Still Life with an Open Drawer
Paul Cezzanne
1877-1879

I think that this painting represents Cezzanne the most because he wanted to make Impressionism "something solid and durable, like the art in the museums." He disregarded the external appearance of his subject for balance and harmony of colors. The ratio of warm and dark colors are balanced and his brush- stroke technique creates a rhythm that seems to vibrate throughout the painting. He accomplished the solid and balanced painting that he desired.

Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
Georges Seurat
1884-1886

This painting best represents Seurat because it blends together all of his theories; it is also his most well-known. He used a method called "pointism" in which the colors of the painting are not blended and appear as dots. The viewer of the painting blends the colors together with their eyes by standing at a distance away from the painting. Seurat also believed that certain colors and lines could influence a mood. In this painting, he primarily uses warm colors and upsweeping lines to give the painting a pleasant mood. He balances the warm colors with shadow to create a feeling of calm.


The Spirit of the Dead Keep Watch
Paul Gauguin
1892

This painting best represents Gauguin's symbolic style. He rejected all Western ideas about painting and reverted back to primitism. This painting illustrates his interest with spirituality and passion for the bold works of "primal" art. Ironically, his paintings became "en vogue" and sought after by rich art dealers and the materialistic westerners he so disliked.