Activity #11 - Write About It! -REVISED (cited)

The Old Violin by William Michael Harnett is oil on canvas, 1886. This painting is American modern art and was created at the end of the 19th century. Impressionism was the art movement of this time but this painting is not an Impressionist piece (characteristics of Impressionist painting include visible brushstrokes, and unusual visual angles. This piece has neither). The Old Violin is a still life and in the time when Harnett created this work, American artists in the U.S. had found a ready market for this type of painting(1). A still life tradition was established by artist Raphaelle Peale in Philadelphia that lasted until the early 20th century. During this time Harnett and other artists gained fame for their work.

The City from Greenwich Village by John Sloan is oil on canvas, 1922. This painting is American modern art and was created at the beginning of the 20th century. It is a post-World War I piece and was created just as the “Roaring 20s” began. The 20s were a time of the Art Deco movement. Art Deco was purely decorative and was seen as elegant, functional, and ultra modern. It touched upon architecture, fashion and visual arts. This piece shows no signs of this movement. The City from Greenwich Village would be considered Realism that show signs of the night life associated with the “Roaring 20s.”

Source: (1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Still_life
http://en.wikipedia.org