Monday Morning Museum: The Golden Age Of Illustration

The Golden Age of Illustration – 1880s to 1920s

The American "golden age of illustration" lasted from the 1880s until shortly after World War I (although the active career of several later "golden age" illustrators went on for another few decades). As in Europe a few decades earlier, newspapers, mass market magazines, and illustrated books had become the dominant media of public consumption. Improvements in printing technology freed illustrators to experiment with color and new rendering techniques. A small group of illustrators in this time became rich and famous. The imagery they created was a portrait of American aspirations of the time. – Wikipedia.org

In addition to Aubrey Beardsley (see art example below), other illustrators of the golden age are Edmund Dulac, Kay Nielsen, Howard Pyle, Maxfield Parrish and Joseph Christian Leyendecker.

Isolde, 1895 by Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898)

The heroine in the Tristan legend. Isolde the Fair was the daughter of King Gorman of Ireland and the Elder Isolde, sister of Morholt (Marhaus). In the Prose Tristan, Isolde's father was called Anguin, while in Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, the king was called Agwisance. Isolde was known as Isolde La Beale ("Isolde the Fair"), and Isolde de Blonde.

Isolde was famous for been the lover of Tristan (Tristram). Tristan came to woo Isolde for his uncle, King Mark of Cornwall, but the pair accidentally drank love potion, falling instantly in love with one another. Even though Isolde was married to King Mark, she secretly committed adultery with Tristan.

In all the stories, Isolde died of grief when Tristan was killed. There are too many versions on how they died to be told here.

Isolde's loyal companion and maidservant (or lady-in-waiting) was named Brangwain (Brangien, Brangain), who also happened to be her cousin. It was Brangwain who was responsible for the love potion.

Isolde should no be confused with two other women also named Isolde. Isolde had a mother who was also named Isolde, who was often called Queen Isolde or the Elder Isolde. The Elder Isolde was the wife of king of Ireland.

There was also Isolde of the White Hands, who come from Brittany, and who had married Tristan, when the hero was exiled from Cornwall. – TimelessMyths.com

Last Monday’s Art – Futurism
Next Monday’s Art – Gothic Art

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Monday Morning Museum: Futurism

Futurism – Italy from 1909 to 1914

Futurism (Italian: Futurismo) was an artistic and social movement that originated in Italy in the early 20th century. It emphasized and glorified themes associated with contemporary concepts of the future, including speed, technology, youth and violence, and objects such as the car, the airplane and the industrial city. – Wikipedia.org

In addition to Giacomo Balla (see art example below), other Futurists are Umberto Boccioni, Carlo Carra and Gino Severini

Mercury Passing in Front of Sun, 1914 by Giacomo Balla (1871-1958)

Last Monday’s Art – Fauvism
Next Monday’s Art – The Golden Age of Illustration

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Monday Morning Museum: Fauvism

Fauvism – 1898 to 1908

Fauvism is the style of les Fauves (French for "the wild beasts"), a loose group of early twentieth-century Modern artists whose works emphasized painterly qualities and strong color over the representational or realistic values retained by Impressionism. – Wikipedia.org

In addition to Maurice de Vlaminck (see art example below), other leading Fauvists are Albert Marquet, André Derain and Henri-Émile-Benoît Matisse.

Red Field by Maurice de Vlaminck (1876-1958)

Last Monday’s Art – Expressionism
Next Monday’s Art – Futurism

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Monday Morning Museum: Expressionism

Expressionism – Germany circa 1905 to the 1940s

Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas. – Wikipedia.org

In addition to Franz Marc (see art example below), other artists using Expressionism are Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky, George Grosz and Amadeo Modigliani

The Foxes, 1913 by Franz Marc (1880-1916)

Last Monday’s Art – Dada
Next Monday’s Art – Fauvism

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