Exhibitions of J.M.W. Turner and Edward Hopper at the National Gallery of Art
As a non-artist, and one who has little understanding or appreciation of fine art, I can only have impressions of the works of these two artists, and the strongest impression I have is of the incredible contrast between the two. It seems that the National Gallery of Art intentionally exhibited these two great landscape artists at the same time to demonstrate their completely contrasting styles. Although both painted landscapes, their styles were vastly different.
As shown in The Fighting Temeraire above, Turner’s paintings are impressionistic, and some have called him the first impressionist painter. His paintings depict vast, epic scenes flooded with powerful emotions, emphasized by dazzling accents of light. His paintings are filled with motion and drama, often depicting violent, devastating forces of man and nature. In contrast with his more dramatic paintings is his tranquil Venice, from the Porch of Madonna della Salute, depicting the peace and serenity of gondolas on the Grand Canal.
Hopper painted Americana, as shown in Nighthawks, shown above. He painted buildings – houses, lighthouses, windows, roofs. Hopper’s paintings are completely sterile, completely devoid of motion, completely emotionless, completely lacking joy and vitality and life. The people in his paintings are motionless, gazing unfocused into the distance in deep thought. His buildings have no warmth, no plants, nothing associated with life. Sterile, lifeless paintings.
How fascinating to view these two art exhibits together.
As a non-artist, and one who has little understanding or appreciation of fine art, I can only have impressions of the works of these two artists, and the strongest impression I have is of the incredible contrast between the two. It seems that the National Gallery of Art intentionally exhibited these two great landscape artists at the same time to demonstrate their completely contrasting styles. Although both painted landscapes, their styles were vastly different.
As shown in The Fighting Temeraire above, Turner’s paintings are impressionistic, and some have called him the first impressionist painter. His paintings depict vast, epic scenes flooded with powerful emotions, emphasized by dazzling accents of light. His paintings are filled with motion and drama, often depicting violent, devastating forces of man and nature. In contrast with his more dramatic paintings is his tranquil Venice, from the Porch of Madonna della Salute, depicting the peace and serenity of gondolas on the Grand Canal.
Hopper painted Americana, as shown in Nighthawks, shown above. He painted buildings – houses, lighthouses, windows, roofs. Hopper’s paintings are completely sterile, completely devoid of motion, completely emotionless, completely lacking joy and vitality and life. The people in his paintings are motionless, gazing unfocused into the distance in deep thought. His buildings have no warmth, no plants, nothing associated with life. Sterile, lifeless paintings.
How fascinating to view these two art exhibits together.
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