Author: Yevgeniy Genchanok

The Victorian era covers the 64-year span of Queen Victoria’s reign of England, from 1837 to 1901. During this time, many developments and advances were being made in areas such as science and society. These advances made Britain the most powerful, modern, and wealthy nation in the world at the time (HuntFor). The Victorian art movement consisted of many different art movements: Classicism turned into Neoclassicism, which was followed by Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. The realistic style of painting of Classicism gradually changed “through a series of influences which brought in the use of brighter colors and more emotional strokes, which replaced an attention to realistic detail in shadow and form,” (Bliss) and resulted in the Post-Impressionism movement.

The art of the Victorian era was produced by artists who focused on England’s “high-fashion and modern elegance” (Bliss). This resulted in many paintings of high-class social events in strong colors, which would show the emotion of the event. In addition, paintings of the countryside were common. Most English people at the time could relate more to the countryside than to the high-class events, and so paintings of the countryside became popular. The idea of painting nature, and not the high-class social events, was what caused the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood to form. This group, formed by Dante Rossetti and William Holman Hunt in 1848, wanted to recapture the style of painting that preceded Raphael, an artist of the Italian Renaissance (HuntFor). The artists of the Brotherhood, which eventually expanded to seven members, focused on painting directly from nature, resulting in colorful and detailed paintings.

“Victorian Art.” 23 Sept. 2009.

<http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/c19th/victorian.htm>.

Bliss, Renee H. “Definition of Victorian Art.” 23 Sept. 2009.

<http://www.ehow.com/about_5045826_definition-victorian-art.html>.

Childe Hassam was greatly inspired by many aspects of New York City, including the beauty of Central Park. In this painting, made in 1892, Hassam draws the area around the Conservatory Water in Central Park. The painting shows people leisurely walking along the Conservatory Water’s banks, as well as the natural beauty of the surroundings. The second picture shows the same area around the Conservatory Water in 2009. There are many similarities and differences between the two pictures.

Hassam’s original painting shows a path leading away from the Conservatory Water. This path is still there, as shown in the present-day picture. However, the little house that is shown in Hassam’s drawing is no longer standing today. Another similarity that exists between the two photographs is the presence of many trees. Hassam’s original painting shows many trees, which take up most of the area behind the Conservatory Water. This is similar to the 2009 picture, where trees dominate the background.

The vanishing points of the two pictures are different because of the changes made to the area. The vanishing point in Hassam’s drawing is to the right of the red chimney. However, the vanishing point in the present-day picture is to the left of the tree in the center of the photograph. This difference is a result of the Conservatory Water’s banks being shifted, and the path being moved. Another difference lies in the Conservatory Water’s banks. Whereas in Hassam’s painting, there was no place to sit along the water, today the edges of the banks have been raised with concrete to create a place for people to sit, take pictures, or simply relax. A key difference is the sky. In Hassam’s original painting, the sky is simply blue and empty. However, the present-day picture shows high-rise buildings in the air, a sign indicative of the drastic change that New York City has undergone in the 117 years since Hassam originally drew this painting.

O. What does Art mean?

Art means creativity. It is the way one expresses his or her innermost feelings. Art allows a person’s true personality to come out, for you can tell a lot about a person based on the art that originates from them. Art is an escape from the problems of the world, as it allows you to leave those problems behind for some time while you focus on your work.

1. What is your favorite art form?

My favorite art form is music. Although I cannot play an instrument, I do appreciate those that can. I have known many people who could play an instrument very well, and I have always been amazed at how they do it.  It takes many years of hard work and dedication to master an instrument, and it is this difficulty that makes me appreciate it so much.

2. What is your favorite historical period?

My favorite historical period is World War II to the present because so many events take place in every decade. Technological advances were enormous during this time and daily life was greatly changed. From the atomic bomb to landing on the moon to all the events taking place today, history is constantly being made every day.

3. What is your academic / non-academic strength?

My academic strength is the sciences, particularly biology and chemistry. I find these two subjects very interesting because they teach us about how the world we live in functions, as well as how we, as human beings, work. Science, in general, has contributed greatly to our understanding of our planet, our universe, and us. My non-academic strength is my ability to not give up. If I do not understand something, I will keep studying that particular aspect until I finally understand it.

4. Do you feel comfortable with new technologies?

I feel very comfortable with new technologies. Whenever I see new technologies on television or on the Internet, I am always interested in them. If I buy something new, I cannot wait to take it out of the box to see how it works. The MacBook’s that we received are amazing pieces of technology that I feel very comfortable with.

5. How would you rate your writing skills?

I would rate my writing skills as 9/10 because I think I write very well, but there is room for improvement. I tend to write much more than is needed, which is something I have to work on.