What Is Forest Art?
Forest Art is a naturalist depiction which can be stylized or realistic in a work of art. This theme has been used for centuries by artists reaching back across time.
The significance behind this theme has led to the recognition of great naturalist artists of history.
Importance Of Recognizing Forest Art
The term of Forest Art is of itself rather new. The concept behind what it is though is much older. Today it is more of a term to define a category for clip art or other visual arts.
Artists of history often would incorporate Forest Art as one piece from a broader setting. Yet behind this love for Naturalism and Impressionism would evolve a path that allows everyone today to partake in its beauty.
For many artists of history they painted the forest simply because it was there. As an Impressionist or an artist who focused on the Realism of what surrounded them this would be quite natural.
What this gave was a unique perspective to the surroundings of the people in their time.
Modern arts use forest themes to create an idea of what they see as being magical, beautiful, and at times scary or ominous. Much like a book cover the art is meant to evoke an emotion in how the Forest Art is painted.
Historically though this was not the case. It was a real place where people lived. Their home, family, and livelihood was dependent upon this natural world.
The settings found within these historical works are not only beautiful but also capture a way of life.
Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet Forrest Art
Jean Courbet was a French painter who was born in 1819. He aided in leading the Realism movement of the 19th century. Artists such as Courbet dedicated themselves to only painting what they could see.
This mentality flew in the face of the Romanticism movement of their time. It also rejected the then present day academic positions within art.
The works of these men and women were seen as being on the fringe of the art society.
The work of Courbet uses many elements within his themes as long as they were found in a natural setting of some kind. Among the many themes he used was forest art.
While Courbet often used Naturalism and Realism his reason for choosing this type of art was rooted in his beliefs. He stated that no artist could capture history which had past, or the future of what would be.
Thus he rejected Romantic and Neoclassical arts.
Camille Pissarro Forrest Art
Pissarro was a Danish-French painter who was born in 1830. As an Impressionist painter he too was known for his use of Forest Art within his many works. He studied from those before him such as Gustave Courbet.
He founded a group of artists and became like a father to them as he led the Impressionist movement forward.
Pissarro was known for his ability to capture the common man rather than the idealistic virtues which Romanticism held.
His naturalist works were unique and truly masterpieces of his time. His use of trees and forest art aided in capturing the real life settings within which these people lived.
It was not merely from his imagination, but rather from real life.
What many do not know is that of the artists who Pissarro influenced some would rise to be among the most notable of history. Vincent Van Gogh studied under Pissarro and reflected upon his as a father within the arts.
Forrest Art Transitions Into The 20th Century
There would be other great Impressionist artist such as Monet that would rise through the latter part of the 1800’s out of the Victorian Era. While artists like Monet loved to paint naturalist settings often it would be of gardens, sea scapes, or settings within which people lived.
Like many impressionists they would paint what moved them. Some were focused more on the common settings which people surrounded themselves in.
Others enjoyed a greater focus on nature itself.
As the 20th century approached new ideas within art began to emerge as Art Nouveau and later Art Deco came to the front. What was Forest Art did not disappear, yet it did take some time for it to come back into the light.
As Impressionism became more mainstream and the ever moving front of what is called fringe art progressed, it was only natural that things change. Yet a great invention would forever change Forest Art and our ability to capture natural settings.
The Camera’s Adaptation To Forrest Art
While the first truly portable Kodak camera came to the public in 1888 it would take time for it to become a common household item. By the 1960’s each family had a camera of some kind.
As the dawn of the digital age came so did the digital camera. Suddenly very lightweight cameras made for easy transport in backpacks on the weekend hike.
Forest Art would step into a whole new age with an ability to truly capture the beauty of what it held.
Within the 21st century every individual who has a cell phone by default has a camera with them. This kind of ability would have been almost like a superpower to those like Monet, Pissarro, and Courbet.
The Forest Art captured today can be found commonly across the internet with all the beauty that can be imagined. New Media Art of many forms carry with it the beauty of what the forest brings us.
Why The Fascination With Forests?
The forest has always held fascination with people within every period of history. It could be a magical place that gives life. It also could be a dark and scary place to avoid.
It offered refuge for people seeking to create a life with their own hands. The forest also provided life through its ability to have a balanced ecosystem supporting animals of all types.
Our mythology holds stories of forests. Our science fiction places characters such as elves and magical beasts to be found within them.
It is a constant source of mystery for those explorers wanting to seek out what is hidden. Within this context its potential for art symbolism is endless.
Within our modern world and the technology which we possess much of the mystery from the past has been removed. Yet within human nature will forever reside some places that will retain that magical element of mystery.
Among these places are those like the ocean, caves, and of course a forest. There is a primal and instinctive connection to what once was.
As one looks on a forest it can evoke different emotions. One may feel fear, while another individual may feel like it is home.
Forest Art In Our Present Time
Forest Art today can be found broadly across the web. You can have it hung within your home by simply uploading an image to a site which will print to size on a canvass at your desire.
The days of older traditional arts have long ago been replaced.
The theme behind what it is still evokes much of the same emotions from the past though. There is no doubt that it will continue to do so in the future.
In our time we do have one unique advantage to the past.
While we have available at our fingertips the ability to capture what is before us with cameras we should also cherish history. Remembering the works of men like Pissarro and Monet become important.
There are elements which they have captured that go far beyond a mere forest. It also captured a way of life. It is a piece of what once was for a people that came before.