trees adorned with fruits and flowers, and waters made more mesmerising with the various hues. Last but not least were the painting’s subjects themselves. The longing in the eyes made it seem that they would blink and come out of the painting any moment now. Disappointed, 1906 It was a remarkable shift from the type of art that was painted then. Now the eyes expressed a longing as the folds of sari fluttered, the jewels that generously adorned his subjects shimmered in a perceived angle of light - and Virahotkhandita Nayika was born. According to the classical convention, one way of recognizing ‘the grieving woman who is separated from her beloved' is through her open, unbound hair. And this is how one sees the woman portrayed here - unhappy after receiving a letter from her lover. In an image depicting the relationship between a friend and the heroine, Chitralekha paints the picture of Aniruddha, the Prince (in this case the Vaishnava deity Krishna) who stole heroine Usha’s heart. Ravi Varma titled this Chitralekha not only because that is the name of Usha’s friend, but because Chitralekha means someone who is as stunning as a painted image. In this case, the friend could really be the heroine’s own conscience. It sings a soliloquy by the grieving Nayika, one who is in separation. At that moment, Chitralekha conjures up his face in a painting. Chitralekha thus transforms into Usha’s own conscience. Chitralekha, 1890 Ravi Varma was aware of the narrative and context of the epic. Hence, he could visualize these narratives in his mind and put them on the canvas. He did not conform to set standards of following a painting theme as per the story. He was known to alter the mood and theme as per what he was commissioned or as an innovative inspiration. The classic scene of Lord Rama breaking Lord Shiva’s bow to marry Sita is legendary, for it was a precursor to the war between Lord Rama and Ravan. Varma painted the scene to show anguish on the character’s faces to mark this future event. Rama Breaking The Sacred Bow Of Siva Before His Marriage To Sita, 1906 Rama, Sita and Lakshmana Crossing The Sarayu, 1906 From one of longing and a high octane drama to a state of absolute bliss. This is a painting of Rama, Sita and Lakshana Crossing The Sarayu on their way to exile. To depict Sita's contentment when she was with her husband Rama, Ravi Varma portrayed her elaborately dressed, a peaceful visage, and her hair bound in a bun. The Stolen Interview, early 20th century If we look closely at the two characters in The Stolen Interview, we may think that they are meant for each other. It shows how two people in love conducted themselves back in those days. We see the man looking at the female, while the lady pretends to be busy with a flower in her hand. But their presence in such close proximity makes us believe that they consider each other their soulmate. The role of the flower is as symbolic in this painting as it is in most of the other paintings of Varma. The rose depicted here symbolizes eternal love. The female character has draped a simple yet elegant gold-bordered saree. The pearl jewellery she adorns around her neck is meant to tell us that she comes from an affluent household. The light is shown to come inside from out, showcasing that we, the viewers, are witnessing a private moment as complete outsiders. Yashoda and Krishna, ca. 1911 In this painting, one finds the zenith of motherly love, Vatsalya Bhava as the infant Krishna is hugging his mother Yashoda and is holding a cup in his tiny hand. His cherubic face pressed close to his mother as he begs for some fresh milk while she is milking the cow. At this moment, both the mother and the son are at their intimate best. Yashoda’s glance reveals her ecstatic joy of the nearness of her baby, whose demand she enjoys and fulfills grudgingly. pestering demand of her child. These characters are the protagonists of a historic moment from a classical text, were intended to be noble, heroic, momentous, and emotional in the most human way. These gods, goddesses, noblemen, and women left an indelible impact on art, religion, society, and aesthetics as they democratized art, perhaps groundbreaking in the history of the Indian art movement.

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17 Dec 2021

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Fine Arts as a discipline has a very rich, vibrant and global antiquity. The discipline has evolved rapidly with time. Art was and is still used as an expression to communicate with the audience. Like people say, ‘A picture is worth a 1000 words’. Over the huge time span of development of fine arts in human history a number of factors have affected the way art, painting in particular has evolved with time. Some of the major factors that help an artiste or an art critique understand the art work is the contemporary social, economic, religious, environmental and political conditions under which the artiste worked. It is these conditions that also determined the techniques and the mediums which were used to produce these artworks. All over the world we have the earliest paintings in the form of Rock-Art which date back to the Pre-Historic times. These paintings were very rudimentary line drawings, though very expressive and informative in a number of ways. This art basically depicted the general everyday practices of the people like dancing, hunting and even rituals and beliefs. Since back then there were less technological means to express themselves these Pre-Historic Hominins drew on the walls of natural rock shelters and they used locally available materials, like in case of India, the most well-known Rock Art site is Bhimbetka. Here, the Hominins used animal blood, ox-hide, ochre from locally available banded-hematite quartzite stones and vegetable dies to color. If one wants to understand the growth and evolution of different painting styles and mediums one needs to understand the growth of society and culture in tandem. Fine Arts could only grow if the society was sedentary, stable and there was regular accumulation of surplus to give attention to other specialized activities. As the division and specialization of labor started getting more granulated more inventions and innovations came forth in Fine Arts as the artistes were given more time and freedom to do so. In the current Art circles types of paintings are compartmentalized according to the first producers of those paintings, or the first city/state/kingdom the painting was made or the in general the cultural or religious thoughts that were the reason for the development of art. But however one must understand that it is not correct to believe that painting styles and techniques originated at one specific region and then were disseminated across the world. The scholarship calls this phenomena ‘Unilineal Cultural Evolution’ which is now highly criticized and the belief is of ‘Multilinear Cultural Evolution’ which propounds that ideas could have originated simultaneously in different silos. For example, what we today all know as the Mughal Miniature Painting Style, it is not a very indigenous style, it has characteristics of Persian Painting Style, local Indian variations like Bundi or Deccani Styles and a lot of European Renaissance Style as well. Hence, painting styles, techniques and mediums have constantly been adapted from other regional styles, techniques and mediums. Keeping the above developments in mind, today, the artistes have managed to enhance their painting styles on different mediums to express their messages to the outside world. Painters today have managed to find the balance between the originalities of various styles and mediums and their personal innovations. Tempera This technique uses Beeswax and egg yolk as binding agents. This method is known to be more enduring as the color finish in Tempera stays longer while in oil or water color paintings the colors fade easily. This style was predominantly used to color Icons on buildings and on books for illustrations. Tempera Art- Last Supper by Da Vinci Oil Painting In this type of painting technique, the binding agents are linseed, poppy or walnut oil. This method provides a glossy finish which the earlier techniques couldn’t. Painters use different oil paints on the same piece to give it a very distinct multi-dimensional and multi textured look. Oil Painting- Guernica- Pablo Picasso Water Colors As the name suggests these are water soluble colors. They are popular because they dry fast and a painter can work out the finer details with them. These were and are used on stone, canvas, paper and even fabric. However, a catch in this style of painting is that the artiste needs to master various properties and qualities of water as it spreads very easily and reacts differently to different surfaces. Water Color- Mother Teresa and Children- M. F. Hussain Acrylic Painting This style is a very progressive innovation in the field of painting as it draws from both oil and water based pigments. It is widely preferred today as it dries quickly and is water resistant, hence multiple layers of finishing can be done on this. Acrylic style paintings have evolved tremendously with time as now even a lot of Mixed Media works use acrylics with pen-ink, charcoals, chalk and pastels. It can be used on numerous mediums like stone, ceramics, canvas, paper etc. Acrylic- Starry Night- Van Gogh Pen and Ink This is a truly traditional yet prevalent technique known for its versatility on different mediums. Earliest examples can be found in the form of scrolls from ancient civilizations like at Egypt and China. But predominantly this technique is used today and even in the past for the detailing in the calligraphy or illustrations that it would give. An artiste can focus on the tiniest of details through this technique on mediums like paper, cloth, palm leaves or ceramics. This style is widely used by artistes who work in the illustration business like Graphic Novel or Comic Publishing Houses or Newspapers and Magazines. Pen and Ink- Mystical European Landscapes- Olivia Kemp Pastels This method basically includes making a thick paste out well bound dry pigment and chalk. They are known for their intense color and varied textures. Pastels- Dandelions- Jean Francois Millet Mixed Media Like already mentioned above, this type of technique is a product of permutations and combinations of the modern day artistes. In this one can use paints, ink, chalk, pastels on different mediums like metal, canvas, ceramics and many more. This style has a very individualistic feel, as it gives an artiste the opportunity to experiment in a number of ways. Mixed Media- Radha Krishna- Revankar Art Digital Drawings/Paintings Among the current tech savvy millennial population, the young artistes have started producing phenomenal art using devices and different software. The most common software used are Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign. Through these digital media one can create very detailed and neat illustrations. Secondly, to make sure that a very personal touch is maintained for the artistes there are digital pads like Wacom, on which an artiste can draw using a digital pen and the image appears on the computer screen. At present, this is the most preferred style of drawing and painting used by commercial houses like book publishers or logo designers etc. Digital Drawing- Game of Thrones- Tommy Patterson To sum up, Painting Styles and Traditions have long antecedents in our history and they have been evolving with time. One needs to understand the world these techniques emerged in, to fully fathom the symbolic meanings behind them. Discover more painting styles on RtistiQ. A Virtual Art Marketplace For Art Lovers And Artists.

RtistiQ

10 Dec 2021

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The love and appreciation for Art has been an intrinsic part of the Human Cultural and Cognitive Evolution. The interest and experience of the human mind in Art has grown exponentially since the Pre-Historic Period. One can say that with the development and growth of Cranial Capacity in the humans along with many other social, cultural, political and economic developments, the importance of Art and Aesthetics have evolved, leading to a number of professional disciplines, like Fine Arts, Art Management, Curators, Critiques, Art Historians and so forth. A lot of precedence is given on analyses and interpretation of art to get a holistic picture of the contemporary societies, many of which cease to exist now and only their art works exist. These above mentioned developments led to an increase of population that was inclined towards understanding and appreciating various forms of Art, from recreational perspective to professional business perspectives. Art and Aesthetics have become such an important part of Cultural Studies and Heritage that various bodies run by the Governments of all countries and states and by the Private Entrepreneurs have started investing stakes to conserve and preserve the Artistic Assemblages of their regions. Over the past decade this practice has increased rapidly due to the commercial and monetary benefits and cases of protecting native traditions in the ever-increasing globalized world. Keeping all these things in mind, here is a small list of Must Visit Destinations Around the World for Art Lovers. Although a word of caution that this article only scratches the surface of the Art World, one lifetime wouldn’t be enough to imbibe and appreciate all the Artistic Marvels of our World. Let us begin with one of the earliest evidences of Art in the world, in the form of Pre-Historic Rock Art. These Cave Shelters can be found in the South of France known as the Chauvet Caves. Based on the archaeological and scientific evidence from the Caves, these paintings are dated to roughly around 32,000 years old. These paintings tell us about the Hunting and Ritualistic activities of the Paleolithic dwellers of these caves. Next fairly ancient site that is a must for art lovers to visit is in Maharashtra, India. There are a group of Buddhist Caves near the village of Ajanta in Aurangabad District of Maharashtra, and due to their proximity to the village they are known as Ajanta Caves. These are group of Buddhist Caves of which the earliest has been dated to around 2nd Century BCE belonging to the Satvahana Dynasty and the latest dating to around 6th Century CE belonging to Gupta-Vakataka Period. A visitor will be enchanted by the perfect blend of interaction between the Nature and its Human inhabitants. Here there are numerous sculptures belonging to the Buddhist Iconography and breathtaking paintings giving us a glimpse of the Ancient Indians. This article would be incomplete without mentioning the splendid city of Istanbul, in Turkey. This city has seen many glorious days under different Empires, like the, Hellenistic Empire, the Bronze Ages, the Byzantine Empire and lastly the Ottoman Empire. The entire city is shrouded with monuments and museums with the robust collections one’s eyes scan fathom. Right from the Sultan Ahmet to the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia to splendid museums like the Top-Kapi Palace, this city is a gold mine for Art lovers. Another must visit destination for Art lovers is Rome, in Italy. The entire city is filled to the brim with history and monuments and churches to devour. There is a lot to see and experience in the city but the must visit sites are Roman Forum, St. Peter’s Basilica (The Vatican City), the Colosseum, Cuatro Fontana Di Trevi and the Pantheon. There are a lot of majestic places to visit in the Latin Americas as well. One of them which deserves a special mention is the capital of Columbia, Bogota. This city is a true treat for the Art lovers, there is so much one can do here, most spectacular places are, Museo del Oro (Gold Museum), the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, the Botero Museum and lastly a Street Art Tour of the City. The final two destinations that deserve mentions are the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York and the Louvre, in Paris and recently opened in Abu Dhabi. Both of these museums are very unique in different ways and they are the torch bearers of Art Education in the world. These museums have magnificent art collects from different periods and regions of the world, like the most well-known, Mona Lisa, by Leonardo Da Vinci at Louvre. Along with art collections and exhibitions these museums also carry out extensive research and publications on Art of the World along with educating the future generations on Art Management and Curatorship, Art Conservation and Art History. And to see more works of art from around the world that is authentic check out our website RtistiQ as we bring to you both digital and physical art backed by NFT.

RtistiQ

03 Dec 2021

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The word “landscape” comes from the Dutch word "Landschap", which means the patch of the ground describing any painting drawing or any other technique used or whose main subject is to draw the scenery containing mountains, forests, rivers, or seascape. Landscape painting in layman language is the depiction of Natural Scenery. Timeline of the landscape painting The tradition of landscape painting can be traced back to traditional Chinese painting during the 6th century, identified as Shan Shui, and is still popular to this day. In the Western tradition landscape painting as a genre developed from the Renaissance movement. Giovanni Bellini’s expressive landscapes are as much the main character of s paintings as are the religious subjects that influenced 15th-century Italian art. Created for sophisticated patrons, Bellini’s works present characters and symbols from familiar sacred stories. With the work of Giorgione, who was one of Bellini's students, the Venetian High Renaissance truly began. Although he died very young, Giorgione's influence was extensive and impactful. He introduced new subjects such as mythological scenes and pastorals with elusive meaning. To a revolutionary stretch, the mood is the primary "subject" of his works. He used light and shadow and a soft atmosphere to merge landscape and figures. For Giorgione, more than any artist before him, the landscape became an end in itself. The Feast of the Gods by Giovanni Bellini 1514 - 1516, High Renaissance, oil, canvas National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, US The upliftment of landscape painting began following the Renaissance era, in the 16th century, with artists drawing landscapes that included pictures purely as a setting for human activity. The genre reached new heights at this point due to the Dutch and Flemish schools' artistic innovation with artists like Pieter Bruegel, Joachim Patenir, Albrecht Durer. Artists like Pieter Bruegel, who was one of the most famous painters of the Flemish school, was known for his detailed landscapes depicting peasant life. His artworks have inspired many, including the renowned painter Peter Rubens and many Flemish painters in the following century. One of his famous works, Landscape with the Fall of Icarus (1558) depicts a religious or mythological story. Bruegel depicts the boisterous activities of a country fair and a folk play, respectively, paying particularly close attention to the worn costumes and broad, emphatic gestures of the celebrants . He had attentive attentive observation of the village sittings, far from re-creating everyday life. The powerful compositions, brilliantly organized and controlled, reflect a sophisticated artistic design. His use of landscape defies simple interpretation. The painting Landscape with the Fall of Icarus is a true masterpiece, urrounded by mystery, and numerous questions which remain unresolved, particularly regarding its attribution. The painting, therefore, continues to exert a lasting fascination. Landscape with the Fall of Icarus (1558) The term “classical” appeared in the seventeenth century. Classicism is the term used to define the arts and culture of the ancient civilizations of Greece and the Roman Empire. A source of inspiration that has been popular since the Renaissance era until the 19th and 20th centuries. Nicolas Poussin is one of the most well-known classically-inspired artists. He is considered an important representative of the French Baroque. In his famous painting, Landscape with a Calm, he tried to capture in his composition every single detail to impact the viewers. Poussin’s landscape is usually created with a graceful background for a group of figures but later landscapes played an important role in developing a unique style, as it focuses on figures, creating stories that were taken from the bible, mythology, and literature. Nicolas Poussin, Landscape with a Calm, 1650–1651, Getty Center (Wikipedia) Claude Lorrain is a french artist who is known for one of the greatest ideal landscape paintings. His inspiration is the countryside around Rome. Working outdoors from detailed observation, and blending classical Idealism with naturalistic detail he produced work that could rival the beauty of nature itself. The Mill, Claude Lorrain, Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston, MA, US, Public domain Throughout Europe, Poussin and Claude Lorrain established landscape as an honourable genre but it never matched its importance. Due to slow recognition, it was not considered a match for other genres, such as history painting or portraiture. In 18th century Europe, the Rococo style became widespread in painting, sculpture, decorative arts, and interior design. It was influenced by the Venetian School's use of color, Arcadian landscapes, erotic subjects, and intense use of dramatic scenes which enhanced more playfulness in their works. Jean-Antoine Watteau was the innovative artist who extended the Rococo period beyond decorative arts onto the canvas. Watteau's unique and creative compositions’ style was based on the combination of asymmetrical design and brightly colored landscapes which were painted idyllic and with happy scenes. Most of his art focuses on the cheerfulness of people dancing around and enjoying themselves in a beautiful setting. All this imagery gave birth to a new genre called fêtes galantes, which were scenes of courtship parties. The Embarkation for Cythera, 1717, Louvre. Romanticism was the defining style in art and literature of the late 18th and 19th centuries. A movement that draws attention to imagination and emotions. Romanticism is a rejection of the rule of balance, idealization, calm, harmony, and rationality that characterized Classicism in general and particularly Neoclassicism in the late 18th-century. One of the main artists of the Romantic movement was the painter Caspar David Friedrich who changed the face of landscape paintings with his intense and emotional focus on nature and became a key member of the Romantic Movement. Two Men Contemplating the Moon c.1819 by Caspar David Friedrich Friedrich elaborated his style and developed his techniques while painting Two Men Contemplating the Moon. The symbolism is one of the strongest points of his painting, which Friedrich implemented with interesting lighting effects and color use. In the 19th century, a rebel art movement brought a major change in Western art. The Impressionist movement marked the beginning of the modern era in art. The best way for the artists to get recognition was to exhibit their work at the annual Salon des Beaux-Arts or "Salon de Paris", which was organized by the Fine Arts Academy. Being showcased during this event could make or break a career. The artists were eager to get the public’s appreciation and to gain favorable reviews. Being at first rejected by the establishment, a small group of Impressionist artists held an exhibition with their latest works. Approaching painting in a similar way, the group came together with open compositions depicting the study of light with its changing qualities. Their innovation was the departure from studio practice, replaced by painting outdoors. The freshness and the immediacy in Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, and Paul Cezanne’s work astounded the public. The art critic Louis Leroy coined the name Impressionism referring to Monet's painting Impression: Sunrise. He gave rise to the sarcastic comment: "an exhibition of impressionists". Claude Moner, Impression, Sunrise, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris (Wikipedia) In today's time, Impressionist paintings are remarkably the most popular and loved by the public from a modern art museum collection. The modern lifestyle and the way people spent time in Parisian cafés, bars, and theatres were the popular subjects for Monet, Renoir, and Degas in late 19th-century Paris. Soon after the group’s exhibition, the public accepted the term "Impressionism". The Impressionists were interested in representing the form as the naked eye sees it and in capturing the natural effect of light. Some younger artists who were in favor of Impressionists started imitating them. They exhibited together around eight times between 1874 and 1886. Paul Cézanne, The Bathers, 1906 | © Museum of Art, Philadelphia/WikiCommons Later, in the 1880s, Post-Impressionist artists became concerned with the three-dimensional nature of space, objects, and their representation on canvas. Qualities of line, pattern, color, and symbolic subject matter were the main concepts for this artistic movement. The impressionists were the true masters of painting. The task was to paint from “Nature”, to make use of the discoveries of the impressionist’s masters, and yet to capture the sense of order and necessity that distinguished the art of Poussin. The impressionists had given up mixing the pigment on the palate and had applied them separately onto the canvas in small dabs and dashes to render the flickering reflections of an “open dash air” scene. The techniques of the Impressionists focused more on style rather than the subject matter. They aimed to hold on to the contemporary art world, artists with distinct styles in art practices—including Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Georges Seurat, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, and Henri Rousseau. Vincent van Gogh, Cypresses, 1889. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York(Wikipedia) Like the Impressionists, the Post-Impressionists showed their artwork to the public through exhibitions across Paris. In 1910 the art critic, curator, and historian Roger Fry coined the term "Post-Impressionism" with the show, Manet and the Post-Impressionists. Fry believed that the beauty of art is inherently rooted in perception: "Art is an expression and stimulus to the imaginative life rather than a copy of actual life". In An Essay in Aesthetics Fry explains: "Art appreciates emotion in and for itself. The artist is constantly observant of his surroundings and the least affected by their intrinsic aesthetic value. As he contemplates a particular field of vision, the aesthetically chaotic and accidental conjunction of forms and colors begin to crystallize into a harmony." These theories help us understand the commonality of these artists. The style of landscape painting flourished around the turn of the 20th century in France. Fauvism and Expressionism were introduced with harsh colors and flat surfaces (Fauvism) and emotionally disturbing forms. As the artist in fauvism painted a strong expressive reaction to the subjects spontaneously, expressing with bold brushstrokes and impressive colors. The colors did not have to be true to nature, necessarily. They could be changed to show emotions. Two influential artists of that time were Henri Matisse and Paul Signac. Expressionism came "from within," which is a reflection of the artist's feelings rather than a portrayal of a scene. The Scream, 1893 by Edvard Munch Lastly, Contemporary art refers to art that is produced in today’s time which can be named- painting, sculpture, photography, installation, performance, and video art. And when we talk about the landscape in modern and contemporary art wouldn’t be complete without mentioning David Hockney’s art. David Hockney has gained more popularity than any other British artist of this century. Hockney was one of the first artists to use acrylic paint extensively, which was at that time a relatively new artistic medium. He used acrylic paints to depict the hot, dry landscapes of California. He used to work in a vertical plan by stapling the canvas to his studio wall. He said in his autobiography, "I love the idea first of all of the painting like Leonardo, all his studies of water, swirling things. And I loved the idea of painting this thing that lasts for two seconds: it takes me two weeks to paint this event that lasts for two seconds." Hockney’s artistic career is mostly connected with the Pop art movement. Recently, he has been widely experimenting with various methodologies for reinventing the landscape genre, including watercolors, photo collages. David Hockney in his recent exhibit “ The Arrival of Spring, Normandy 2020” show at the Royal Academy of Arts 23. He travelled to france with the intension to capture the spring in the rural landscape of normandy. He wanted to observe the richness of the spring to capture the change in the plant and the light. He stared to work in the beginning of the coronavious pandemic when much of the world wenr into the state of lockdown where he focus on the emerging of the spring as a celebration of the joy of natural world. David Hockney painting 'Winter Timber' in Bridlington, July 2009 © David Hockney. Photo credit: Jean-Pierre Goncalves de Lima David Hockney, Felled Tress on Woldgate, 2008 © David Hockney In today’s time, we can see the development of the landscape genre. Landscape as an art genre is forever since it offers so many options for contemporary artists to experiment with new media and to reflect on human nature and our troubled relation with Mother Nature. Discover the works of our artists in our collection. This collection is perfect for art lovers who are looking for landscape paintings for their homes/offices.

RtistiQ

25 Nov 2021

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Over the past few months, non-fungible tokens, or the NFTs, have burst into the mainstream, expanding and challenging our collective understanding of ownership. But what are they? In this article, we provide a brief introduction to NFTs, a roundup of 2021 and why we believe they are paving the way for strong growth in years to come. WHAT IS AN NFT? WHAT DOES IT STAND FOR? HOW DO THEY WORK? Non-fungible, meaning they cannot be exchanged and hold a unique representation. The term ‘Token’ refers to unit of value that is stored on a secure distributed ledger called a blockchain. Essentially, an NFT is a digital asset that is a publicly verifiable intellectual property authenticated on a blockchain, mainly on Ethereum, which further can record all the transactions (namely the provenance) on the ledger in a tamper-proof manner. The asset can be physical & tangible or digital & intangible and can record the ownership of art, image, video, video game skin, trademark, cryptokitty and much more. HOW TO DETERMINE THE VALUE OF AN NFT? The value of an NFT is what the market says it is—which means what someone is willing to pay to own the NFT vs. its copy. Several factors gauge the NFTs' worth such as rarity, utility and tangibility. The value of an NFT also differs for short- or long-term holding, depending on the asset the NFT represents. Before investing on NFT’s it is often a good practice to research more about the creator, rarity and the long term view, similar to any asset investment. NFTs ARE JUST GETTING STARTED Though the NFTs have been around since 2014, they have roared in popularity only in 2021. They are still in the very first stages just like the iPhone was in its first year. The simple iPhone applications of that time have now moved to the Ubers of the world, the scanner, a portal to the new world experience of augmented reality, earthquake early warning system, a healthcare partner in our pocket and more. The NFT minefield is likely to take a similar curve and be a formative business model catalyst not only in the crypto space but extending to all sorts of industries and niches. Their popularity took off in March this year when a British auction house - Christie’s sold an NFT of “Everydays—The First 5,000 Days”, a work of art by Mike Winkelmann for a whopping $69m. NFT art sales have hit $3.5B this year so far and the total sales volume surged to $10.7B as this asset frenzy hit a new high. SO NFT IS NOT ONLY FOR DIGITAL ART? That’s right. Many associate NFT with digital art, but this ecosystem is not only limited to that. They can actually be used to authenticate and auction any kind of collectible. There have been a growing number of marketplaces dedicated to assets that have emerged this year. A large number of celebrities, brands and sporting organizations are now fuelling awareness. Indian celebrities from the world of Bollywood and cricket are launching digital memorabilia through NFT, hoping to rake in hundreds of thousands of dollars by cashing in on growing interest in such assets. Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachhan, Kamal Haasan, Salman Khan are testing waters. The CEO of Coinbase “Brian Armstrong'' stated that he believes that the new NFT marketplace could be bigger than its cryptocurrency business. An example of NFTs bringing more programmability to tangible assets is the luxury jewelry brand Asprey that recently announced that it would be utilizing NFTs tied to each of its jewelry pieces to solve the problem of liquidity and difficulty in confirming authenticity. Each of its jewelry will now come with an NFT. WHAT’S AHEAD We believe that 2022 will be a breakout year for NFTs. Millennials, and Gen Zs, have digital lives and it’s natural to want to take digital representations into their worlds. They are here to stay, dominate and slay. There is much more to come with their use in the metaverse and in the Ethereum Naming Service (ENS). So much of the world is yet to discover them. Disney, one of the largest media conglomerates in the world, has just begun it’s journey with NFTs this month. Athletes have barely discovered it. So many companies outside of crypto are only now beginning to realize that they have thousands of assets that can be traded as NFTs. It is almost a blank canvas that is ready to break out. How big can it get and what next? The speculation is that at the current pace it could be a 100 Billion market in 2022, that is next year! We are bullish on the possibilities it offers and its place in the future. Are you?

RtistiQ

19 Nov 2021

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The Government of India in the late 1970s named these nine iconic artists—Raja Ravi Varma, Amrita Shergill, Rabindranath Tagore, Jamini Roy, Abanindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Gaganendranath Tagore, Sailoz Mookherjea, and Nicholas Roerich as National Treasures. We take a closer look at these Navaratnas who shaped the history of Indian modernism. RAJA RAVI VARMA (1848–1906) Widely regarded as the “father of modern Indian Art”, Raja Ravi Varma is best-known for his exquisite paintings and prints depicting Indian subjects using European techniques. As one of the earliest proponents of lithography in India – the art of producing a work on a flat stone or metal plate – he employed the technique to depict popular scenes and characters from Hindu epics and religious literature. Despite his close relationship with the royal family of Travancore, Ravi Varma was considered an artist of the people as his realistic portrayals and interpretations of religious and mythological figures captivated and fascinated the country. Raja Ravi Varma, Sita Bhumipravesh, 1880 Royal Gaekwad Collection, Lakshmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara, Gujarat ABANINDRANATH TAGORE (1871 – 1951) As the founder of the Bengal School of Art, Abanindranath Tagore sought to establish a distinctly Indian art that celebrated an indigenous cultural heritage rather than Western art and culture. A passionate exponent of Swadeshi values, Tagore staunchly rejected the teachings of Western academic art schools, finding inspiration in traditional Oriental art forms such as Mughal miniatures, the Ajanta murals, folk paintings, and Japanese printmaking. This was reflected in his graceful, elongated figures, gleaned from the Mughal style, depicted in a Japanese-inspired wash technique, which are sophisticated depictions of India’s unique spiritual and national identity. Abaninidranath Tagore, Queen Tissarakshita, ca. 1911 Royal Collection Trust, London, UK GAGANENDRANATH TAGORE (1867–1938) Gaganendranath Tagore, the older brother of Abanindranath Tagore, a self-trained watercolorist and cartoonist is considered one of the great pioneers of Indian art. Unlike his sibling, Gaganendranath embraced Western art movements including Cubism, Futurism, and German Expressionism at the turn of the century. Later in his career, Tagore turned to caricature. His playful cartoons of big-bellied politicians and bhadralok, meaning ‘gentleman’ in Bengali, are satirical observations of society at the beginning of the 20th century. Gaganendranath Tagore, Untitled, 1920 AMRITA SHER-GIL (1913–1941) Like Abanindranath Tagore, Amrita Sher-Gil was greatly inspired by the frescoes of Ajanta as well as the Mughal school of painting. Born to a Hungarian mother and aristocratic Sikh father, Sher-Gil’s early years were spent training in Paris. Respected for her powerful self-portraits and bohemian lifestyle, Sher-Gil was described as the “Indian Frida Kahlo”. Despite her privileged upbringing, the artist’s paintings vividly depicted the daily lives of ordinary people. During her lifetime, Sher-Gil steadily gained recognition across Europe and she remains one of the greats of Indian art history. Amrita Sher-Gil, Self Portrait (7), 1930 National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi NANDALAL BOSE (1882–1996) Born into a middle-class Bengali family in the late 19th century, Nandalal Bose created some of the most iconic images in Indian history—including his depiction of Mahatma Gandhi walking with a staff, which became an iconic symbol for the non-violence movement, and his illustrations in the Constitution of India. As the principal at Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan, Bose also had a significant influence on the next generation of artistic heavyweights like Benode Behari Mukherjee and K.G. Subramanyan, filmmaker Satyajit Ray and many others. Nandalal Bose, Annapurna, 1943 National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi JAMINI ROY (1887–1972) Another gem in the treasure trove of Indian artistic talent, Jamini Roy was born in Beliatore, West Bengal. Roy’s bold, sweeping brushstrokes and flat swathes of ochre, leafy green, vermillion, and blue show the heavy influence of traditional Bengali Kalighat painting – a 19th-century school of modern art that originated in Calcutta and was given its name due to the burgeoning settlement of patuas or cloth-painters around the temples of Kali at Kalighat in the city. Jamini Roy, Mother and Child, mid-1920s National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi RABINDRANATH TAGORE (1861–1941) The Nobel laureate poet, Rabindranath Tagore reshaped modern Bengali literature. In 1919, Tagore founded Kala Bhavan, which remains one of India’s finest art institutions. Unlike his nephews Abanindranath and Gaganendranath, Rabindranath turned to art towards the end of his life. Inspired by New Zealander scrimshaw carvings, German woodcuts, and sculptures from the Pacific Islands, the artist’s international outlook was reflected in unique artworks that appeared at the margins of his manuscripts alongside poetry and song lyrics. Rabindranath Tagore, Dancing Woman, 1928/1940 National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi NICHOLAS ROERICH (1874–1947) Nicolas Roerich remains the only artist not from India who was named a national treasure. The Russian artist developed a deep and spiritual connection with the country and came to be celebrated for his luminescent scenes of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks rendered in icy blues and vivid purples. As a passionate activist for the defense of cultural objects, Roerich’s visions are not only picturesque but reveal a profound relationship with the landscape. Nicholas Roerich, Krishna (Spring in Kulu), 1930 Nicholas Roerich Museum, New York, USA SAILOZ MOOKHERJEA (1906–1960) Attributed by art critic Richard Bartholomew as India’s “most significant painter…after Amrita Sher-Gil”, Sailoz Mookherjea received little recognition during his lifetime. Nonetheless, the artist’s impact on Indian modernism is monumental and he remains celebrated for his innovative scratching of the paint to create tactile and vigorous markings. Sailoz Mukherjea, Untitled (Two Sisters), 1959

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12 Nov 2021

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Oil paintings have existed for centuries, from the cave paintings of Bamiyan along the Silk Road to American post-war art. There have been several studies related to the origins of oil as a painting medium with some believing that the technique was first developed in the 11th century, while Giorgio Vasari has credited 15th century Flemish painter Jan van Eyck with the “invention” of oil paints in his famous treatise The Lives of the Artists. However, a discovery in 2008 led to the evidence that oil painting existed as early as 650 CE (7th century CE), when anonymous artists used oil that may have been extracted from walnuts or poppies to decorate the caves in Bamiyan, Afghanistan. The practice of easel painting with oil colours started post-1400 CE, to meet the changing requirements of Renaissance artists who were looking for some other medium than pure egg-yolk tempera. The depth and richness of colour in oil paint is unmatched and it’s slow drying time allows artists to manipulate the medium over an extended period giving the artists the flexibility in blending and layering - thin glazes to dense thick impasto, as well as a wide range of tonal transitions and shades producing both opaque and transparent effects, as well as matt and gloss finishes. Considered a hallmark of the Old Masters, particularly during the Northern Renaissance, oil paint was one of the most preferred mediums for Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, and iconic modernists like Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky and many others. Although there are several remarkable oil paintings by famous artists to study this medium, we have narrowed down the exhaustive list to 10 iconic works. The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait (1434) remains one of the most visually intriguing paintings of all time. With all of its details and intricacies, the exquisitely rendered work appears to be a straightforward depiction of a wealthy merchant and his wife. However, on a closer look several mysteries emerge along with Van Eyck’s masterful technique which continue to enthrall viewers till today! (Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons) Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci Mona Lisa (c. 1503-1519), the painting of a mysterious woman with an enigmatic smile, remains one of the most famous paintings in the world. The sitter is believed to be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Florence merchant Francesco del Giocondo. The painting is known to be the earliest Italian portrait to focus so closely on the sitter in a half-length portrait. (Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons) The Rape of Europa by Titian The Rape of Europa (c. 1559-1562), tells the mythological story of the abduction of Europa by the king of gods, Jupiter, disguised as a white bull. An example of Titian’s late style, the painting’s refined poignancy lies in his use of colour, vividity, luminous tints, brushwork and subtlety of tone. The oil painting continues to have a profound influence on Western art. (Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons) Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer Sometimes nicknamed the “Mona Lisa of the North”, Girl With a Pearl Earring (1665), is brilliant in its simplicity. The girl, wearing a blue and gold turban and an oversized pearl earring is the entire focus with only a dark backdrop behind her. Interestingly, this masterpiece isn't even a portrait, but a “tronie” - a Dutch word for a painting of an imaginary figure with exaggerated features. (Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons) Le déjeuner sur l'herbe (or The Luncheon on the Grass) by Édouard Manet Manet's masterpiece, Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe (1863), featuring a nude woman picnicking in the company of fully-clothed men, draws inspiration from classical paintings of female nudes. Up until The Luncheon on the Grass, female nudes were represented figures from mythology or allegory. By placing an anonymous unclothed woman in a contemporary everyday setting, Manet bridged the gap between the Realist and Impressionist art movements with its modern approach to style and subject matter. (Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons) The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh Few artists are as renowned for their use of color as Vincent van Gogh. His The Starry Night (1889) full of striking blues and yellows, and the dreamy, swirling atmosphere have intrigued art lovers for decades. The painting was created late into the Dutch painter's short career and depicts the view from his window in the asylum at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. (Image courtesy: Van Gogh Gallery) The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso Painted at the height of Picasso’s Blue Period, The Old Guitarist (1903) depicts a feeble blind old man hugging his guitar. Picasso painted it after his close friend and Spanish poet Carles Casagemas commited suicide. The melancholic state was used by design to haunt onlookers in a way that would make them question why the working class and high-class individuals continued to prosper while those that needed the most help continued to languish in poverty. (Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons) The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali Salvador Dali’s most iconic work, The Persistence of Memory (1931) was painted at the height of the Surrealist art movement. It displays an outlandish subject matter evocative of a dreamscape, which is why it is believed that Dalí was probably hallucinating when he painted the piece. Dalí would attempt to enter a state of self-induced psychotic hallucinations to create what he called “hand-painted dream photographs.” (Image courtesy: Museum of Modern Art, New York) The Kiss by Gustav Klimt Austrian Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt was famous for his dazzling use of gold to give a shimmering effect to his paintings and his masterpiece The Kiss (1907-1908) is no different. Made in the Vienna Secession art movement, this intimate portrait captures a tender moment between a pair of lovers. (Image courtesy: Google Art Project) Nighthawks by Edward Hopper The highly evocative American masterpiece Nighthawks (1942) is a stark depiction of loneliness, alienation and the breakdown of city life, epitomizing somber emotions of a period in history riddled with world wars and the great depression. The oil painting is said to have influenced the look and feel of many Hollywood films including Ridley Scott’s futuristic neo-noir Blade Runner (1982). (Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons) Oil paintings are one of the best investments you can make for your home or business. Discover oil paintings for sale on RtistiQ, A Virtual Art Marketplace For Art Lovers And Artists.

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02 Nov 2021

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With October arriving, we are all getting into the Halloween spirit. And fine art painting has some of the spookiest and most horrifying images to bring you all the terror you could imagine. Artists have often contemplated the darker side of existence, with their efforts rendering up some ghoulish results. Below, we’ll look through seven of the most scary artworks. These are horror paintings that scare and repulse. Don’t say you weren’t warned. Garden of Earthly Delights (c.1500 to 1505) by Hieronymus Bosch Bosch brings horror in his own special way — through surreal and religious imagery. That ability to make the bizarre and beautiful twisted into the scary has made him a major influence up to our present day. In this triptych, by far his most famous work now, the far right panel depicts terrible tortures and debauchery, a vision that you won’t be able to shake off for quite some time. That it all develops out of the tranquility and purity of the far left panel gives this a narrative thrust that makes it all the scarier. Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion (1944) by Francis Bacon You could pick just about any Francis Bacon painting and it would fit on this list. But here, we go with a triptych beloved for its monsters. The work ushered in the artist’s mature period, and represents the full power of Bacon. While created to be used, as the title suggests, at the base of a crucifixion, the monsters are based off of the Furies. This remains a masterpiece of horror, yet the final work of a crucifix with these at the base never came to be. But Bacon painted plenty more scary scenes. The Nightmare (1781) by Henry Fuseli Fuseli made all of our nightmares come true with this Romantic classic. While the painting was controversial at the time for its sexual tones, later critics would admire the profound understanding of human psychology and terror. The face of the incubus really is the stuff of nightmares, and the horse hiding just out of the light will keep you from sleeping. It’s a painting that actually lives up to the broad and massive topic that is its namesake. For this reason, it deserves its place on any list of scary artworks. Saturn Devouring His Son (c. 1891-1823) by Francisco Goya Goya dived into the world of Greek myth to create this magnificently brutal painting. The gore of the half-eaten body and the look of crazed madness in the eyes of Saturn, not to mention the black background (something Goya was doing a lot of at the time), all work together to create chills in any viewer. While many artists have painted this scene from mythology, no one has captured the absolute horror of it — though Peter Paul Rubens got pretty close. The Face of War (1940) by Salvador Da Dalí painted this artwork to refer, in general, to war and the horrors it causes. But the artist wondered often if it actually was a premonition — he painted it in the interim between the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War. Set in a typical Dalí-style desert, the face of anguish has yet more faces of anguish for its eyes and mouth. And in those smaller faces are still smaller faces. It implies that the process of pain and suffering caused by war goes on forever. A truly terrifying thought. Dante and Virgil (1850) by William-Adolphe Bouguereau Bouguereau’s painting comes from the Divine Comedy by Dante. Here, Dante and Virgil are travelling through hell, and they come upon two of the damned trapped in combat. Gianni Schicchi, a fraud in life, bites into the throat of heretical alchemist Capocchio. The exquisite color, chiaroscuro lighting, and palpable mayhem make this a true horror painting masterpiece. The Great Red Dragon and the Beast from the Sea (1805) by William Blake This work appears in a series of Blake’s paintings covering the Great Red Dragon. All of these watercolors were meant to be used as Biblical illustrations, with Blake taking his subject matter from the Book of Revelation. Blake’s visionary style and ability to confront the darkness make all of the works in this series captivating as well as horrifying. Collect the latest Halloween collection handpicked by our curators while it is available. Art 1: Vivarium II, Oil on Linen, Adrian Narvaez Caicedo Art 2: Verona II, Oil on canvas, Luciana Livi

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29 Oct 2021

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