Works of Art I Know

Works of Art I Know 

The Fall of Icarus, 1943

Henri Matisse

My First Impressions: 

I feel like I've seen this picture somewhere before. I think that it's about a man and there's a fire burning inside of him. The background, I feel, is a night sky with stars. 

What I've learned: 

Henri Matisse was a French artist who was know for his use of color and his original draftsmanship. This cutout is from his famous Jazz collection and represents the symbolic journey of Daedalus' son and the fall of  the mythologic adventurer from the azurean skies. 

Sources: 

www.cdc.gov

www.henri-matisse.net

Works of Art I Know

The Lighthouse at Two Lights, 1929
Edward Hopper

My First Impressions:
There is a relatively large building and a lighthouse next to it. They capture my attention the most out of the painting. I think that this picture takes place near a beach or island because there is a lighthouse in it. The sky is blue with little to no clouds so it must be in the summer or spring. The grass is green and looks very alive. I think this painting is very beautiful.

What I've Learned:
Edward Hopper trained at the New York School of Art with Robert Henri, leader of The Eight, from 1900-1906. His favorite subjects to paint were cityscapes, landscapes, and room interiors. This lighthouse stood 120 feet tall and was next to the Coast Guard station. It was located in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. This painting symbolized the "solitary individual stoically facing facing the onslaught of change in an industrial society," according to Hopper. 

Sources:
http://www.metmuseum.org/