Art: Its Development and Its Connection to the Society Reading Response and Analysis, Essay Example

Through the years of human history, art has been understood as a form of human expression. Nevertheless, art has become more than just a sense of expression of self; it has slowly become a specific mirror to the society. Artists have been given the chance to present how they understand the society through art. Relatively, this has actually brought about the sense of using art as an analysis of the society through the years. In the writing Stephen Eisenman entitled Manet and the Impressionists, he tries to focus on Manet and the art work he has created. In his writing he points out that somehow the expressions of Manet have been receiving criticisms from impressionists as they think that somehow, the capacity of the artists to define the society has actually come over board and should likely have some limitations. Dealing with this particular argument between art and social development, the questions that are presented in this discussion shall be responded to in accordance with how art is likely to define the society and how it has been used through time by artists like Manet.

What modern circumstances are seen to coincide with the rise of Impressionism in Paris?

Modernity imposes a sense of distinction on how reality is defined according to how they are actually pictured through the five senses. Depending on the principles of realism, the idea of modernity in art could be relatively connected to the principles of impressionism. Impressionism is the movement in art during the 1870s towards the 1880s. Through the history of art, analyzing the characteristics of artistic impressionism, it has been realized to be noted with small and thin visible strokes. Art pieces under this particular era is composed in an open form which has specific depiction of light and the characteristics it has especially when it touches several subjects. The changing position of the light specifically create a differential presentation of other subjects in a particular art piece. Basing from impression and the idea of actually expressing something in terms of how one analyzes its worth and meaning, the art that is derived from its foundation specifically present a more distinct condition on how a person actually thinks and how he is able to define reality through such artistic compositions.

What makes Manet’s works, The Balcony and Music in the Tuileries, modern?

Eduouard Manet’s work on the Music in the Tuileries specifically provides a great indication on how the artist sees the society that he was brought up into. Presenting a theme of leisure and socialization, the art utilizes the most considerable approaches that is founded upon the impressionistic style of artistic creation. Observably, Manet utilized lines properly to define the elitism of the subjects he presented in the said piece. It could be taken note that the men are dressed properly like that of the women as well invoking a sense of elitism in the condition of living that the subjects presented in the picture. The lines are thin and identifiable especially in relation to how they enhance each element in the picture.

The worth of modern approach in this art could be specifically noted when it comes to the use of color combination used by Manet to specifically point out the position of the light and how it enhances the overall value of the visual presentation noted in this particular art. The focus on the two women and the two children playing in front of them could be easily detected because of the focus of the lighting. Relatively, it could be understood that somehow, the being of these two subjects were used by Manet to define how he is trying to express his idea on how gender separation was a distinct condition in the society during his time.

How does Manet’s Olympia deviate from academic painting? To what academic works was it compared?

Academic art is defined under the condition of France’s recognition of human figure and the respect that such element in humanity deserves. It does impose a great distinction on how the human form is a type of art itself. Setting its visual worth through artistic representations aim to provide an indicative guide that would prove how much artists in France recognizes what art from the human body suggests to be specifically elite and complex in form. The painting of Olympia by Manet on the other hand presented more than just the figure.

Why was Olympia deemed offensive? How did new ideas about race and gender influence negative criticism of the painting?

The elements that Manet used in the presentation of Olympia rather placed it in a questionable position of presenting a rather scandalous issue in the society during the 1960s. The contrast between Olympia and her maid was very distinct especially that she was nude and the other woman was fully clothed. Besides this, Olympia is often used to note the being a prostitute during the time. Relatively, the presentation specifically involves particular details including the accessories placed upon her and her eyes as well were all depicting a particular indication of representing the chaotic situation in the society rather than just representing the wonders of the human body as it is.

What conclusion does Eisenman draw concerning Olympia?

According to Eisenman, Olympia is actually an amalgamation of the forms of academic art, impressionism and the Japanese art of the 1800s. It could be understood that somehow, the amalgamation of all these era of artistic history specifically gave Manet a sense of distinctive reputation in the world of artists. Relatively, his bold move in representing a subject in a way that could be criticized in a community that do not completely accept the said value for such art was rather specifically impacting the being of the overall history of art in Europe.

How did the subject matter and formal presentation of Impressionist paintings convey the artists’ concern with sensual experience and personal freedom?

The need to be free in defining their being is an important aspect of subject that artists are specifically concerned about. Every person deserves to have a taste of freedom. In art, this particular subject is very important especially that it allows the artists a chance to express themselves through elements according to how they see each matter. It keeps them motivated to actually find a way to make sure that their art would be more meaningful than the usual creations that they present to the society.

In an artistic creation , it could be understood that somehow, artists find it important for their works [that would carry their name] to represent what they actually feel and think about, especially in relation to the society that they are living in. In this case, it could be understood that somehow, such art forms could be relatively understood to give an indicative piece of what the society is like as if representing history bit by bit in each work. Expressing themselves makes the work of artists more valuable not only to the industry of art but for the sake of history itself.

What Marxist ideas are analyzed in this reading, and what bearing do they have on Impressionist painting?

The theory of Karl Marx is specifically centered on the process by which the human society develops through time. In relation to this theory, the Marxist view on art is interpreted by Eisenmann as somewhat important in the process by which the eras of artistic reforms has taken a great leap from being classic towards becoming more free and modernized in value. Specifically, it could be understood that somehow, Eisenmann sees that the process by which Marx defines the human history based on the process by which human try to develop the way they see the society and how they express such idealism.

Overall, based from the reading on Eisenmann’s writing, it could be understood that establishing value for an art is based on how artists actually see the society and how they present their understanding through the works they complete. This part of art specifically helps in identifying the history of the human society and how the changes in it affects the being of the people as well as that of their perception of life and the aspects making it up. Relatively, it could be realized through the reading that the aspect of artistic reformation into becoming more modern has received its own criticisms. The criticisms existed to further define the being of each artist and how they handle their desire of expressing themselves through their work. The utilization of the work of Manet as an example to this matter specifically allows the chance to show how extreme expression has been received by the society in the past. The acceptance of such changes specifically allows the aspect of modern art to become more effective in defining the human history through visual art. This part of the reading gives a well defined indication on how art is not simply a form of expression, but a representation of the society through the passing times of history.