Picasso: Dove of Peace

“Everyone wants to understand art. 
Why don’t we try to understand the song of a bird? 
Why do we love the night, the flowers, everything around us, 
without trying to understand them? 
But in the case of a painting, people think they have to understand. 
If only they would realize above all that an artist works of necessity, 
that he himself is only an insignificant part of the world, 
and that no more importance should be attached to him
than to plenty of other things which please us in the world” 

Pablo Picasso

That's Questionable

A question that sparks curiosities... Were advertisement and entertainment posters of the 19th century considered decorative art?  Were they considered street art and did that mean graffiti which is equivalent to today's graffiti? Since they were a new form of art, what were the overall intentions and public opinions regarding them?  Did they decorate the streets or pollute them?

Bloody Beautiful!

In celebration for the season premier of DEXTER starting tomorrow night on Showtime, these wall murals scream bloody wonderful!  Blood as an art form?  Yes.  Dexter is a blood splatter expert (among other things) and these murals by PIXERS are sure to make your walls come alive!  The wallpaper graphics are a crossbreed of a Polanski horror film and a Pollock drip painting... horrifyingly genius.

PIXERS is a company that decided interior walls should be more than just a gallery space for famous history paintings (ahem...Mona Lisa).  So, a team from London started making graphic images to display as wall murals.  They showcase 20 million wall murals, prints, posters, and stickers on their website ranging from a variety of subjects for all ages.  Wallpaper comes in 4 different types of installation, from easy self-adhesive to manual vinyl install... but don't worry because they even have a 'how to install' video for all types.  There is also a program on their website that helps you view each mural in a room.

The best thing about this product is their Eco green printed stamp of approval.

I can't help but wonder what Dexter would say about this room...

Images via freshome design & architecture

"The Scam" A book poster

What did it mean being a woman in Paris during the 19th century?  How are the gender roles represented in art and are these representations accurate?  The most interesting illustrations of Parisian life are the lithographic posters of advertisements attributed to Jules Cheret, the father of the poster.  The 'real world' of bourgeois society had a clear distinction between genders and their roles in public and private spaces.  Men had freedom to appear equally in both public and private areas, whereas women were subjected to a domestic and private role.  It is of no surprise then to see women in the spotlight of most of the posters to feed the hunger of the male dominated voyeuristic public eye.

  

So, why do we see an equal number of men and women in this Jules Cheret poster?  Still we need to notice that the prominent figure giving a squeakish smirk is female!  Well, the French would understand from the title that this was an illustration for a book about people living in the fast lane written by Felicien Champsaur titled 'La Gomme' or a scam and le gommeux referring to swells or a cheap dandy... Well the dandies here are in their top hats frolicking around with women attached to their waists (prostitutes?), but who is deceiving who? That fiery redheaded female, tipping her feather hat, so much cleavage she could easily expose herself....but does she want to "expose" herself?  We will never know unless we read the book!!!

Happy Weekend!

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The History of the Poster

Where did the poster originate?  How did it survive?  Who were the Fathers of the poster, advertisements, and the art behind it?  What were they advertising? What were the social and political issues during this time?  What was the Belle Epoque?  

All my questions are answered in this creatively illustrated video by Yaneff Designs.

Parisian Pastimes

"Palais de Glace"

The French language sounds so elegant and yet whimsical at the same time.  These 19th century posters can be defined in the same fashion.  Jules Cheret and George Goursat were French artists who captured the Parisian atmosphere of ice skating during the 1900's, a popular pastime attributed to King Louis XVI.  Posters were a way of advertising iceskating venues, such as Champs-Elysee, with fashionable high society women in the spotlight.  Was this a device for merely rendering Parisian leisurely activities, or the dawn of high fashion advertisements?  

(Jules Cheret)

Jules Cheret (1836-1932) was a master of using the lithograph technique in his posters as a way of showing sheer happiness and flighty movement of these women; characteristics that synchronize the vivacity of iceskating. These lively women iceskaters, however, are not only showing off their best sit spins and backwards crossovers, but also doing them dressed to the nines!  The images are a clear illustration of 19th century's exquisite female performing everyday life with grace and beauty; a comparable image to today's fashionista's balletic walk down the high fashion streets of modern day Paris.  

(Georges Goursat)

Georges Goursat (1863-1934) used a technique called pochoir, french for stencil, which is a labor intensive way of using cutouts to apply color by hand during the print making process. Instead of using warm colors like Cheret above to indicate a sense of warmth and happiness, Goursat creates a chilling atmosphere with cool grays and negative space to represent icey-whites.  The joyfulness is still created by the S-curve of the woman skater facing away from the viewer as if she is finishing a swirly spin that we can follow by the carving of the ice below her. I think one of the main objectives of these posters is to entice the public into the spirited life of Parisians, especially during a time of female entertainers of Montmarte cabaret!

To Be Colorful

Today... choose to be colorful!  Not just muted or tinted, but bright, bold, and beautiful!  Make a statement with striking hues that will cheer up your day.  Don't be afraid to mix up your color wheel and do not feel like you have to match everything!  Make it your own colorful creation.  Start with an old chair and revamp it with new lustrous fabric...illuminate your windows even more with drapery to compliment the natural shining light...or if all else is done already, BE CREATIVE and paint your own masterpiece to set your walls ablaze!  

                               What does is mean to be colorful?  Be yourself! 

Italian Desgin: Palazzo Gorgoni in Puglia

Located in a 18th century city, Galatina, Italy, this charming Baroque palazzo exudes historic character, contemporary living and artistic touches.  Palazzo Gorgoni features a grand entry courtyard, pool courtyard with hydromassage corner, roof top terrace with amazing views, wonderfully preserved marble staircase and architecture, contemporary steel kitchen, luxurious bedrooms and baths with charming artwork and much, much more!  

OH!  Not to mention that this one of a kind Italian palazzo is exclusively for rent! Think Puglia has all the details.  It sleeps 16 people and ranges in price from $16,070.  To me it looks well worth the price for a one of a kind Italian experience with 16 friends!  

Images via 1kindesign