The Art Space

Symbolism was an artistic movement that originated with a group of French poets in the late 19 th Century. The movement came into existence with an expression of an idea over the realistic description of the natural world. The term ‘symbolism’ was coined in 1886 by French critic Jean Moreas to describe the poetry of Stephane Mallarmi and Paul Verlaine. The concept of symbolism was incorporated in visual arts, to depict the natural world using symbols as metaphors. Symbolist artists aim to depict various forms of expressions and emotions using varied symbols. The work of symbolist artists and writers was also fueled by new psychological content particularly erotic and mystical. Common themes included: love, fear, anguish, death, sexual awakening and unrequited desire. Though the movement began in France, symbolism was an international avant garde movement that spread across Europe and America during the last two decades of the 19 th Century.       The use of symbolism ...

“I wanted to work with my hands and do something that involved both the hands and the mind (technology). So, I chose Ceramics”. P R Daroz, an Indian Ceramist known for his bold and innovative techniques is considered to be one of the most gifted and versatile artists in Indi. Daroz was the first person from Telangana t o study ceramics at MSU, baroda. Though he had not worked on the potter’s wheel, he was accepted in the ceramics Programme at the University with a scholarship because he had studied Applied Art and Design. The artist is responsible to give ceramics prominence as an art form in India in a way no one had quite succeed in doing before him. Daroz has experienced with a wide range of materials and mediums to create a variety of finely crafted ceramic works in his unique style. In the beginning of his career, Daroz created several series of vessel forms. Subsequently, he slowly began expanding and diversifying his interest towards architectural ceramics. Daroz believes ...

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls”. Pablo Ruiz Picasso was born on 25th October 1881 in Spain. He was considered to be one of the most important and dominant art figures of 20th Century.   Picasso is also known as the Father of Cubism as he pioneered the concept of Cubism in the world of art. Other than cubism he also made notable contributions to Surrealism and known to have invented Collage art.   Picasso intermittently travelled between Paris and Spain until 1904, during this period his artworks suggested a feeling of darkness and desolation. His earliest artistic phase is known as the Blue Phase, featuring motifs from everyday Parisian life, these motifs were significant as they implicated the poverty and loneliness. The artist demonstrated extra ordinary artistic talent in his early years, his style of transitioned during his course of art practice.   Picasso was fairly experimental with his art hence created painted different ...

Realism was an artistic movement that began in 1950s in France. The movement was started with an aim to depict things as they originally were. The term ‘Realism’ was coined by French novelist Frent Champfleury in the 1840s and in art it was used in the work of his friend painter Gustav Courbet. He is considered to be the most prominent leading figure of the movement. He constructed the basis on which the movement was built. Another important realist painted who pioneered the movement was Jean -Francois Millet, he created paintings comprising of everyday subjects like farmers, working class people etc. Realist painters rejected the ideal of ideal portrayal of the subject rather chose to paint the ordinary scenes and lifestyle of people of 19 th century. The subjects in their artworks included scenes of peasants, city, streets, cafes etc. The movement of realism can be considered as the beginning of Modern art with France being its epicenter, however, the movement quickly spread throu...

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...