Modern Jewish art
Throughout its history, Jewish art has distinguished itself by dealing with liturgical and religious themes typical of Judaism. However, modern Jewish art breaks with this scheme and encompasses many other aspects, not only of Hebrew culture but also the mundane and unconventional.
Modern Jewish art, on the other hand, is rich in all kinds of artistic manifestations that in the past were relegated to oblivion. In this new stage of Hebrew art, we can find sculptures and paintings previously rare in that culture since it was considered that this type of visual art could incite idolatry.
Diversity in modern Jewish Art
Thanks to the exchange and influence between Western societies and Jewish culture, the new diversification of Hebrew art was born. Modern Jewish art was born at the end of the 18th century and developed especially, despite during the 19th and 20th centuries. During these periods many Jewish artists came with new and innovative ideas.
In the artistic diversity present in modern Jewish art there is special participation of abstract expressionism and the non-protagonism of the divine. The artist's self-expression then takes greater participation and the presence of the secular and mundane is insight.
Historically, Jewish art has a great diversity of literary, musical, and theatrical works. However, it was not until the development of modern Jewish art during the 20th century that manifestations such as sculpture and painting took a place in Hebrew art.
Artistic Manifestations in Modern Jewish Art
The artists of modern Jewish art have ventured successfully into various techniques and avant-garde movements in recent times. Abstract expressionism and surrealism are two of the movements in which Jewish art has achieved great transcendence.
After the World Wars, a new generation of top Jewish artists flourished throughout Europe and the world. The Shoah was the source of inspiration for countless artists who expressed themselves through their works.
Venetian Renaissance Art
Venetian Renaissance art took place in the Italian region of Veneto during the 15th and 16th centuries and came from prominent artists such as Giovanni Bellini, Giorgione, Titian, Veronese, and Tintoretto. During these times Venice was at the height of its economic wealth as it was the main trade route through which all kinds of goods entered Europe from the east.
Characteristics of Venetian Renaissance art
Venice was one of the most prosperous cities in all of Italy when the artistic movement of the Renaissance took place in Europe. The port of maritime communication through which most of the merchandise entered the continent was also the cradle of great artists of this movement. These are some of the most emblematic characteristics of Venetian Renaissance art:
- It emphasizes landscape and nature. Religious themes also abound
- Three main values are evident in Venetian Renaissance art: humanism, the role of the artist, and the role of the patron.
- It approached a new perspective from the rediscovery of the classical and not as an evolution of the medieval.
- Venetian painting was deeply interested in the relationship between light and color. Something that the canvases and artists of Venetian Renaissance art reflect in their works.
- Soft brushstrokes that create a velvety surface texture.
- Study of perspective, naturalism, the concept of proportion, anatomical studies, and the return to the canons of ancient art.
From the use of chiaroscuro and color as the foundations of the representation of the figure and space to more direct attention to nature than that proposed by the classical tradition, of a more idealistic conception, Venetian Renaissance art aims to demonstrate how specific means put forward an idea of beauty at the same level, and sometimes even superior, to what was done in Rome, Parma or Florence.
Main artists of the Venetian Renaissance
Some of the most influential artists of Venetian Renaissance art were Antonello da Messina, the Bellini brothers, Giovanni and Gentile Bellini, Andrea Mantegna, Giorgione, Sebastiano del Piombo, and Titian among many others. The works of these artists are considered to have revolutionized Venetian painting. There is the presence of more intense colors with shadows and a great amount of detail.
The refinement of the oil painting technique in Venetian Renaissance art allows a wide range of color tones with important attention to landscape and nature. The study of perspective, the concept of proportion, anatomy, and the return to the canons of ancient art are characteristic of Venetian Renaissance art.