Way before the first cities were ever supplied with electricity; art has already become an integral part of human history. Through the years, artists have shown the world numerous highly beloved works, many of which continue to be relevant for generations, introducing themselves to new audiences along the way. Thanks to these timeless works, the art world has since had more than a few artists for new and aspiring artists to look up to that would ultimately influence their works. With that said, today, we will be talking about a few of history’s greatest Western artists.
Paul Gauguin
During the earlier years of his life, Paul Gauguin already had quite a fondness for painting. Back when he was making investments as a stockbroker, Gauguin would spend most of his free time painting – he even showcased some of these works on exhibits. Not long after, he decided to work as a full-time artist. Although he didn’t garner much recognition throughout his life, Gauguin’s life and work were eventually acknowledged years after his unfortunate passing. Now well-known for pieces such as Still-Life with Fruit and Lemons, Self-Portrait ‘Les Misérables’, and Portrait of Madame Gauguin, the French artist has since inspired numerous artists over the years, two of whom are Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso.
Paul Klee
Throughout his childhood, Paul Klee displayed quite a talent for playing musical instruments. Although he was quite passionate about it at first, Klee eventually spent more of his time creating art by the time he reached his teenage years. Finishing his studies with a Fine Arts degree, Klee eventually became known for experimenting with the usage of color throughout his artworks. Along with these experimentations, the German artist also utilized his work as a creative outlet to express his humor, thoughts, and emotions, among other things. He has made 10,000 pieces throughout his career, including Death and Fire, The Twittering Machine, Winged Hero, and Affected Place.
Paul Cézanne
Despite his father wishing for him to become a lawyer, Paul Cézanne’s aspiration to become an artist was undoubtedly stronger. Often recognized for linking 19th century’s Impressionism with the at-the-time new art movement of the early 20th century, the French artist made quite a name for himself in the art scene for his keen eye for detail. For most of his artworks, Cézanne was fond of utilizing small and repetitive brushstrokes. Although it sounds pretty tedious, rest assured that the painter’s hard work and effort didn’t go to waste. Considered by the likes of Picasso as the “father of us all,” Cézanne’s many notable pieces include Landscape with Mill, Seascape, Landscape in the Ile de France, and Flowers in a Blue Vase.
Gustave Courbet
Although his first few paintings were inspired by literary works written by the likes of George Sand and Victor Hugo, Gustave Courbet eventually opted to base his subsequent works on observed reality. With his artworks often serving as some sort of social commentary, Courbet was given credit for depicting the less fortunate members of society in his paintings in the same way that’s often reserved for more high-profile figures. In the later years of his life, though, Courbet’s works became more personal in a way, mostly focusing on landscapes, seascapes, still lifes, and hunting scenes. With that said, a few of his well-known pieces include The Desperate Man (Self-Portrait), The Wheat Sifters, The Wave, The Vagabond, and The Stone Breakers.
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Thanks to his mother, Jean-Michel Basquiat discovered a passion for art at a young age. She’d often bring him along to local art museums and, not long after, enrolled Basquiat in an art school. Although he eventually left his studies unfinished, rest assured that his talents were far from gone. Since then, the graffiti and street art he made around the city soon garnered him some recognition. With that said, his hard work and investments are apparent in his many pieces, such as Bird on Money, Ashes, and Fishing. Sadly, though, his career was short-lived. Even so, the striking imagery and visual poetry apparent in all of Basquiat’s works is more than enough to keep his legacy going for the coming years.
Jackson Pollock
At this point, we’re all aware of the notion that the journey is just as important as the destination itself. Well, that saying is, to some degree, also suitable in the world of art. Jackson Pollock is a well-known figure in the artist community and is often synonymous with the abstract genre. For his numerous expressive works, Pollock does what has since been known as “action painting,” a technique where the artist utilizes their entire body to paint. Although some critics consider Pollock’s creations too random, that hasn’t hindered the artist and his art’s fame and appeal. In fact, in 2016, one of his paintings, Number 17A was sold at a private auction for an astounding price of $200 million!
Sources
Photo #1: YouTube
Photo #2: YouTube
Photo #3: Flickr
Photo #4: YouTube
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