Category Archives: Realism

Fishing Season Opens: Art (Winslow Homer)

In recognition of the Great Minnesota Fishing Opener 2021, I share Winslow Homer, the American Realist painter of All-Things-Fishing. An avid fisherman and artist, he not only painted people fishing for work and for play, but visually set the scene for the viewer to experience the rough waves, misty air and warm sun. My blog highlights a few of my favorites.

Art for Mothers Day (Whistler)

Famous Art of Mothers. “Whistler’s Mother” comes to mind; vicariously described as an American icon and a Victorian Mona Lisa. The artist was annoyed that viewers called it a “portrait;” it was an “arrangement in grey and black,” its official title. Interesting details on this famous painting are highlighted in this week’s Mother’s Day blog.

Freedom of Speech in Art (Rockwell)

Freedom of Speech, constitutional right of all Americans, is the theme of this painting by Norman Rockwell. The first of a series of Four Freedoms laid out by President Roosevelt in 1941 portrays evidence of the historic heritage of democratic discourse of respectfulness as we share ideas, despite apparent differences. My blog digs deeper into Freedom of Speech: the painting and the topic.

Standing Tall: Art for President’s Day 2021

Happy birthday, George! Today is President’s Day when we honor all USA presidents. I focus on Washington because he was first. Did you know that America had “court painters” much like Europe before the camera? Learn more as my blog highlights 4 famous portraits of GW, including my 2 favorite at our local Mia.

Rooms on the Sea in Art (Hopper)

I love the sea! I love cruising on the sea. Hopper’s “Rooms by the Sea” reminds me of the view I would be enjoying from my stateroom balcony this week were it not for COVID shut downs and restrictions on travel! Enjoy my reflections in Hopper, the sea and cruising in this week’s blog.

Art for Thanksgiving: Freedom from Want (Rockwell)

You would be disappointed if I did not include this iconic Thanksgiving feast by Norman Rockwell! The setting is something for us to reflect on this year as we have been forced to define for ourselves: wants vs. needs.

Autumn Harvest in Art (Millet & Van Gogh)

Autumn equates harvest. Millet, with peasant origins, identified with the hard work of the country poor. Van Gogh paraphrased it in his work. These oil paintings depict 3 peasant women tediously gleaning a field of stray stalks of wheat left over after the harvest. Both are at the Musee d’Orsay, Paris.

Summer Road Trips: Coming & Going in Art & Life (Rockwell)

Americans on the move. Road trips. This summer, after being cooped up during the endless spring shutdown, and not wanting to risk air travel, many families are taking road trips such as were popular after WWII. Rockwell portrayed one such trip in “Coming & Going” asking the eternal question: “Are we there yet?”

Golden Rule: Do Unto Others. . . in Art & Life (Rockwell)

Pondering famous art pertinent to the horrendous current events of racism and violence this past week with the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police in Minnesota, this verse and artwork came to mind. If we all applied the Golden Rule to our lives, the world would be a much different place.