The Art Space

Cubism is regarded as one of the most important and famous art movements. The revolutionary approach was pioneered in around 1907-08 by artist Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. The cubist style of painting emphasized on producing two-dimensional view on canvas. The cubist artist challenged the existing concept of that art should be limited to nature, landscape etc. The primary objective was to abandon the figurative portrayals and other genres of art. This aspect along with its unique evolution and lasting influence has made cubism one of the most celebrated art forms of 20 th Century.   Cubist painters incorporated geometric designs and forms as their subjects. Cubism was partly inspired by the late work of artist Paul Cezanne where he can be seen painting things from different angles and point of view. While Picasso and Braque are credited with creating this new visual language, it was adopted and further developed by many painters, including Fernand Léger, Robert and Soni...

One of India’s best known contemporary painters F. N. Souza was born in 1924, Saligoa (a Portugese colony) in a small town in the state of Goa.  F.N Souza founded the progressive artist’s group along with SH Raza, MF Husain, Akbar Padamsee in year 1947. The objective was to advocate the concept of Modern Indian art. His early works depict the scenes and people of his native place. His initial works were greatly influenced by his Goan roots and featured women, markets, rice fields, priests, churches and homes. During the year of 1948, Souza’s paintings were displayed in London and later on he moved there. The influence of art movements like Expressionism and Art Brut are very clearly visible in his style of work. The artist painted a wide range of subjects throughout his life. Souza’s bold choices of colours and subjects often challenged the thought process of its viewer. He often used distorted figures to depict the harsh realities of life. It was in 1950s & 60s, When Souza...

Surrealism emerged as one of the most popular movement in visual art and literature. The movement was founded by the port Andre Breton in Paris in 1924. The term ‘ Surrealist’ suggesting ‘beyond reality’ was coined by the French avant-garde poet ‘Guilaume Apollinaire’ in the preface to a play performed in 1917. The intent of surrealism was to liberate thought, language and human experience from the oppressive boundaries of rationalism. During 1920s, Visual artists continued exploring surrealist concepts in art, obtaining complete creative freedom. The artists of that time experimented with a new mode of expression called- automatic writing or automatism, which sought to release the unbridled imagination of the subconscious. Since its inception, the ideas and art associated with Surrealism have been disseminated, embraced and re-imagined through international networks of exchange and collaboration. Surrealism's core ideas and themes have been adapted and deemed relevant to diffe...

"I paint self portraits because I am so often alone, I am the person I know best".  Widely known for her passion, pain and self portraits Frida Kahlo is one of the most celebrated artists of Mexico. Kahlo had a troubled childhood, as a child she suffered from Polio that left her with a slight limp. In another incident, Frida Kahlo nearly died in a bus accident as a teenager. She suffered multiple fractures of her spine, collarbone, ribs, a shattered pelvis, broken foot and dislocated shoulder. In her lifetime, the artist had 30 operations. During her recovery period, Kahlo began to focus heavily on painting. She created almost 200 paintings in her lifetime. The primary subjects of her paintings were still life and portraits of herself, family and friends. In meticulously executed paintings, Kahlo portrayed herself again and again. She created the first self portrait in year 1926, where she can be seen wearing a velvet dress. It was painted in the style of the 19th century...

Land Art or Earth Art is an Art Movement that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s. The origins of the movement are majorly associated with Great Britain and the United States of America. The term ‘Land Art’ means a piece of art created directly in the landscape using the natural materials such as rocks, stones, twigs, leaves etc. Some artists use mechanical earth moving equipment to make their art pieces while some use site specific temporary intervention in the landscapes. The works usually exist in the open, located well away from civilization left to change and erode under natural conditions. Artists creating the installations usually document their works, step by step process using photographs, videos, films, documentaries and maps to exhibit in the galleries or the museums. The concept behind the birth of land art was to build an alternative mode of artistic expression and ways to remove art from the commercial system. The pioneer artists behind the emergence of the Earth Art / L...

‘Impressionism’ is an art movement that emerged in France in the 19th Century. The founding impressionist artists were Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Alfred Sisley and others. The entire concept of the movement was to capture the accurate depiction of the natural light and shadow. Impressionist artists preferred to paint outdoors instead of their studios. The key characterization included visible and small brushstrokes, impersonating the subject in its true light. Their subjects significantly comprised of the landscapes and scenes of everyday life. Impressionist painters could not afford to wait for France to accept their work, so they established their own exhibition—apart from the annual salon organized by the Académie. During the latter part of 1873, Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, and Sisley organized the Société Anonyme Coopérative des Artistes Peintres, Sculpteurs, Graveurs (“Cooperative and Anonymous Association of Painters, Sculptors, and Engravers”) to exhibit their artworks independentl...

Finding the right frame for your artwork is a crucial step once you choose the piece of art that you love. Framing is an art in itself and choosing the right frame can enhance the complete look of the painting. After investing a considerable amount of time and money into finding that perfect art piece one cannot go wrong with the frame.  A frame can either enhance the artwork or become a distraction. Hence, Here are a few steps on how to choose the right frame for your artwork:  Material and Medium - Know your medium Material of the frame and medium of the artwork are two deciding factors in choosing the correct frame. Frames are available in many varieties and the choices are endless hence a buyer must understand how to find the perfect balance. Every artwork is different therefore its framing requirements will vary too. Prints or paper works will require a different style of framing than oil or acrylic paintings. Colors - It is all about the right colors  It is importan...