columbus
Washington Irving was an American Romantic writer, historian, and diplomat.
Irving has been called "the first American writer" to be recognized in Europe. In 1815, he traveled to England on family business. A huge success in England and the United States was The Sketch Book, published in several installments during 1819-1820, which contained two of the author's most famous works, Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and which made him a literary star in both England and the United States.
He continued his literary endeavors and worked at the U.S. Embassy of Great Britain. Returning to the United States in 1832, Irving visited some little-known territories near the western fringes of the country, and this journey inspired his works Journey on the Prairie (1835), Astoria (1836), and The Adventures of Captain Bonneville (1837). Late in life he published several historical and biographical works, including the five-volume Life of George Washington (1855-1859).
Joel Barlow was an American statesman, diplomat, French politician and poet.
A graduate of Yale University, he briefly served as a chaplain in the Revolutionary Army. In 1784, Barlow founded the American Mercury, a weekly newspaper in Hartford, Connecticut, and was admitted to the bar in 1786. Along with John Trumbull and Timothy Dwight, he was a member of the Hartford Witters, a group of young writers.
Joel Barlow's fame was brought to him by his poetic work The Vision of Columbus (1787). It is a dialog between Christopher Columbus and an angel and covers the entire history of America to the end of the American Revolution. The poem was signed by many leading figures of the time, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, and was popular on both sides of the Atlantic. The author later reworked the poem into a more cynical epic called Columbiad.
In 1788, Barlow traveled to France as an agent for the Scioto Land Company and persuaded a group of Frenchmen to emigrate to America, who eventually founded the town of Gallipolis, Ohio. In Paris he became a liberal in religion and an advanced republican in politics; he took part in the French Revolution and was granted French citizenship.
In the literary field, Barlow is also known for his work The Hasty Pudding (1796). It is a humorous poem inspired by a longing for New England and cornmeal, containing vivid descriptions of rural scenes.
In 1795-97. Barlow was sent to Algeria on a diplomatic mission and returned to the United States in 1805. In 1811 he was appointed U.S. plenipotentiary to France. Barlow participated in Napoleon's retreat from Russia and died in Poland.
Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser was an Austrian visual artist and architect who also worked in the field of environmental protection.
Hundertwasser stood out as an opponent of "a straight line" and any standardization, expressing this concept in the field of building design. His best known work is the Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna, which has become a notable place of interest in the Austrian capital, characterised by imaginative vitality and uniqueness.
Roy Fox Lichtenstein, an American icon of the Pop Art movement, is celebrated for his comic strip-inspired art. Born in 1923 in New York City, Lichtenstein's journey into the art world was marked by various phases, evolving from Cubism and Abstract Expressionism to the distinctive Pop Art style he is renowned for.
Roy Lichtenstein's artistic career gained momentum in the 1960s, a period during which he embraced the comic strip as his primary source of inspiration. His pioneering use of Ben-Day dots, a technique borrowed from commercial printing, became his signature style, bringing a new visual language to fine art. His approach transformed mundane subjects from popular culture into compelling fine art, challenging traditional notions of artistry.
Among his most notable works, "Drowning Girl" (1963), displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, exemplifies his iconic style with its bold lines, vivid colors, and Ben-Day dots. This piece, along with others like "Look Mickey" and "Whaam!", played a critical role in establishing Pop Art as a major art movement, contrasting starkly with the Abstract Expressionism prevalent at the time.
Roy Lichtenstein's art was not just limited to canvas; he explored multiple media, showcasing his versatility. His shift to Pop Art marked a significant turn in his career, bringing him fame and controversy alike. His works, often based on comic strips and advertisements, were both a parody and homage to the mass-produced, consumerist culture of his time.
For art collectors and experts, Lichtenstein's works offer a fascinating glimpse into a transformative era in art history. His approach to Pop Art remains influential, and his works are celebrated worldwide for their innovative and provocative style.
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