This is a link to a blog titled "Destruction and Renewal" by Brandon Scolieri. The blog talks about how it is human nature to create destruction and devastation. Though, it is also human nature to renew, and rebuild their societies. The aspect of human nature is exactly how popular dictators like Hitler, Napoleon, and Caesar came to power. Hitler came to power because of the destruction of Germany after World War 2. He was the "rebuilder," and that is how he came to be a popular dictator. Blind Macht by Rudolf Schlichter depicts the power of Nazi Germany and Hitler and the destruction it can cause. It is this power that Hitler depicted which invigorated Germans to follow him.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Napoleon Crossing the Alps
Jacques-Louis David
This painting is called Napoleon Crossing the Alps by Jacques-Louis David. This painting depicts Napoleon triumphant after he and his men crossed the Alps to go into Italy. (Napoleon, Wikipedia) David liked Napoleon and when painting liked to bring out Napoleon’s classical features. (Jacques-Louis David, Wikipedia) David painted mainly the neoclassical style and this can be seen in some of the shapes in this painting. (Jacques-Louis David, Wikipedia)In some ways this painting, is similar to the Nazi propaganda because it depicts Napoleon much more gloriously than he was at that point in time. (Napoleon, Wikipedia) At the time, Napoleon was not riding a horse, but a mule, and most of the clothes were dirty and wet. (Napoleon, Wikipedia) But, David and others of the time saw Napoleon as a dominant ruler and that is how he is depicted.
Napoleon Crossing the Alps symbolically represents Napoleon at his height in power. (Napoleon, Wikipedia) He has just crossed the treacherous Alps and then goes on to defeat the Austrians, retake Italy and spread Frances power. This painting sums up the power that Napoleon had. It is shown in the powerful horse standing on its hind leg and Napoleon with one hand in the air displaying his power over all of Europe.
Napoleon was an extremely powerful dictator. Like Hitler he took over almost all of Europe and put it under French control. Though powerful, Napoleon was also very popular with his own people. (Napoleon, Wikipedia) He helped France regain the power it had lost during the Revolution and created peace. David had high respect for Napoleon which is why he painted him so victorious. Napoleon prevailing symbolized France prevailing which is why Napoleon became such a popular dictator throughout France.
Jacques-Louis David
This painting is called Napoleon Crossing the Alps by Jacques-Louis David. This painting depicts Napoleon triumphant after he and his men crossed the Alps to go into Italy. (Napoleon, Wikipedia) David liked Napoleon and when painting liked to bring out Napoleon’s classical features. (Jacques-Louis David, Wikipedia) David painted mainly the neoclassical style and this can be seen in some of the shapes in this painting. (Jacques-Louis David, Wikipedia)In some ways this painting, is similar to the Nazi propaganda because it depicts Napoleon much more gloriously than he was at that point in time. (Napoleon, Wikipedia) At the time, Napoleon was not riding a horse, but a mule, and most of the clothes were dirty and wet. (Napoleon, Wikipedia) But, David and others of the time saw Napoleon as a dominant ruler and that is how he is depicted.
Napoleon Crossing the Alps symbolically represents Napoleon at his height in power. (Napoleon, Wikipedia) He has just crossed the treacherous Alps and then goes on to defeat the Austrians, retake Italy and spread Frances power. This painting sums up the power that Napoleon had. It is shown in the powerful horse standing on its hind leg and Napoleon with one hand in the air displaying his power over all of Europe.
Napoleon was an extremely powerful dictator. Like Hitler he took over almost all of Europe and put it under French control. Though powerful, Napoleon was also very popular with his own people. (Napoleon, Wikipedia) He helped France regain the power it had lost during the Revolution and created peace. David had high respect for Napoleon which is why he painted him so victorious. Napoleon prevailing symbolized France prevailing which is why Napoleon became such a popular dictator throughout France.
Nazi Propaganda Poster
This poster was made during the 1930’s during Hitler’s reign of power. (Brooks, Robert)It shows Hitler as being a man of the people by him being surrounded by Germans all saluting him. It also makes a very direct connection between Hitler and Christianity. (Brooks, Robert) In the painting there is an eagle soaring above Hitler’s head, almost as if it is protecting Hitler. This same scenario comes up when a “dove” came down when Christ was being baptized by John the Baptist. (Brooks, Robert) This shows that Hitler was trying to be shown almost like a saint or something mystical and all-powerful, which is what many popular dictators have done to gain power.
Nazi propaganda had a huge impact in the way Germans viewed the war and what Hitler was allowed to do. (Nazi Propaganda Poster, Wikipedia) Hitler put a lot of importance on propaganda because it was the way to get Germans to do things and he explains this in Mein Kampf, “The art of propaganda consists precisely in being able to awaken the imagination of the public through an appeal to their feelings, in finding the appropriate psychological form that will arrest the attention and appeal to the hearts of the national masses.” (Nazi Propaganda Poster, Wikipedia) This method that Hitler used worked and is one reason why Hitler came to power. Posters like this one were especially important because they could reach the viewer easily and in a decisive statement such as this one which says “Long Live Germany.” (Brooks, Robert)
This poster depicts a strong, all-powerful Hitler. It shows Hitler as being a man of the people with his fist clenched and him being surrounded by the flag and all of the Nazis. Though this is propaganda, it still shows popular dictators come to power through art. This style of art allowed Hitler to change the mindset of Germans toward his thinking. This poster is important because it explains some of the methods that popular dictators use to gain popularity and power.
This poster was made during the 1930’s during Hitler’s reign of power. (Brooks, Robert)It shows Hitler as being a man of the people by him being surrounded by Germans all saluting him. It also makes a very direct connection between Hitler and Christianity. (Brooks, Robert) In the painting there is an eagle soaring above Hitler’s head, almost as if it is protecting Hitler. This same scenario comes up when a “dove” came down when Christ was being baptized by John the Baptist. (Brooks, Robert) This shows that Hitler was trying to be shown almost like a saint or something mystical and all-powerful, which is what many popular dictators have done to gain power.
Nazi propaganda had a huge impact in the way Germans viewed the war and what Hitler was allowed to do. (Nazi Propaganda Poster, Wikipedia) Hitler put a lot of importance on propaganda because it was the way to get Germans to do things and he explains this in Mein Kampf, “The art of propaganda consists precisely in being able to awaken the imagination of the public through an appeal to their feelings, in finding the appropriate psychological form that will arrest the attention and appeal to the hearts of the national masses.” (Nazi Propaganda Poster, Wikipedia) This method that Hitler used worked and is one reason why Hitler came to power. Posters like this one were especially important because they could reach the viewer easily and in a decisive statement such as this one which says “Long Live Germany.” (Brooks, Robert)
This poster depicts a strong, all-powerful Hitler. It shows Hitler as being a man of the people with his fist clenched and him being surrounded by the flag and all of the Nazis. Though this is propaganda, it still shows popular dictators come to power through art. This style of art allowed Hitler to change the mindset of Germans toward his thinking. This poster is important because it explains some of the methods that popular dictators use to gain popularity and power.
The Triumphs of Caesar
Andrea Mantegna
The Triumphs of Caesar the bearers of trophies and Bullion by Andrea Mantegna is one of nine pieces that depict Caesar’s triumphant return to Rome after victories in other lands. This painting depicts all the gold and coins that Caesar brought back with him symbolizing the wealth that Caesar will bring to Rome and the new empire. (The Triumphs of Caesar, Wikipedia) In this painting, all of the armor, gold, coins, and art are piled up to purposefully to show the power that Caesar has and how miniscule another countries belongings are compared to Caesar. However, there is also another side of this painting which is that of melancholy and sadness. (Jones, Jonathan, The Triumphs of Caesar)The soldiers are not gloating or extremely overwhelmed with joy because many men were lost; one soldier is looking down at the ground pensively thinking. (Jones, Jonathan, The Triumphs of Caesar)This shows that while Caesar is powerful, he also realizes that he is not the perfect human being and mourns for the deaths of his soldiers.
In history, these paintings symbolize Caesars rise and control of power in Rome. Caesar has just come back from conquests in faraway lands such as Macedonia, and is now returning to seize the power that he feels is his, in Rome. (The Triumphs of Caesar, Wikipedia)This painting symbolizes the wealth Caesar acquired on his excursions and power that he can bring to Rome.
The Triumphs of Caesar shows Caesar as the powerful dictator he will become. He comes back into Rome with a victory and wealth which makes Romans happy. This allows him to easily take the throne and pronounce himself emperor over all. Though, unlike Hitler and Napoleon, in these paintings Caesar is not depicted as this all-powerful, almost god-like ruler. He is depicted as a human being. A powerful human being no doubt, but still a human being.
Andrea Mantegna
The Triumphs of Caesar the bearers of trophies and Bullion by Andrea Mantegna is one of nine pieces that depict Caesar’s triumphant return to Rome after victories in other lands. This painting depicts all the gold and coins that Caesar brought back with him symbolizing the wealth that Caesar will bring to Rome and the new empire. (The Triumphs of Caesar, Wikipedia) In this painting, all of the armor, gold, coins, and art are piled up to purposefully to show the power that Caesar has and how miniscule another countries belongings are compared to Caesar. However, there is also another side of this painting which is that of melancholy and sadness. (Jones, Jonathan, The Triumphs of Caesar)The soldiers are not gloating or extremely overwhelmed with joy because many men were lost; one soldier is looking down at the ground pensively thinking. (Jones, Jonathan, The Triumphs of Caesar)This shows that while Caesar is powerful, he also realizes that he is not the perfect human being and mourns for the deaths of his soldiers.
In history, these paintings symbolize Caesars rise and control of power in Rome. Caesar has just come back from conquests in faraway lands such as Macedonia, and is now returning to seize the power that he feels is his, in Rome. (The Triumphs of Caesar, Wikipedia)This painting symbolizes the wealth Caesar acquired on his excursions and power that he can bring to Rome.
The Triumphs of Caesar shows Caesar as the powerful dictator he will become. He comes back into Rome with a victory and wealth which makes Romans happy. This allows him to easily take the throne and pronounce himself emperor over all. Though, unlike Hitler and Napoleon, in these paintings Caesar is not depicted as this all-powerful, almost god-like ruler. He is depicted as a human being. A powerful human being no doubt, but still a human being.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Bibliography
1. Art: a World History. New York, NY: DK Pub., 2002.
2. "Jean-Baptiste Debret." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 22 Apr. 2011..
3. Jones, Jonathan, “Triumphs of Caesar, Andrea Mantegna”, http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2004/feb/21/art
4. "Nazi Posters: 1933-1945." Calvin College - Minds In The Making. Web. 22 Apr. 2011..
5. Wikipedia, “Napoleon” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon
6. Wikipedia, “Triumphs of Cesar” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumphs_of_Caesar#The_bearers_of_trophies_and_bullion
7.
1. Art: a World History. New York, NY: DK Pub., 2002.
2. "Jean-Baptiste Debret." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.
3. Jones, Jonathan, “Triumphs of Caesar, Andrea Mantegna”, http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2004/feb/21/art
4. "Nazi Posters: 1933-1945." Calvin College - Minds In The Making. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.
5. Wikipedia, “Napoleon” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon
6. Wikipedia, “Triumphs of Cesar” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumphs_of_Caesar#The_bearers_of_trophies_and_bullion
7.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)