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Salon de la Princesse by Germain Boffrand (architect) and Charles Joseph Natoire (painter), 1735-39, at the Hôtel de Soubise, Paris. European Art in the 18th Century.

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Salon de la Princesse by Germain Boffrand (architect) and Charles Joseph Natoire (painter), 1735-39, at the Hôtel de Soubise, Paris. European Art in the 18th Century.

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Theme: How the use of gold in art has changed through the ages.

European art in the 18th century was being made during an era known as “The Age of Enlightenment”, which spanned from 1685 to 1815. The scientific advancements made during the previous decades were the basis for much of the inspiration for the art from this era. One of the styles that defined this period was Rococo art, known for its use of pastel colors and fanciful architecture indicative of the wealthy class. I personally enjoy the playful yet elegant aspects of the Rococo style. For this project I’m analyzing how gold has been used in art throughout the ages. This particular work incorporates it into the medium of architecture. The gold design adorning the ceiling speaks to the great scope of this building, it contrasts against the dull blue of the sky. One thing gold in art has consistently been used for through the ages is as a signifier of power and wealth. The Rococo style was no different in this application of the gold color. Gold frames can help emphasize the importance of the painting within them as it adds a layer of fanciness to the experience of looking at it. Adding to spectacle is something gold works really well for. Something very distinctly rococo about this work is the almost floral looking designs of the gold decorating the ceiling and walls.

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Sake Ewer (Hisage) with Chrysanthemums and Paulownia Crests in Alternating Fields, 18th century (Momoyama period), (The Metropolitan Museum of Art), lacquered wood with gold hiramaki-e and e-nashiji (“pear-skin picture”) on black ground. Asia 1400-1800

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Sake Ewer (Hisage) with Chrysanthemums and Paulownia Crests in Alternating Fields, 18th century (Momoyama period), (The Metropolitan Museum of Art), lacquered wood with gold hiramaki-e and e-nashiji (“pear-skin picture”) on black ground. Asia 1400-1800

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This teapot originates from early 17th century Japan, and is identifiable with its designs' use of silhouetted flowers from springtime. A defining characteristic of Japanese art from this period is a strong connection to the seasons. The design contrasts the gold flowers with partially black and a partially orangish rusty color behind them. This pots design is adorned with flowers which evokes the lushness of springtime, even the bottom of the handle features flowers. Something that is shared between this and the use of gold in the rococo architecture is the color signifying decadence and beauty. The gold of the flower highlights its importance to the piece and evokes a similarly high class quality, which is something of a commonality shared between this work and how it’s used in the rococo art. It differs from the rococo style in application of the material, however, as in this period gold is used more in pottery than in architecture. It also differs in that the use of gold in this pot is meant to emphasize designs related to the seasons, while in rococo art it’s more to signify things related to religion.

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Old Man’s Cloth (El Anatsui), 2003, aluminum and copper wire, (Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville, FL)

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Old Man’s Cloth (El Anatsui), 2003, aluminum and copper wire, (Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville, FL)

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Unit: African Art in the 21st Century

El Anatsui was one child of 32 and grew up with his uncle who was a Presbyterian minister and a devout Christian who tried to raise Anatsui to similarly hold these beliefs, but Anatsui eventually became accustomed to his ancestral traditions. Anatsui’s art is abstract but the strange shapes they take seem to express a desire for freedom, and part of this ties into how he uses color. The gold in this piece stands in interesting contrast with some of the other pieces as it’s used in an almost ethereal way here, to create a strange juxtaposition with the naturalistic shape of the work, which is something we would associate with earthy colors. This contrast is what gives the work it’s unique feeling even compared to other works that use gold throughout art history, as many of them use gold in a more structured form either mimicking paintings like the sides of the Sake Ewer or for architectural purposes like in Salon De La Princesse. The commonality these all share is how gold is used to look decadent and fancy.

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The Kiss, Gustav Klimt, 1907–8. Oil and gold leaf on canvas. (Belvedere, Vienna.)

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The Kiss, Gustav Klimt, 1907–8. Oil and gold leaf on canvas. (Belvedere, Vienna.)

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Unit: 19th Century Art

His father was a goldsmith. Gold used in new expressive levels. Gold and oil paint mixed together. Gold was added with an adhesive.

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Gold is often used in art to symbolize wealth, and is associated with high class elegance and beauty. Throughout the ages it has been used in different forms, with some commonalities in its application over time. Gold has been used in architecture for the extremely wealthy, used symbolically in paintings, and used in pottery as a color to show decadence. Gold leaf has been applied as a background for painters for decades. The richness and power of this color has drawn many artists from different backgrounds and cultures to incorporate it into their work. I am going to be taking a look at 4 interesting works from around the globe and explaining how gold is used in the work, and both similarities and differences between each piece.

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From European art in the 18th century to African art in the 21st century gold has been applied in many ways throughout the ages. Salon de la Princesse used gold in a grand piece of architecture, Sake Ewer used it to show the beauty of nature, The Kiss used it to show divinity, and Old Man’s Cloth used it abstractly. All of these works applied gold to bring attention to their decadence and to draw the viewer into their unique compositions and ideas. One aspect of exploring art history I find interesting is finding similarities across different works of art made by people from drastically different backgrounds, even when expressing ideas very differently, and analyzing use of color is no different. You can understand a part of what an artist was feeling or thinking at a given time by looking at their art, and as such you can learn more about other people.