New York City in the 1970s was rough- high crime rates, dirty streets, and rampant drug use- but it was in this hotbed that a vibrant art scene flourished, giving birth to a new musical style: punk rock. Often called the birthplace of punk rock, CBGB was a music venue that opened on December 10th, 1973, in an old biker…
Art History
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Frida Kahlo painted Weeping Coconuts towards the end of her life, when her deteriorating health prevented her from painting larger more detailed compositions and she no longer wished to paint self portraits. She used the contents of this still life, namely the two large coconuts, as vehicles for expressing the intense emotions she was experiencing at the time. In this…
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Fernand Leger’s Soldiers Playing Cards exemplifies his goal as an artist to create works inspired by his specific moment in time, whilst also expressing his personal take on Cubism. The consequence is this unique, celebrated painting which portrays simultaneously, the human and the machine in the context of World War I. In this article, Singulart discusses Soldiers Playing Cards in…
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Nudes in the Forest is Fernand Léger’s first major work in his personal Cubist style, known as Tubism. His style was reflective of his optimism with regards to the industrialization and developments of modern life around him. In this article, Singulart takes a closer look at the artist’s life and his unique Cubist style in Nudes in the Forest. Who…
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Georgia O’Keeffe was inspired by the advances of Modern Art in Europe and most specifically by Wassily Kandinsky’s theories on the like between painting and music, which she explored further in Blue and Green Music. In this article, Singulart discusses Blue and Green Music in the context of O’Keeffe’s life and career. Who was Georgia O’Keeffe? Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) was…
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Edouard Manet’s last major painting A Bar at the Folies Bergere is a complex and intriguing composition that avoids singular interpretations. In this article, Singulart deciphers the details of this masterpiece and discusses the life of one of the forefathers of Modernism. Who was Edouard Manet? Edouard Manet (1832-1883) was a French modernist painter born in Paris to a wealthy…
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Edouard Manet’s Olympia caused great scandal in the 1860’s for its modern subject matter and its revolutionary treatment of that subject: the female nude. Today it is considered one of the masterpieces of modern painting and has influenced many generations of painters since. In this article, Singulart investigates the scandalous composition and its meaning and takes a closer look at…
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Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress is the first of Frida Kahlo’s many self-portraits and establishes many of their characteristics, from her style and symbolism to her expression of suffering and her personal experience. In this article, Singulart discusses Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress in the context of Frida Kahlo’s self portraiture and her life and legacy. Who was…
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Nichols Canyon marks a transition in David Hockney’s oeuvre from the swimming pools of the 1960’s to more varied panoramic Californian landscapes, concerned with portraying time and movement. In this article, Singulart discusses the composition of Nichols Canyon and Hockney’s life and love of California. Who is David Hockney? Born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 1937, Hockney attended the Royal…
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Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) is one of David Hockney’s most renowned paintings, which combines two of his most common motifs: the male figure and the swimming pool. In this article, Singulart discusses the story behind this masterpiece and its place in the context of Hockney’s life and career. Who is David Hockney? Born in Bradford, West…
