I was searching all over the internet this morning for a representation of either the empty tomb, or of the Christ rising from the tomb for an Easter post. There are a LOT of images out there to choose from!

This one struck me because this Jesus really looks he's been dead for 3 days. Not to mention the crucifixion before that, which must really take the wind out of guy's sails. This guy looks like he's been through the ringer!



Most of the risen Christs look pretty refreshed, like 3 days underground does a body good. I really think Jesus was probably more like this at first.

I found this over at Bible Paintings. Here is their commentary on this painting:

Date: 1490

Artist: Bramantino

Comment: The Resurrected Christ
Bramantino (circa 1465-1535) was a Lombard painter and architect whose real name was Bartolomeo Suardi. His works were noted for their fine architectural backgrounds - though there is little evidence of this in 'The Resurrected Christ'. If anything, it is the face, body and cloak that have an architectural quality, evidence of careful draughtsmanship.

It seems to me that Bramantino was trying to capture the image of a perfect man - perfect in form, in intellect, and in compassion.
At the same time, his 'Resurrected Christ' is a man who has passed through death and is now detached, no longer part of the world that we, the Living, inhabit.

The cloak that Jesus wraps around himself has an almost metallic sheen to it, mirroring the pallor of the skin. And yet when you look at the painting, you notice that the face itself has quite a different color to it, as if there is more life in it than there is in the body.

The skin is luminously pale, unearthly, even though it shows the marks of violence and the raised veins of a living body. The eyes are sad, looking through and past the viewer. They are the eyes of someone who is somewhere else. These eyes have seen things the Living have not seen. They are disquieting, perhaps because they make the viewer seem irrelevant.

Happy Easter, everyone! I'll see you next week.

Labels: art, holiday, link

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  Today, we went with our homeschool group to see the Art Deco exhibit at the Aurora History Museum. Before hand, I showed them many examples of Art Deco pieces, and used Art Nouveau work to contrast it.

When we got home, I put together a photo quiz for them, and I thought you all might like to see it, too.

Get your #2 pencils, grab some paper, and click here to take the quiz Art Deco, Art Nouveau, or Cheese?

For those of you who need a review, here are some definitions from Wikipedia:

Art Deco: The structure of art deco is based on mathematical geometric shapes. It was widely considered to be an eclectic form of elegant and stylish modernism, being influenced by a variety of sources. Among them were the, so called, "primitive" arts of Africa, Ancient Egypt, and Aztec Mexico, as well as Machine Age or streamline technology such as modern aviation, electric lighting, the radio, the ocean liner and the skyscraper...Other popular themes in art deco were trapezoidal, zigzagged, geometric, and jumbled shapes, which can be seen in many early pieces.

Art Nouveau: Dynamic, undulating, and flowing, with curved 'whiplash' lines of syncopated rhythm, characterized much of Art Nouveau. Another feature is the use of hyperbolas and parabolas in windows, arches, and doors. Conventional moldings seem to spring to life and 'grow' into plant-derived forms. Like most design styles, Art Nouveau sought to harmonize its forms.

Cheese: Cheese is a food made from the milk of cows, goats, sheep and other mammals, by coagulating the milk. This is accomplished by first acidifying it with a bacterial culture and then employing the enzyme rennet (or rennet substitutes) to coagulate the milk to "curds and whey."[1] The precise bacteria and processing of the curds play a role in defining the texture and flavor of most cheeses. Some cheeses also feature molds, either on the outer rind (similar to a fruit peel) or throughout.

Or, here's a quick way to cheat. If a piece is linear, geometric, and dramatic, or reminds you of flappers or ancient Egypt, it's a good bet it's Art Deco. If it's organic, flowing, flowery and looks like something you might find at Rivendell, it's probably Art Nouveau. If you look at it and think, "Mmmm, that would be good with crackers!" put down Cheese.

The answers will be in the comments, so you can check your own papers. Let me know how you did!

Labels: art, homeschooling, quiz

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  Today I had 10 kids over to learn about Andy Warhol and Pop Art. I used this lesson plan, if you want to try it at your house!

I had all the moms send me pictures of the kids with a light background, and I changed them to black and white, heightened the contrast, and printed four on a page. Then, in the style of his Marilyns (and many others, I was surprised!) we painted our own with watercolors. I took a photo of me and my kids because I didn't get permission from everyone else to post their kids, but you can imagine it I'm sure!

Marilyns:



The Horde:



(BTW-This is my 1,002nd post! Can you believe it?)

Labels: art, homeschooling, kids

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  Can you tell I'm excited?



Gorey tale coming to screen for first time

Gorey, who died in 2000 at age 75, was an artist and writer known for his macabre bent, with works that had an ominous and somewhat Victorian air. His influence can be seen in the works of Tim Burton and in music videos like Nine Inch Nails' "The Perfect Drug," and while none of his works has ever reached the silver screen, the opening titles of the PBS series "Mystery!" done in animation style are based on his art. He also was a successful set and costume designer, earning a Tony for his Broadway production of "Edward Gorey's Dracula."

This website has a pretty good selection of his images, if you're not familiar with him.

Labels: art, newsworthy

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We're going to meet up with some other homeschoolers today and visit the Denver Art Museum. It's one of the last days to see Linda.

To create Linda, the Colorado-based artist took a plaster mold directly from the body of a living model, then cast the form in polyvinyl. Next, he meticulously painted the surfaces, including such tiny details as freckles, before he finished off by applying natural hair, brows, and eyelashes—strand by strand. He once said, “If I could make it breathe I’d say, ‘I’ve done a good day’s work now.’”

I first saw "Linda" on a field trip in high school. She looked so real that I actually gasped as the sculpture came into view and I wasn't the only one. We were all spellbound, which wasn't that common for a group of angst-ridden teenage punker geeks.

So, if you're down at the DAM today, stop in to see Linda, and say howdy if you see the Horde in there!

Labels: art, homeschooling, newsworthy

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  I find the idea compelling that a timeline can capture a period, almost like a snapshot, and allow you to turn it over and over and examine it. We can lose context so easily when we study history, and a timeline makes it easier to understand where each bit of information fits in. I think that's why they always draw me in, no matter what the subject.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's website includes an interactive Timeline of Art History. It's worth taking a look at, if you're at all interested in this sort of thing. You can search by artist, time period, art style, or area of the world.

I grabbed some pictures from the website to compare what people all over the world were doing right around when time cranked from B.C. to A.D. Check it out!

North America:


Mexico:


South America:


Europe:


Egypt:


South Asia:


Japan:


There is a LOT more information there to look at, go see for yourself! There's even a whole section on Pablo Picasso!

Labels: art, timeline

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