Art is the Solution

When you hear the word Surrealism, you probably picture Salvador Dalí and his melting clocks or René Magritte and his pipe. However—although most of the most famous Surrealists were men—there is a rich history of female Surrealists that is often ignored by art education. Surrealist art seeks to bring the invisible things in life— thoughts, ideas, the human psyche— to the surface, expressing the spiritual and emotional worlds. So, today, I want to bring attention to some of my favorite female Surrealists and the weird and wonderful worlds they created through their painting. Bridget Bate Tichenor - Bridget Bate Tichenor came to art late in life. She spent most of her adult life as a model, fashion editor, and socialite in Paris and New York City. However, in the1950s she abandoned this life in order to seek spiritual fulfillment in Mexico, where she spent the rest of her life. While living there, Bate Tichenor began to create Surrealist paintings. She produced an oeuvre of fantastical ...

A Storm Source: MET Museum There are few twentieth century artists more famous than Georgia O'Keeffe, especially in America. Today, O'Keeffe is best-known for her paintings of flowers, which she portrays in exquisite, close-up detail. These flowers were part of O'Keeffe’s journey with self-expression through abstraction. O'Keeffe was one of the first American artists to experiment with abstraction, which she first encountered while studying at the Art Students League in New York. Throughout the early years of her career, O'Keeffe worked to develop a unique visual language that allowed her to express her ideas and point of view. While abstraction usually functions by using lines and shapes to delve into the subconscious mind or the spiritual realm, O'Keeffe approached abstraction through exploration of the natural world, which, in turn, allowed her to express thoughts. While O'Keeffe was profoundly inspired by the landscape of New Mexico—where she executed ma...

The Calling of Saint Matthew Source: Wikimedia Commons There are few artists more famous and interesting than Caravaggio. He is often known as the greatest painter of the Baroque movement. The Baroque movement revolved around emotion. Baroque artists sought to capture heightened states of feeling and spiritual exaltation. They achieved this through visual drama, movement, twisting shapes, and intense contrast between shadow and light.  Caravaggio’s art was incredibly effective. It was shocking and unusual for his time, but Caravaggio ensured constant patronage through his talent for conveying believable emotion and drama through substantial, weighty figures. Caravaggio is also famous for his gritty, down-to-earth scenes that featured men and women who were reminiscent of Rome’s petty criminals. In fact, Caravaggio often used the common, “disreputable” people that he met in taverns as models, a fact which scandalized some wealthy, high-class Italians. The Calling of Saint Matthew i...

Raminou Sitting on a Cloth Source: Pinterest Much to my delight, there are many painters who celebrate the beauty and grace of cats. One such painter was Suzanne Valadon. Valadon began her career as an acrobat in a Parisian circus. There, she met several artists whom she began to model for after a fall from the trapeze ended her career in the circus. While working as a model, Valadon learned how to paint and eventually began her own career as an artist. Although Valadon is well known today for her honest and realistic portraits of women, she also spent quite a bit of time painting cats. It’s clear that Valadon had an affinity for cats. They appear in many of her canvases, either as the main subject or as an auxiliary. One of Valadon’s favorite subjects was her cat, Raminou. She painted him several times, but I think Raminou Sitting on a Cloth is the most beautiful portrayal of this feline. The piece depicts Raminou, a large orange tabby, sitting on a carefully draped piece of cloth wi...

Berthe Morisot with a Bouquet of Violets Source: Wikimedia Commons There are few artists of the modern age who are more famous than Édouard Manet; he was one of the best-known artists of the French impressionist movement, an artistic style that has captivated audiences for more than one hundred years. Although Manet knew most of the most prominent artists of the Impressionist movement, he had a special relationship with Impressionist Berthe Morisot, whom he met in 1868. The two quickly developed a friendship, and, when Morisot married Manet's brother six years later, they became family. The two artists influenced and inspired each other, which led to Manet painting Morisot several times throughout his career. One of these portraits of Morisot, entitled Berthe Morisot with a Bouquet of Violets , has become particularly famous, with some critics even labeling it his finest painting. This painting depicts Morisot in a black mourning dress and hat; she holds a bunch of violets that are...

The Cover of 25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy Source: The Cut  If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you probably know that I love cats. I have three of them in my house at the moment, and I would gladly have more if it was feasible. However, there is one artist who puts my love of cats to shame: Andy Warhol. Most people can recognize Warhol’s work by sight, even if they don’t know his name. Born in Pittsburgh, Warhol is now known for his portraits of Marilyn Monroe and his paintings of Campbell’s soup cans. Personally I’m not a huge fan of pop art—the style that Warhol is known for—however, I can certainly acknowledge that Warhol was a great painter of cats. Although he painted and drew cats throughout his career, his best-known cat art comes in the form of a book of lithographs that he published in 1954. The book was entitled 25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy , although it only actually depicts sixteen cats. The title of the cats refers to the twenty-five cats that l...

Double Portrait of the Artist in Time Source: Smithsonian American Art Museum I’ve written a lot about Surrealism on this blog, and, while I definitely enjoy Surrealist art, I have to say that recently I’ve been finding Post-Surrealism just as interesting. According to my research , Post-Surrealism was the Americanized response to Surrealism. It can be best described as a more socially conscious version of Surrealism. While traditional Surrealism tends to be introspective, Post-Surrealism looks outward. It focuses on creating a sense of wonder in the viewer and takes an interest in science. In some ways, it could be considered an aspirational style. One of the founders of this movement was Helen Lundeberg, an American artist who did most of her work in California. Her self-portrait, which is entitled Double Portrait of the Artist in Time , depicts Lundeberg at different stages of her life. In the foreground, we see Lundeberg as a toddler. According to my research , her white dress and ...

I Saw Three Cities Source: Princeton University Art Museum I have written about many Surrealist artists on this blog, but few of them have been American. While the Surrealist movement is undoubtedly associated with places like Mexico, France, and Spain, there was also a flourishing Surrealist movement in the United States, populated by painters like Kay Sage. Sage is probably one of the most well-known painters of her time. She achieved great success during her lifetime and was recognized in both American and European artistic circles, and she was even included in the famous Exhibition by 31 Women. Like most Surrealists, Sage sought to explore the hidden world of the unconscious through her art. At its core, Surrealism revolves around a desire to reveal things that are concealed. Sage enters this realm in I Saw Three Cities . The piece is enigmatic, offering few clues to the identity or significance of the titular three cities. It depicts a grey sky and a windswept, beige landscape...

In 1971, a rather famous art historian named Linda Nochlin published an essay entitled "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?" (which was rather famous in and of itself). In this piece, Nochlin explains how institutional and cultural forces prevented women from engaging in the artistic world for most of Western history. Despite the valid points that Nochlin makes, the premise of her essay actually isn’t true. Since "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?" was published, numerous women of the modern era have been recognized for their artistic genius, while at the same time art historians have rediscovered the work of many female painters who were forgotten by history. However, it is still true that the work of female artists tends to be undervalued and understudied in the art world. So, today, I’d like to introduce you to five brilliant women who definitely deserve the name Great Artists. Sofonisba Anguissola - Sofonisba Anguissola is probably the greate...

The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula Source: Wikimedia Commons When it comes to art, there are few things more appealing than the lavish visual drama of a Caravaggio painting. Caravaggio most famous artists of the Baroque era: Caravaggio. Caravaggio was a master of light and shadow; his work experiments with chiaroscuro and tends to be visually dramatic, two major characteristics of Baroque art. The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula is probably the last image Caravaggio ever painted, and it is a fine example of his style and talent. The piece depicts a scene from the life of Saint Ursula, a fourth century martyr. Although there are many stories about her life that are probably apocryphal, most written accounts agree that Ursula was the daughter of a king who wanted his daughter to marry a pagan nobleman. Before her wedding, Ursula decided to complete a pilgrimage. As she journeyed through Europe with her 11,000 virgin companions, the women were set upon by a group of Huns who wanted Ursula to marry ...

Orphan Girl at the Cemetery Source: Wikimedia Commons There’s a high likelihood that you’ve never heard the name Eugène Delacroix, but I can assure you that you’ve seen his work before. His famed Liberty Leading the People is now seen as the seminal image of the French revolution (I guarantee that you’ve seen it in your high school history textbooks). Today, Delacroix is regarded as one of the foremost painters of the nineteenth century and as one of the leaders of the Romantic movement. Like all Romantic artists, Delacroix’s work is expressive, filled with emotion, spiritual energy, and visual drama. Although it is not his most famous painting, I think Orphan Girl at the Cemetery is one of the finest examples of Delacroix’s emotive and imaginative style. According to my research, this painting is probably a study (a preparatory sketch or painting) for one of Delacroix’s other masterpieces, The Massacre at Chios, which depicts a massacre perpetrated by Ottoman soldiers against Greek...

A Siamese Cat Stalking A Butterfly Amongst Bluebells Source: Artnet I’m told that today is National Cat DNA Day. I’m not quite sure why that needs to be a “national day,” but there seems to be a national day for everything these days, so why not? Apparently, September 19 was selected as National Cat DNA day because cats have 19 pairs of chromosomes and, of course, they have nine lives. So, in honor of National Cat DNA Day, I want to share a rather sweet drawing of a cat with you. A Siamese Cat Stalking A Butterfly Amongst Bluebells is one of many drawings and paintings of cats produced by English artist Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe. Few would identify Tunnicliffe as one of the major artists of the twentieth century, but he had an almost unparalleled talent for depicting animals (especially birds) in their natural habitats. Although he is famous for his birds, Tunnicliffe clearly had great affection for cats, and he produced many drawings and paintings of them engaged in everyday acti...

Saint Teresa in Ecstasy Source: Wikimedia Commons I don’t often talk about sculptures on this blog because it’s not a topic I know much about. While most art can be interpreted through the same set of intellectual tools, there are obvious differences between sculpture and painting. That being said, I think that Saint Teresa in Ecstasy is too important a piece of art to be excluded from this blog. There are few pieces of art that exemplify the Baroque movement better than Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s masterpiece Saint Teresa in Ecstasy . Bernini was one of the finest sculptors of his (or any) age. During his life, his work was sought after by popes, bishops, and every wealthy family in Italy. Today, his work can be found in some of the greatest museums around the world. However, it is Saint Teresa in Ecstasy that usually accompanies Bernini’s name in textbooks. As the title suggests, Saint Teresa in Ecstasy is a life size sculpture of Saint Teresa of Ávila in the midst of ...

Circe Invidiosa Source: Art Gallery of South Australia Artists of the Pre-Raphaelite movement were often interested in portraying mythology and classical literature. The Pre-Raphaelite movement was inspired by a desire to create serious and realistic art that was also pleasing to the eye. Pre-Raphaelite painters were not interested in “trivial” scenes of everyday life, preferring to focus on symbolism rich subjects such as mythology. While many artists tackled these subjects, Pre-Raphaelite painter John William Waterhouse was particularly interested in one mythological character: Circe. In Greek mythology, Circe was an enchantress, and is well known for her magical antics in Homer’s Odyssey, in which she famously turned Odysseus’ sailors into pigs. She is the often regarded as the classic femme fatale of Western literature, and, as such, was a popular subject for artists such as Waterhouse. In fact, Waterhouse painted the sorceress Circe four times, capturing three different mythologic...

A Crystal Fruit Stand with Peaches, Quinces, and Jasmine Flowers Source: Wikimedia Commons The Renaissance was a revolutionary moment in the history of Western art. The movement framed many of the artistic traditions and conventions that we now take for granted; it is hard to imagine what Western visual culture would look like today without the Renaissance. While these revolutionary changes in art are usually associated with male painters such as Raphael and da Vinci, the Renaissance movement was actually much more diverse and interesting. Fede Galizia is one of the great female artists of the Renaissance movement who has largely been forgotten by history. However, during her lifetime Galizia was known as a talented artist. Her skill was such that her work was in demand from the age of twelve onwards. This is even more remarkable when you consider that female painters faced many restrictions in the sixteenth century. Because of such social pressures, Galizia focused on religious scenes...

Portrait of Young Woman with Unicorn Source: Wikimedia Commons When you hear the word Renaissance, several artists probably come to mind: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Today, Raphael Sanzio is known as one of the greatest artists of the Western tradition. His art is often praised for its beauty, balance, and clarity of style. Like many Renaissance artists, Raphael strove to capture the idealized human form in his work. The philosophy of the Renaissance movement revolved around the idea of human grandeur, which is on full display in Renaissance art. As such, Portrait of Young Woman with Unicorn presents an ideal woman by the standards of Raphael’s time. The piece features a beautiful young woman who is composed and graceful, a serious expression on her face. Behind her, we see a classic Italian loggia and a hazy landscape, while, in her arms, she holds a unicorn, a traditional symbol of purity and virginity. While the identity of Raphael’s model is unknown, the presence...

Beata Beatrix Source: Tate Gallery In my opinion, the art of the pre-Raphaelite movement is among the most objectively beautiful to ever be produced. The pre-Raphaelite movement was inspired by a desire to create serious and realistic art that was also pleasing to the eye. Pre-Raphaelite painters were not interested in “trivial” scenes of everyday life. Instead, they believed art should portray “serious” subjects, such as literature, poetry, mythology, and history. One such example of this inspiration is Beata Beatrix , one of Dante Rossetti’s masterpieces. Rossetti is often regarded as one of the greatest luminaries of the pre-Raphaelite movement, and he was particularly interested in the poetry of his namesake, Dante Alighieri. He even completed his own English translations of Dante’s poetry. In Beata Beatrix , Rossetti pays homage to Dante’s muse, Beatrice Portinari. Although he only met Beatrice twice in reality, Dante loved her devotedly and treated her as the ideal personificatio...

Family Tree Source: Art UK While many people associate the Surrealist movement with the likes of Salvador Dalí, the truth is that this artistic movement is much broader and more interesting than the work of the few Surrealist artists who are often featured on museum walls. For example, the art of British artist Edith Rimmington has largely been forgotten by the world of art history. Rimmington was a writer, painter, and photographer who became involved in the British Surrealist movement early on. I first encountered her work while researching her fellow female Surrealist Marion Elizabeth Adnams, and I was immediately drawn to her piece Family Tree . Family Tree is actually an amalgamation of photograph and paint, but, for the purposes of this post, I’m just going to call it a painting. The image depicts a long, metal chain—the sort of thing that might commonly be used in shipyards—laying on a wooden dock that stretches endlessly into the horizon, while a black and white snake slithers...

The Lady with an Ermine Source: Wikimedia Commons Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is probably the most famous painting in the world (or, at least, it is certainly the most famous painting in the Western world). However, the Mona Lisa was far from da Vinci’s only masterpiece. My personal favorite da Vinci painting is entitled The Lady with an Ermine . The piece depicts a young woman in a blue and red dress with a white stoat entwined in her arms. Her face is tilted away from the viewer in a three-quarters profile. A half smile dances across her lips while her bright, intelligent eyes focus on something that is invisible to the viewer. Although it has been damaged over the centuries, it remains a beautiful and enticing piece of art. Like all Renaissance artists, da Vinci was interested in capturing the idealized grace of the human form. This is especially true of his portraits of women, which are imbued with a calm, dignified beauty. However, more than almost any other Renaissance artist...

L'infante égarée Source: Art UK Often when I look at Surrealist art, I find myself trying to construct elaborate stories to complement the images I’m seeing. The Surrealist style has that effect. It sparks the imagination and leads the mind into strange and dreamlike worlds. I think that Surrealism gained popularity not because it is unusual and shocking but because (good) Surrealist art taps into the psyche in a profound way. Although Surrealist art is almost by definition mysterious and bizarre, there is usually something familiar in a Surrealist painting, something that triggers the insatiable desire to incorporate the supernatural and unearthly into something that is understandable. This is what I experienced when I first saw Marion Elizabeth Adnams’ L'infante égarée (which translates to The Lost Infanta (infanta is traditionally the title bestowed upon a Spanish princess)). Adnams was one of the finest English artists of the Surrealist movements. Although she has been la...