Post 6: The Rococo

The Rococo period took place from 1700 to 1789. The Rococo showed a new shift artistically. It was the period known for its abrupt change. The subject matter changed to being romantic and more feminine. During this period, artists began painting loosely featuring indoor objects outdoors. Also artists used sfumato, pastel colors, and referenced mythology a lot in their paintings during this period. The Swing painting by Jean Frangonard is a painting from the Rococo period.

The Swing

Jean Fragonard

1767

Source: Here

The 1727 Online Store

Source: Here

The Rococo period is still an artistic period that inspires people today. While surfing the internet, I found an online store called www.the1727.com that is inspired by the Rococo period. All the clothes there available are inspired from this period and it could be easily seen. Just like the painting by Frangonard, the obvious characteristic seen here is the use of a feminine and romantic look. The other characteristics seen are the use of pastel colors and French influence.

Post 5: Northern Baroque

The Northern Baroque took place in the 17th century. This period was known stylistically for the use of tenebrism, movement, and fleshy subjects. During this art period, artists turned away from religious views to painting only still life or portraits. Artists during this period began exploring and with this they created pieces that resembled scenes of everyday life and reminder of how life is short.

Flowers in a Glass Vase

Rachel Ruysch

1704

Source: Here

During the Northern Baroque, some artists focused on flowers. Rachel Ruysch was an artist that focused on painting flowers. It was considered still life and it resembles that wealth and beauty does not last forever. It also resembles that life short. The painting Flowers in a Glass Vase by Rachel Ruysch show the stylistic characteristics found in the Northern Baroque period. It uses flowers to resemble the theme of nothing lasting for eternity. The flowers on the bottom are dying. Rachel also uses the colors of deep black, golds, and reds that are often seen throughout the Northern Baroque.

Dolce & Gabbana

2012

Source: Here

In 2012, Dolce and Gabbana used the Northern Baroque period as an inspiration for their designs. In the image seen below the Flowers in a Glass Vase painting, the Northern Baroque stylistic characteristics could be seen easily. Dolce and Gabbana used flowers are their subject with the colors of deep black, golds, and reds. The painting Flowers in a Glass Vase consist of the same colors seen in the Dolce and Gabbana collection. 

Post 4: Northern Early Renaissance Art

The Northern Early Renaissance took place during the 15th and 16th centuries. It differed from the Italian Renaissance dramatically. Stylistically this period was known for its structured, detailed, and symmetrical art that showed the importance of the artist and showed new details such as a focus on textiles. Most pieces were less Greek and Roman influenced and showed the use of chiaroscuro. Most art pieces showed of wealth and consisted of vibrant and intense colors. The key during this period was the also the artists signature on the art.

Altarpiece of the Patron Saints of Cologne

Stefan Lochner

1440

Source: Here

Alexander McQueen Dress

2010

Source

The Altarpiece of the Patron Saints of Cologne was painted in the 1440s by Stefan Lochner. In this piece the stylistic characteristics are easily seen. The painting is structured and detailed. There is an important of wealth seen in this piece through the rich detailed textiles and vibrant, intense colors. In 2010, the designer Alexander McQueen used this painting and other paintings from the Northern Early Renaissance in his creations. With the dress seen above and zoomed in on one piece, it easy to notice that this painting was used in the dress. There is a flag visible and a similar subject holding it.

Post 3: Gothic Art

Gothic Art roamed from 1150 to the 15th century and it is known as the "experimental period". This art period is most famous for the stained glass windows and the architecture. The stained glass windows were made from glass and they typically resembled religion. With this fact, these stained glass windows were found in cathedrals and churches. They consisted of a story with god and the color palettes often used were dark reds, dark blues, and black.

Stained glass window from St. Etienne church in Bourges

Source: Here

The Gothic Art period was also known for its architecture. As there was an advancement of technology, the architecture was changing during this period. There were narrow, pointed arches, the buttress, the flying buttress, the pilgrims, ribbed vaulting, and towers created. These were mostly found in the churches and cathedrals built at the time.

Beauvais Cathedral

Source: Here

Gothic dress

 Robert Panciera

Source: Here

Saint Mary's Studley Royal Yorkshire Interior HDR

Source: Here

Today, we are still influenced by Gothic Art. This "experimental period" has created rock music in the 1970s which portrays the main characteristic, darkness of the Gothic Art period and the rock music later created a gothic style in fashion. The influence of Gothic Art on fashion today could be seen in the gothic dress by designer Robert Panciera. Saint Mary's Studley Royal Yorkshire Interior HDR shows how todays digital art is influenced by Gothic Art. In the second image, you can find glass stained windows, pointed arches, the buttress, the flying buttress, the pilgrims, and ribbed vaulting. These were the same elements used in Stained glass window from St. Etienne church in Bourges and Beauvais Cathedral.

Post 2: Ancient Greece Art

Ancient Greece art was created between 3500 BCE and 100 BCE. During this time, the Greeks focused on sculptures and architecture. Most of these were made from bronze or marble. Within these two key objects, they focused on an idealistic, but mythological theme. With this, most of their art was created using mythological figures such as the gods they believed in. Some of the gods were Zeus, Aphrodite, etc.  Each god represented different things, but they all had strong meaning to the Greeks and these gods led them in strongly in believing in a place called Olympia. The first sculpture Aphrodite of Melos, shows the influence that gods had on their art.

Aphrodite of Melos

Source: Here

Erechtheion

Source: Here

Besides for this, the Greeks also focused on architecture. They created temples with columns that were proportional. There were three columns they focused on. These were the doric order, ionic order, and corinthian order. The second image of the Erechtheion shows the architecture of the Ancient Greece art.

Dolce & Gabbana

2012

Source: Here

In the Spring Summer 2014 fashion show, Dolce&Gabbana used Ancient Greece art as an inspiration for the garments. Dolce&Gabbana called this collection "Dreaming of Olympus". This quote is the first key element that connects this collection to Ancient Greece Art. In the Aphrodite of Melos and Erechtheion, it is seen how important gods and temples were to the Greeks. They believed this is what Olympia was like. In this collection Dolce&Gabbana expresses their view point on what they believe Olympia would of looked like. In the case, Dolce&Gabbana believed that the gods would of looked idealistic like the models on the runway.
This is not the only element that connects this collection to Greece art. The use of the coins in the gold dress shows the ancient Greece coin. The dress next to it, shows the architecture inspiration taken from the temples such as the Erechteion. The columns in the garment represents a key element that was used in the architecture of Ancient Greece.

Post 1: Egyptian Art

Egyptian art was created between 3000 BCE to 100 BCE. At the time Egyptians were fascinated with the afterlife and they strongly believed in rituals. With this fact, Egyptians created works of art, especially 3-D figures. The 3-D figures were made from clay, wood, metal, stone, etc. These sculptures were always either cubed or frontal, but they all represented the theme of the afterlife and power or a divine person such as a pharaoh. We can also often find use of animals in their art as well, such a cat that was looked as a powerful animal.

Funerary Mask of Tutankhamun

Source: Here 

On these 3-D figures, Egyptians often liked to use rich gem colors such as reds, oranges, turquoise, and gold. Each color had meaning. In the Funerary Mask of Tutankhamun, we can see exactly the use of these colors. For some pieces these colors were painted, but in certain pieces like the one above, consisted of valuable gems. The piece above consists of gold inlaid with glass and semiprecious stones. The piece weighs 24 pounds and is about 54 cm tall. 

Since Egyptians were strong believers of the afterlife and power, they created this funerary mask for a pharaoh that existed a that time. It was used to resemble power and the after life. It used precious colors to create this.   

2012

Source: Here

Today, we look at Egyptian art in a different meaning. The Egyptians looked at their art as a symbol of the afterlife and power. We look at Egyptian art as one of the most aesthetic art periods. In the fashion industry we often look back at art periods for inspirations. In this 2012 collection, it is easily noticeable that is has been inspired by Egyptian Art. The use of the color palette of gold, white, orange, and turquoise shows it all. It shows the richness of the colors that were used in Egyptian art to resemble power and the afterlife. However there is one more key element in this collection. The use of the masks on the models faces shows it all. These masks resemble the funerary masks that were used in Egyptian art. Just like the Funerary Mask of Tutankhamun, these masks were mimicked to resemble it. They consisted of a similar form and it definitely shows the beard.

To be honest, I love the Egyptian art period. It is one of my favorite art periods because it is very interesting and there is just a mystery that surrounds it.

Introduction to Blog

In 2012, I entered LIM College as a freshman pursuing a career in visual merchandising in the fashion industry. Now it is 2014 and I am a soon to be first semester visual merchandising junior. Throughout these two years a lot has changed in my life. I came into LIM knowing nothing, but these past two years have taught me a lot. The important concept I have learned is that art is fashion and fashion is art. Art is a way of expressing yourself and so is fashion. Both work together correspondingly and as a visual merchandising student, I must say art has impacted fashion dramatically. Fashion looks back to all the different stylistic periods, artists, and forms of art for inspiration and creation. Therefore you can see that the history of art really impacts our fashion and everything we see around us. As a fashion student, I have put together a blog for you to see how true this is. We might have never noticed this, but it exists in everything we see.