The Familiar Strangers

As artists, designers and illustrators, we constanstly need to seach for inspiration from the past. And there are some artists born a century ago producted distinct artworks in their period, so memorable and innovative that their influrence are still found in nowadays art and design and still considered flesh.

1) EGON SCHIELE

Egon Schiele (1890 - 1918)

Nationality: Austiran

Movement: Expressionism

Field: Painting

Biography

Sitzender weiblicher Akt, self portrait, self portrait, Girls, Mädchen

Schiele’s work is built on drawing, rather than painting, often using very thin washes of color in only parts of an artwork. Painters should look at his work to see how much can be conveyed with little detail, for instance how just painting a face and a hand can still give a sense of the body between them.

Influrence for today artworks:

Art works by Yoshitomo Nara, Aitor Throup, Zissu, Tania Cecilliano

2) MAX ERNST

Max Ernst (1891 - 1976)

Nationality: German

Movement: Surrealism

Field: Painting, Sculture, Poetry

Biography

The Fireside Angel, The Temptation of St. Anthony, The Elephant Celebes, Ubu Imperator, The Virgin Spanking the Christ Child before Three Witnesses

Max was one of the leading advocates of irrationality in art, and an originator of the Automatism movement of Surrealism. His youthful interests were psychiatry and philosophy, but he abandoned his studies at the University of Bonn for painting. After his return to France in 1949, his work became less experimental: he spent much time perfecting his modeling technique in traditional sculptural materials.

Influrence for today artworks:

Art works by Espira, Charmaine Olvia, Unknown Artist, Brian Despain

3) NORMAN ROCKWELL

Norman Rockwell (1894 - 1978)

Nationality: American

Movement: Realism

Field: Painting, Illustration

Biography

The Four Freedoms, Rosie the Riveter, The Golden Rule, Triple Self Portrait, The Girl at the Mirror, The Problem We all Live With

Norman was extremely realistic. His real success came in his ability to put everyday life, real slices, into his pictures. Some of them bring a tear to viewer’s eye just thinking about them. His Four Freedoms and the Grandmother and grandson praying in the diner.

Influrence for today artworks:

Art works by Unknown Artist, Rozefire, Breakadawn, Unknown Artist

4) JOAN MIRO

Joan Miró i Ferrà (1893 - 1983)

Nationality: Spanish

Movement: Surrealism, Dada

Field: Painting, Sculpture, Mural, Ceramics

Biography

The Carnival of Harlequin, The Tilled Field, Still Life with Old Shoe, The Gold of the Azure, Dog Barking at the Moon, Ciphers and Constellations, in Love with a Woman

Although Miró is most closely associated with this movement, it was not a classification he used to describe his work. Additionally, his style progressed quickly beyond Surrealism during the 1920’s, and became ever more abstract with the passing decades. He is best known for his prolific output of paintings (some 2,000, in all), many of which contain playful, colorful organic shapes.

Influrence for today artworks:

Artworks by Mike Perry, Human Empire, Edcard Scoot, Jilf

5) WASSILY KANDINSKY

Василий Кандинский (1866 - 1944)

Nationality: Russian

Movement: Expressionism, Abstract Art

Field: Painting

Biography

Composition IV, Sketch for Composition II, With Black Arch, Contrasting Sounds, Composition VIII, Composition X

Often called the “Father of Abstract Art”, Kandinsky trained as a lawyer in his native Russia, but discovered his true calling was in art. He went on to found the group Der Blaue Reiter and taught at the Bauhaus, always writing prolifically on the connections between art, music and spirituality (and found time to marry again). Much of his work was destroyed, as “degenerate”, by the Nazi party.

Influrence for today artworks:

Art works by Radim Malinic, Unknown Artist, Icecreamforfree, Mirlam Bossard

TO BE CONTINUED in Part 2

References:

http://arthistory.about.com

http://en.wikipedia.org

http://www.artcyclopedia.com

http://behance.net

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/