Art is the Solution

Death of Marat Source: Google Art & Culture Institute  I wrote a bit about Neoclassical art yesterday, so today I want to chat about the master of the Neoclassical style: Jacques-Louis David. As I explained yesterday, the Neoclassical style was inspired by Roman and Greek art. The style is characterized by a focus on the human form, interest in mythological subjects, dramatic poses, and a clean, pared down style. David’s work is closely associated with the French Revolution and the Napoleonic period. As a style, Neoclassicism melded rather well with the ideas of the French revolution. For revolutionaries, the simplicity and grandeur of neoclassical art compared favorably to the lavish decadence of the Rococo style, which was often associated with the aristocracy. Furthermore, the connection to Greek democracy and the Roman republic implied by the style’s classical associations must have seemed eminently appropriate for the emerging French Republic. Today, I’m going to...