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firstamendmentgirl.bsky.social
First Amendment Girl
@firstamendmentgirl.bsky.social
1.8K followers 1.5K following 3K posts
Retired librarian, lifelong Democrat, 2nd Wave Feminist, living in Land of Enchantment. Art soothes my political anxiety.
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firstamendmentgirl.bsky.social
Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion by Eugene Delacroix, 1824, The Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, IL)

#ArtHistory #Romanticism #Orientalism
This dynamic painting depicts a dramatic scene of an Arab horseman fiercely battling a lion. The horseman, clad in vibrant clothing, struggles to control his rearing horse while simultaneously defending himself against the attacking lion. The composition is characterized by swirling movement, intense emotion, and a strong contrast between the figures and the landscape. Delacroix employs a loose, expressive brushstroke and a rich, warm color palette to convey the energy and violence of the encounter. The scene is set in a North African or Middle Eastern landscape, suggested by the vegetation and the attire of the horseman. The painting was created during the Romantic period in art, a reaction against the Neoclassical emphasis on order and reason. Romanticism prioritized emotion, imagination, and individualism. Delacroix was a leading figure in the French Romantic movement, known for his dramatic compositions, vibrant colors, and expressive brushwork. This work foreshadows his later, larger-scale historical and allegorical paintings, such as Liberty Leading the People. It also reflects the growing European fascination with Orientalism during the 19th century.
December 10, 2025 at 1:05 AM
firstamendmentgirl.bsky.social
A Box in the Théâtre des Variétés byPierre-Auguste Renoir, 1874, Private Collection

#ArtHistory #ModernArt #Impressionism
This painting depicts a scene inside a box at the Théâtre des Variétés in Paris. A young woman, likely a member of the Parisian bourgeoisie, is observed through opera glasses by a gentleman seated beside her. The focus is on the interaction between the two figures and the vibrant atmosphere of the theater, capturing a fleeting moment of social life and entertainment. The painting is characterized by Renoir's signature Impressionistic style, with loose brushstrokes and a focus on capturing the effects of light and atmosphere. The background shows glimpses of the audience and the stage, adding to the sense of bustling activity. The painting is a prime example of Impressionism, a movement that broke away from traditional academic painting by emphasizing the subjective perception of light and color and by depicting everyday life rather than historical or mythological subjects. "A Box in the Théâtre des Variétés" reflects the Impressionists' interest in capturing the fleeting moments of modern urban life and the changing social landscape of Paris during the Belle Époque.
December 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
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Two Gibbons Reaching for the the Moon by Itõ Jakuchū, c. 1770, Kimbell Art Museum (Fort Worth, TX)

#ArtHistory #Zen
This charming painting depicts a mother gibbon dangling her baby by the arm as she hangs from a tendril suspended from a tree. The title of the painting is a reference to the Zen Buddhist concept that simple people and animals often mistake the reflection of the moon for the moon itself. In this case it is both the baby gibbon and its mother who are trying to grasp the moon's reflection in the water - though not physically depicted here, its presence is understood. The subject also alludes to the dilemma of the human condition: we reach for the unreal (in this case the reflection of the moon) instead of looking for proper spiritual substance. Jakuchu has imbued the subject with both humor and affection - the gibbons may be confused, but if they stop searching for the truth, all will be lost. And although the moon is not actually represented, its round shape is mirrored in the gibbons' faces. Beginning in the 1760s and throughout the 1770s, Jakuchu spent extended periods seclusion at the Obaku Zen temple of Sekihoji, south of Kyoto. This painting corresponds to that period, when Jakuchu increasingly chose to depict Zen subjects executed in ink-monochrome style in which basic and geometric forms would assume prominence over any approximation of realism.
December 9, 2025 at 1:14 AM
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Interior with Open Door by Henri Matisse, 1920

#ArtHistory #ModernArt #Fauvism

For a thorough analysis of this work, see: classicalcanvas.org/a-complete-a...
December 8, 2025 at 3:20 PM
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Mont Sainte-Victoire by Paul Cézanne, 1886-1887, The Phillips Collection (Washington D.C.)

#ArtHistory #ModernArt #PostImpressionism
No touch of the painter's brush fails to function in the sparing application of a few colors, while the canvas is left bare here and there with unerring knowledge of stress and interval, of movement and repose. A symmetry like the Parthenon and a strange solidity are achieved with the simplest means.... And so there is life and movement within the architecture of space.
December 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
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Anemones in a Vase by Józef Pankiewicz, 1920, National Museum of Krakow (Krakow, Poland)

#ArtHistory #ModernArt #PostImpressionism
Pankiewicz's "Anemones in a Vase" is a vibrant still life painting showcasing a bouquet of anemones arranged in vase. The painting is characterized by its rich, expressive brushwork and a bold, unconventional color palette. Pankiewicz employs a Fauvist-inspired approach, using non-naturalistic colors to convey emotion and create a sense of visual intensity. The composition is dynamic, with the flowers appearing to burst forth from the vase, filling the canvas with energy. The background is loosely rendered, emphasizing the floral arrangement as the primary focus. The work exemplifies Pankiewicz's departure from traditional academic painting towards a more modern and expressive style.
December 7, 2025 at 12:57 AM
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Acrobats by Raoul Dufy, 1922, Private Collection

#ArtHistory #ModernArt #Fauvism #Naïvism #Primitivism
This dynamic artwork portrays two acrobats engaged in a high-flying trapeze act. The figures are captured in mid-air, with their muscular forms rendered in simplified, almost abstract shapes typical of Naïve Art. The vibrant, bold palette dominated by blues, purples, reds, and greens, alongside the angular and fragmented background, reflects the Fauvist influence. The composition of the piece is energized by the sharp lines and geometric patterns, which convey the acrobats’ movement and the circus’s lively atmosphere. The well-balanced use of color and form serves to create a sense of depth and excitement, drawing the viewer into the spectacle.
December 6, 2025 at 3:58 PM
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La Maison, Issigeac by Eva Danora, 2017, Artst's Collection

#ArtHistory #ContemporaryArt #FigurativeExpressionism
This work, done in colored pencils and pastels, depicts a charming, sun-drenched house in Issigeac, France. It is characterized by its warm color palette, loose strokes, and impressionistic style. It captures the essence of rural French architecture and the tranquil atmosphere of the village. The house is rendered with a focus on light and shadow, creating a sense of depth and realism. The scene evokes a feeling of peace and nostalgia while reflecting a romanticized view of rural life and the beauty of traditional architecture. It taps into a broader cultural fascination with idyllic landscapes and the desire for escape from urban environments. It also speaks to the appreciation of cultural heritage and the preservation historical places.
December 6, 2025 at 12:56 AM
firstamendmentgirl.bsky.social
Off and on I watch Route 66 on Tubi. 2 guys drive around the country having adventures, kind of like Supernatural without demons but they really filmed in the locations. The one I'm watching now is set in a Pittsburgh steel mill. Among the guest stars: very young Robert Redford.
December 5, 2025 at 9:32 PM
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La Locomotive, Environs de Charleroi by Maximilien Luce, 1895, Private Collection

#ArtHistory #ModernArt #NeoImpressionism #Pointillism
This painting depicts a steam locomotive in the industrial landscape surrounding Charleroi, Belgium. Luce employs a Pointillist technique, using small, distinct dots of color to build up the image. The scene is dominated by the powerful locomotive, rendered in dark tones, contrasted against the lighter, more vibrant colors the sky and surrounding environment. The painting captures the energy and dynamism of the industrial age, while also hinting at the harsh realities of working-class life. "La Locomotive" is a significant example of Neo-Impressionism, also known as Pointillism, which emerged in the late 19th century as a reaction against Impressionism. Artists like Luce, Georges Seurat, and Paul Signac sought a more scientific and systematic approach to painting, using color theory to create luminous and vibrant effects. The painting reflects the broader artistic trends of the time, including a fascination with modern technology and industrialization, and a desire to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. It bridges the gap between Impressionism and the more abstract movements of the 20th century.
December 5, 2025 at 3:09 PM
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Returning Home in the Dark by Zheng Jiazhen, 1979, Hong Kong Museum of Art (Hong Kong)

#ArtHistory #ContemporaryArt
In this work, a night scene is depicted in a simplified, stylised and exaggerated manner. There is a contrast in brushwork between the deliberate conciseness of the woods and the spontaneity in the colouring strokes, and no traditional texturing strokes. The pictorial composition is also characterised by strong black and white contrast, giving the work a strong sense of perspective.
December 5, 2025 at 12:52 AM
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Still Life with Three Puppies by Paul Gauguin, 1888, The Museum of Modern Art (New York City, NY)

#ArtHistory #ModernArt #PostImpressionism
This painting features three distinct ones: a still life of fruit in the foreground, a row of three blue goblets and apples diagonally bisecting the canvas, and three puppies drinking from a large pan. The incongruous scale and placement of these objects on a dramatically upturned tabletop results in a disorienting composition. When Gauguin painted Still Life with Three Puppies, he was living in Brittany among a group of experimental painters, including Emile Bernard. He abandoned naturalistic depictions and colors, declaring that "art is an abstraction" to be derived "from nature while dreaming before it." The puppies' bodies, for example, are outlined in bold blue, and the patterning of their coats mirrors the botanic print of the tablecloth. It is thought that Gauguin drew stylistic inspiration for this painting from Japanese prints, which were introduced to him by his friend and fellow artist Vincent van Gogh that same year, and from children's book illustrations.
December 4, 2025 at 3:04 PM
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Holiday Home (Milwaukee) by Richard Woods, 2019, Sculpture Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI)

#ArtHistory #ContemporaryArt #PopArt
British artist Richard Woods has a funny take on the frenetic rise of DIY culture and the English tradition of caravan camping while thinking about globally urgent issues like housing insecurity and population displacement. His cheery houses, built on spec using commercial products and local labor with a paint job that matches a site's mood, history or light conditions, are everyday homes, scaled small to make them doll-like and intimate. The various positions they assume - floating on a barge in the middle of a lake, perched atop a parking lot battlement, tossed onto a sandy beach close to the high tide line - suggest a family in slight peril, up-ended by the dramatic economic and political forces shifting around them. A home is considered the pinnacle of middle-class success and stability, and was one of the most important markers of arrival in our post-war period. Yet residents of the United Kingdom are facing a dramatic shift in their global leadership with the Brexit vote, which makes residents nervous about their historical standing in the world.
December 4, 2025 at 1:17 AM
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Standing Dignitary, Precolumbian, c. 600-1000, Kimbell Art Museum (Fort Worth, TX)

#ArtHistory #WariCulture

For more on Wari culture, see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wari_cu...
This rare Wari freestanding figurine composed of intricate and densely patterned inlays of mother-of-pearl, purple and orange spondylus shell, mussel shell, turquoise, pyrite, greenstone, lapis lazuli, and silver (for the headdress) on a wood matrix. The torso is cloaked in a long ceremonial tunic decorated in an interlocking tapestry weave with three rows of a simplified and abstracted zoomorphic motif, which can be read as feline (jaguar or puma) heads or as standing llamas. The wearing of a court tapestry tunic identified one's rank in the Wari empire, and the emphasis on the elaborateness of this costume suggests that the figure represented was a dignitary of some status. In life, tunics were worn as ceremonial garb, and in death they were placed over the wearer's mummy bale. In shell and stone inlay, the complex textile patterns of the tunic are inevitably simplified. The corpus of Wari inlaid material is very small. This is the only known example of a freestanding figurine entirely covered in the inlaid shell technique. The refined craftsmanship and wide range of materials used in its manufacture indicate the presence in Wari society of an elite that could afford and appreciate such a luxury item, which probably served to convey the social status of the owner. In this piece, the greenstone arms are drilled at each shoulder, possibly for suspension as a pendant.
December 3, 2025 at 3:49 PM
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Pink Mississippi by Jack Tworkov, 1954, The Rockefeller University Collection (New York City, NY)

#ArtHistory #ContemporaryArt #AbstractExpressionism
December 3, 2025 at 1:03 AM
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Bridges across the Seine at Asnières by Vincent van Gogh, 1887, Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

#ArtHistory #ModernArt #NeoImpressionism
This painting depicts a bustling scene along the Seine River at Asnières, a suburb of Paris. It shows two bridges, one railway bridge and one road bridge, with boats and figures populating the river and its banks. The composition is characterized by van Gogh's use of vibrant colors and energetic brushstrokes, capturing the movement and atmosphere of the industrial landscape. The painting is notable for its high horizon line and flattened perspective, creating a sense of immediacy and dynamism. It's one of a series of paintings van Gogh made of the Seine Asnières during his time living with his brother Theo in Paris. This work reflects the influence of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism and marks a transition in his style, moving away from the darker, more realistic Dutch paintings of his earlier career towards a brighter palette and more expressive brushwork. It predates his move to Arles and the development of his signature style. The painting is part of a broader movement of artists depicting modern life and industrial landscapes.
December 2, 2025 at 4:28 PM
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Rainbow Shabbat by Judy Chicago, 1992, Brooklyn Museum (Brooklyn, NY)

#ArtHistory #ContemporaryArt #FeministArt
"Rainbow Shabbat" is the concluding image in "The Holocaust Project: From Darkness into Light," a traveling exhibition that Chicago created in collaboration with her husband, the photographer Donald Woodman. Their eight-year collaboration on this project began in 1985 as a journey through Europe and the Middle East to explore the meaning of the Holocaust in a contemporary context. It was a journey of self-discovery through which Chicago came to understand the strength of her Jewish identity and its influence on her ideas about the artist’s role and the need to create art that aims to transform the world. It was also a journey into darkness that was, needless to say, immensely disturbing on many levels. The result was an exhibition that combined painting and photography, with additional work in tapestry and glass by selected artisans. To conclude the exhibition, Chicago wanted an image of hope, a vision for a future in which people are joined together across differences in age, gender, race, faith and culture to live in harmony with one another and the natural world. She chose to represent this vision in a large stained glass installation, "Rainbow Shabbat: A Vision for the Future," because in her words, "Light is Life." The idea for the Rainbow Shabbat as an image and message of hope came to Chicago during a memorable Shabbat dinner at the home of friends during a visit she and Woodman made to Israel. As she later wrote: "There were twelve people there: men and women from four different countries, of different ages, and mostly strangers. We all went around the table and told stories, and everyone listened for hours. For me the evening brought up not just feelings about my childhood but also the incredibly warm moments Donald and I had shared with Jews around the world. Being welcomed into Jewish homes during our travels gave us a profound sense of a global community and provided me with an idea for the last image of the project, an image of optimism and hope."
December 2, 2025 at 12:57 AM
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The Negotiations at Angoulême by Peter Paul Rubens, 1621, Louvre Museum (Paris, France)

#ArtHistory #Baroque
This painting depicts the negotiations between Marie de Medici, the Queen Mother of France, and the Huguenot leader Benjamin de Rohan, Duke of Soubise, at Angoulême in 1621. The scene shows the signing of the Peace of Angoulême, which temporarily ended the Huguenot rebellions. Rubens portrays the event with a sense of grandeur and diplomatic formality, emphasizing the power and authority of the Queen Mother while also acknowledging the importance of the Huguenot representatives. The composition is dynamic, with figures arranged in a complex interplay of gestures and gazes, conveying the tension and complexity of the negotiations. The rich colors and dramatic lighting are characteristic of Rubens' Baroque style.
December 1, 2025 at 3:13 PM
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Julie Daydreaming by Berthe Morisot, 1890, Private Collection

#ArtHistory #ModernArt #Impressionism
This painting depicts a young girl, Julie Manet (Morisot's niece), seated and lost thought. She is shown in a three-quarter view, her gaze directed downwards and slightly to the side, suggesting a private reverie. The composition is characterized by soft, diffused light and a delicate palette of pastel colors, primarily blues, pinks, and whites. The background is loosely rendered, hinting at an interior space without providing specific details, which further emphasizes she girl's introspective state. The brushwork is fluid and impressionistic, capturing a fleeting moment of quiet contemplation. Julie Daydreaming was created during late Impressionist period, a time when artists were increasingly focused on capturing subjective experiences and the effects of light and atmosphere. Morisot, a key figure in the Impressionist movement, moved towards more intimate and personal style in her later works, focusing on domestic scenes and portraits of women and children. This painting reflects the shift away from the strict realism of earlier art towards a more expressive and psychological portrayal of the subject.
December 1, 2025 at 1:05 AM
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Running Wild by Logan Maxwell Hagege

#ArtHistory #ContemporaryArt #StylizedRealism

For more on this artist, see www.loganmaxwellhagege.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:52 PM
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Skeletons Warming Themselves by James Ensor, 1889, Kimbell Art Museum (Fort Worth, TX)

#ArtHistory #ModernArt #Expressionism #Symbolism
Ensor was one of the most original painters of the late 19th century. Populated with masks and skeletons, his macabre images are morbid commentaries on the human condition, his hometown of Ostend on the North Sea, Belgian history, and his own mortality. Human bones were regularly uncovered in Ostend well into the 20th century, residue the carnage there during early 17th-century warfare, and Ensor retained childhood memories of their exhumation. In 1888 he made a little etching of himself as a reclining skeleton slippers, entitled My Portrait in 1960 (that is, at age 100). Belonging to a group of closely related paintings from the late 1880s, the enigmatic "Skeletons Warming Themselves" is among the artist's masterpieces. He has placed three dressed-up skeletons in foreground around a stove on which is written "Pas de feu" and under it "en trouverez vous demain?" - "No fire. Will you find any tomorrow?" The skeletons are accompanied by a palette and brush, a violin, and a lamp. Presumably Ensor intended these items to symbolize art. music, and literature. If so, the probable implication is that artistic inspiration, or patronage to support it has expired. Understood as a scene in an artist's studio, "Skeletons Warming Themselves" resembles a vignette from the popular medieval and early Renaissance print cycles of the Dance Of Death, each print portraying skeletons as an allegorical comment on the vanities of a particular profession or social type.
November 30, 2025 at 12:54 AM
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Fishing Port by Maurice de Vlaminck, 1911, Private Collection

#ArtHistory #ModernArt #PostImpressionism
Vlaminck's "Fishing Port" depicts a bustling harbor scene characterized by bold, expressive brushstrokes and a vibrant, almost Fauvist color palette. The painting focuses on the energy of the port, with boats clustered together, figures working, and a sense of lively activity. The composition is dynamic, with strong diagonals and a somewhat flattened perspective, emphasizing the visual impact over realistic representation. The colors are intense and often non-naturalistic, used to convey emotion and atmosphere rather than accurate depiction. The work exemplifies Vlaminck's approach to landscape painting, prioritizing subjective experience and expressive power.
November 29, 2025 at 3:01 PM
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Veronica Veronese by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1872, Delaware Art Museum (Wilmington, DE

#ArtHistory #ModernArt #PreRaphaeliteBrotherhood
Interior. Seated female figure facing right.Green dress, red hair, red lips. Lush green velvet dress with feathered purse at waistband. Figure strokes the strings of a violin hanging on the wall with her left hand while holding the bow in her right. Arms resting upon a table. Yellow flowers on and beneath table. Yellow canary in upper left corner.
November 29, 2025 at 1:15 AM
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Mosaic of a Double-Headed Serpent, Artist Not Known, 1400, British Museum (London, UK)

#ArtHistory #AztecArt #PostClassicPeriod

For more on this piece see: www.bmimages.com/preview.asp?...
The mosaic dates to the Postclassic period of Mesoamerican art (approximately 900-1521), specifically the Aztec Empire. It presents a high point in Aztec craftsmanship and artistic expression, preceding the Spanish conquest. It is representative of the sophisticated artistic traditions that flourished in Central Mexico before European contact, and stands alongside other examples of Aztec featherwork, sculpture, and monumental architecture. It reflects a continuation of earlier Mesoamerican artistic traditions, particularly those of the Olmec and Maya civilizations, but with a distinct Aztec style.
November 28, 2025 at 3:14 PM
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Slave Ship (Slavers Throwing Overboard the Dead and Dying, Typhoon Coming On) by J.M.W. Turner, 1840, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Boston, MA)

#ArtHistory #Romanticism
At once beautiful and horrific, Slave Ship seduces the eye with its striking pinks, purples, blues, and yellows within layers upon layers of paint, and then strikes the viewer with a scene of unspeakable brutality. At lower right, an enchained limb is devoured by nightmarish fish. In the center, hands grasp for the surface in a futile attempt to stay above the water. Turner asks viewers not just to look but to bear witness to slavery’s horror; its drowning victims, and the cold cruelty of the enslavers who sail away into the night. The painting refers to a notorious incident aboard the Zong, a British ship whose captain forced 133 Africans overboard in 1781 to collect insurance money for those “lost at sea.”
November 27, 2025 at 2:43 PM