Art History 101

By Mary Savig
December 19, 2011

I learned about the history of art in a dark class room, straining to hear the professor’s voice over the hum of slide projectors. I’ll admit that given the circumstances, I occasionally nodded off. But I can’t complain, because the great thing about art is that it’s relatively easy on the eyes, especially during the holiday season. Art is a respite from the visual bombardment of your neighbor’s attempt to outdo Clark Griswold’s light display, the onslaught of wacky holiday sweaters in department stores, and even the sting of mace in your eyes from a less than festive shopper.

Strolling through a museum is always a welcome activity, but I find it even more exciting to stumble upon a handmade holiday card while conducting research at the Archives of American Art. Within hundreds of collections are imaginative holiday cards that express the artistic idioms of their creators. Many artists found inspiration from the history of art for their annual holiday cards. With these cards as my evidence, I present a history of art that you won’t find in stuffy classrooms: *


Early Christian

Christmas card from Don Baum
Don Baum Christmas card to Kathleen Blackshear, 19-- . Kathleen Blackshear and Ethel Spears papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

During the Romanesque and Byzantine periods, depictions of the Virgin and Child were hardly flattering. Don Baum, a key figure of the Chicago Imagist movement, was especially drawn to these inimitable Christian icons.  For his holiday collage to fellow Chicago artists, Kathleen Blackshear and Ethel Spears, he enlivened a clipping of the dour looking duo by sketching them in a cozy nest. At least Baum’s composition explains why the Baby Jesus appears to be hanging onto his mother for dear life.


Northern Renaissance

Christmas card from Heidi Everhart
Heidi Everhart Christmas card to David Ireland, 1993 Dec. 9 . David Ireland papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

The Archangel Michael was the Leonardo DiCaprio of the Renaissance period because angels flocked to him. The only difference is that today’s angels are of the Victoria’s Secret variety. In a holiday card to installation artist David Ireland, Heidi Everhart digitally plucked angels from Renaissance paintings to create her own composition. At the center of the card is Jan van Eyck’s inimitable portrayal of the Archangel Michael in his magnum opus, The Ghent Altarpiece .


Italian Renaissance

Holiday card Julia Thecla
Julia Thecla holiday card to Kathleen Blackshear and Ethel Spears, 19-- . Kathleen Blackshear and Ethel Spears papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

During the Renaissance period, cherub models unionized for better working conditions. As a result, painters like Raphael had to provide breaks for the winged models of his masterpiece, Sistine Madonna. While on break, the cherubs let loose by smoking cigarettes and drinking wine. Chicago artist Julia Thecla painted these off-duty cherubs on her holiday card to Kathleen Blackshear and Ethel Spears.


Impressionism

Santa Claus as “The Thinker”
Ralph Fabri Christmas card with Santa Claus as “The Thinker”, 1939 . Dale Pontius papers relating to Ralph Fabri, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

During the Impressionist period, sculptor Auguste Rodin earned acclaim for his work, The Thinker. According to the history books, this work depicts a philosopher deep in thought. But as artist Ralph Fabri reveals in his holiday etching, Rodin really based his work on a ponderous Santa Claus.

 

Expressionism

Santa in Van Gogh's bedroom
Arturo Rodríguez to Helen L. Kohen, circa 1980-1999 . Helen L. Kohen papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Van Gogh’s vivid painting of his bedroom at Arles is one of the finest examples of Expressionism. Indeed, the room was so disconcerting to its contemporary audience that when Santa Claus entered in 1888 to deliver Van Gogh’s gift—a pair of ear muffs—he temporarily lost his balance and had to sit down. Cuban American painter Arturo Rodriguez portrayed this little told story on his holiday postcard to Miami journalist Helen Kohen.

 

Cubism

Christmas card from Louise Nevelson
Louise Nevelson Christmas card to Elise Asher and Stanley Kunitz, 1960 Dec. 20 . Elise Asher papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Primarily known for his provocative Cubist paintings, Picasso also earned critical acclaim for his Blue and Rose Periods. Art historians have recently discovered paintings from Picasso’s less known Prude Period in which he censored many of his prior masterpieces. For the holidays of 1960, sculptor Louise Nevelson sent poets Elise Asher and Stanley Kunitz her own interpretation of Picasso’s Prude Period.

How might artists illustrate art of the twenty–first century? Time will tell. Let’s just hope Damien Hirst stays away from Rudolph. Happy holidays from the Archives of American Art!

* because most of it is untrue.


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Mary Savig is an Archives Specialist in the curatorial department. Her book, Season’s Greetings: Handmade Holiday Cards by 20th Century Artists will be published by Smithsonian Books in 2012.

Comments

Great post!

this is a very interesting post!

LOL @ Picasso’s Prude Period... ;)
btw my Art History class was never stuffy. Had an awesome teacher by the name of Yates Evans.

I love the Italian Renaissance. Great post and some nicely chosen examples.

Nice blog, i love this article and image, happy holiday

Artwork created by ancient artists was mind blowing and we cant find the similar skillful artwork now days, it is quite difficult to match with the famous artists, because they put their life on hold just for art and culture.

Art is one of that thing which bring light in my soul..Thanks for these awesome pictures!

Interesting to see the different cultural and generational influences in each painting. The abstract concepts are certainly thought provoking!

I've always had a difficult time accepting abstract art. I don't get it, I guess. Always preferred the type of art where the painter would create an image as realistic as possible, preferrably without being actually realistic.

I am great art lover and I really enjoyed your post. Thank you for making my day a little bit better!

Good info. I will keep on coming back to read such high quality posts. Thanks!

Such a post is what I've been looking for as you
have detailed the necessary information on the topic.

I am art lover so A good painting to me has always been like a friend. It keeps me company, comforts and inspires. Thanks for sharing a good post on artwork and I hope you will share more.

There is something inspiring about this blog. i just love the pictures-i would say it is more than illbieusions of art

thank you for information.

Good essay on art history.

I have enjoyed this article. Your writer has piqued my interest and given me plenty to think about from the alternative views that were presented.