room to move
Joan Mitchell was an American painter, celebrated for her pivotal role in the Abstract Expressionist movement. Born in Chicago in 1925, Mitchell's work transcends the traditional boundaries of art, blending intense emotion with a deeply personal use of color and gesture. Her canvases are vast arenas where light, color, and texture merge to evoke landscapes, memories, and emotions. Unlike many of her contemporaries, Mitchell's art was not just about the act of painting but about capturing the essence of her experiences and emotions, making her a unique voice in 20th-century art.
Mitchell's paintings, characterized by their vibrant colors and dynamic brushstrokes, have been exhibited in some of the world's most prestigious museums and galleries. Notable works like "Hudson River Day Line" and "Bracket" found homes in institutions such as the Denver Art Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), respectively. These pieces exemplify Mitchell's ability to convey the complexity of nature and emotion, bridging the gap between abstract expressionism and the lyrical landscapes that inspired her.
Despite her critical acclaim, Mitchell's work was initially overshadowed by her male peers, selling for a fraction of their value. However, the 21st century has seen a significant reassessment of her contributions, with her paintings now commanding millions at auction. This shift is part of a broader reevaluation of women and minority artists in the art historical canon, reflecting changing perspectives on gender and creativity. Collectors and experts in art and antiques now recognize Joan Mitchell as a titan of post-war American painting, whose works continue to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.
For those intrigued by the legacy of Joan Mitchell and the dynamic world of abstract expressionism, we invite you to sign up for updates. Our subscription service will keep you informed about new product sales and auction events related to Joan Mitchell's art, offering exclusive insights into one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
Charles Dickens, full name Charles John Huffam Dickens, is the most famous British writer of the Victorian era, a classic of world literature.
From childhood the future writer learned all the hardships of life in poverty: his father in prison for debts, hard work in a factory. Then service stenographer in court and reporter developed in him a strong attachment to journalism and contempt for both the law and parliament.
Dickens had many talents: in addition to literary work, he was an actor, published periodicals, arranged numerous literary readings, where he reveled in the admiration and love of the public. Fecund and versatile, Charles Dickens wrote many brilliant and often comic works. His novels cover a wide range of social, moral, emotional and other aspects. As a subtle psychologist, he is also very interested in the most ordinary people, but also the eccentric, the flawed, and even the insane.
Dickens was immensely popular around the world during his lifetime. His intellect, worldview, and deep reflections on society and its faults enriched his novels and made him one of the great figures of nineteenth-century literature, an influential spokesman for the conscience of his time.
Dickens' best-known and most popular novels are The Pickwick Club Posthumous Notes, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, Cold House, A Tale of Two Cities, Our Mutual Friend, Great Expectations, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
Theo van Doesburg, real name Christian Emil Marie Küpper, is a Dutch painter, architect and sculptor, art theorist, co-founder of the Style Group and of Neoplasticism.
Theo van Doesburg co-founded with Piet Mondrian the De Stijl abstract art movement. The basis of van Doesburg's views was the attempt to reduce all forms of objective harmony in a work of art to certain geometric elements. These new principles soon had a significant influence on the development of architecture, literature, graphics and music.
George Washington is the first popularly elected president of the United States of America and one of the founding fathers of the United States.
Born into a noble family in colonial Virginia in February 1732, George Washington served as a Virginian officer with British troops during the French-Indian War (1754-1763) from 1754-1758. This was a territorial war fought largely between the colonies of Britain and France that escalated into a worldwide conflict between the two countries. J. Washington was at the center of the conflicts in the disputed Ohio River Valley area.
In June 1775, he was elected commander-in-chief of the Continental forces in the war already for independence from Great Britain. He commanded American troops throughout the war, becoming famous for his perseverance and bravery.
In 1787, J. Washington represented the state of Virginia as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. This convention created the Constitution of the United States. In 1789, the Electoral College unanimously elected George Washington president, and in 1792 he was re-elected for a second term. Thus George Washington was in office as President of the United States from April 30, 1789 to March 4, 1797.
As head of state, he helped to strengthen the Union, implement the principles of the Constitution and build the capital of the United States. He was engaged in the formation of the central authorities and system of government, created precedents for the institution of presidents, encouraged the development of the economy, maintained friendly relations with Congress. In foreign policy Washington avoided interference in the affairs of European states.
After leaving the post of president, George Washington lived in Mount Vernon Manor.
William Shakespeare was a British poet and playwright and writer.
William's father, John Shakespeare, was a merchant and official in Stratford. There are reports that he was a sailor for a time before joining a theater company in London. Beginning in the 1590s, Shakespeare began writing plays, and in 1593 he published a poem, Venus and Adonis, which became popular. He dedicated it to the Duke of Southampton, who was a philanthropist and patron of talent, and soon his business was booming.
From 1592 to 1600 Shakespeare wrote his dramas and romantic comedies "Richard III", "The Taming of the Shrew", "Romeo and Juliet", "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Merchant of Venice", as well as the comedies "Much Ado About Nothing", "Twelfth Night" and the tragedy "Julius Caesar". The playwright's business was so successful that he even bought a large house in Stratford. In 1599, Shakespeare became one of the owners, playwright and actor of the new theater "Globe". In 1603 King James took Shakespeare's troupe under his direct patronage. In the mature period, the great playwright turned to tragedies, there were "Hamlet", "Othello", "King Lear", "Macbeth" and others.
Although in the 19th century researchers had some doubts about the authorship of many of these works, William Shakespeare is considered the greatest English playwright, one of the best playwrights in the world. His plays have been translated into all major languages and to this day form the basis of the world theatrical repertoire, most of them have been screened many times. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Shakespeare remains the world's best-selling playwright, and his plays and poems have sold more than 4 billion copies in the nearly 400 years since his death.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, full name Johann Chrysostomus Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was an Austrian composer and virtuoso musician. Mozart is one of the greatest composers in music history on par with Beethoven and Haydn.
Wolfgang was born into the family of violinist and composer Leopold Mozart (1719-1787), at the age of five he had already begun composing and gave his first public performance. His older sister Maria Anna (1751-1829) was also a prodigy, and from 1763 Leopold and his children began traveling around Europe with performances.
Mozart had a phenomenal musical ear, memory and was a superb improviser. Unlike any other composer in music history, he was versatile and wrote in all musical genres of his time. During his short life, Mozart composed more than 800 works, many of which are recognized as the pinnacle of the symphonic, concert, chamber, opera and choral repertoire. The general public is familiar with the composer's three operas: The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute.
Society did not immediately appreciate the scale of Mozart's genius. It was only many years later that the vivid image of a prodigy, a refined salon composer who could miraculously think through an entire work in his head, gave way to the image of a serious, meticulous and brilliant creator of music.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, full name Johann Chrysostomus Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was an Austrian composer and virtuoso musician. Mozart is one of the greatest composers in music history on par with Beethoven and Haydn.
Wolfgang was born into the family of violinist and composer Leopold Mozart (1719-1787), at the age of five he had already begun composing and gave his first public performance. His older sister Maria Anna (1751-1829) was also a prodigy, and from 1763 Leopold and his children began traveling around Europe with performances.
Mozart had a phenomenal musical ear, memory and was a superb improviser. Unlike any other composer in music history, he was versatile and wrote in all musical genres of his time. During his short life, Mozart composed more than 800 works, many of which are recognized as the pinnacle of the symphonic, concert, chamber, opera and choral repertoire. The general public is familiar with the composer's three operas: The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute.
Society did not immediately appreciate the scale of Mozart's genius. It was only many years later that the vivid image of a prodigy, a refined salon composer who could miraculously think through an entire work in his head, gave way to the image of a serious, meticulous and brilliant creator of music.
Jean-Édouard Vuillard was a French artist, celebrated for his role in the avant-garde group Les Nabis. Known for his decorative art and printmaking, Vuillard's work was heavily influenced by Japanese prints, which is evident in his unique style of flattened color planes and simplified forms. His paintings, often of interior scenes, are distinguished by their intimate and domestic subjects, displaying a keen sensitivity to the subtle dynamics of everyday life.
In the late 1880s, Vuillard joined Les Nabis, a group of artists who sought to break away from traditional artistic concepts. This association played a pivotal role in shaping his artistic philosophy. Vuillard’s early works, like "The Seamstresses" (1890) and "Child in an Orange Shawl" (1894–95), demonstrate his evolving style, marked by the use of vibrant colors and a distinct lack of perspective, aimed at exploring spatial relationships.
Vuillard's artistic journey included ventures into theater decoration and interior design. He designed stage sets and theater programs, notably for Lugné-Poe's Theatre de l’Oeuvre, and also worked on large-scale panel paintings for French patrons. His close collaboration with the Natanson brothers, founders of the cultural review La Revue Blanche, was significant in his career. This association brought him various commissions, including decorative works for private homes and public buildings.
Vuillard's art evolved over time, transitioning from his Nabis-style works to more naturalistic portraits in the 1920s and 1930s. Despite this shift, his focus remained on portraying the intricacies of domestic life, often featuring the people closest to him. Notable among his subjects were Misia Natanson, a prominent figure in the Parisian cultural scene, and Lucy Hessel, with whom Vuillard had a long-term relationship.
For art collectors and experts, Vuillard's works are a window into the intimate spaces of Parisian life at the turn of the century. His ability to transform everyday scenes into art makes his work particularly appealing. Pieces like "The Green Interior" (1891) and "Breakfast at Villerville" (1910) are exemplary of his style and are celebrated for their quiet yet profound depiction of ordinary life.
Vuillard's legacy lives on in galleries and museums worldwide. His work remains a testament to the power of domestic scenes in art, capturing the essence of the period with a unique blend of realism and abstraction.
For those interested in the subtle beauty of Vuillard's work, subscribing to our updates will ensure you stay informed about new sales and auction events featuring his art. Our updates are tailored for connoisseurs like you, providing insights into the world of art and antiques, with a focus on Vuillard's enduring legacy.
Jean-Édouard Vuillard was a French artist, celebrated for his role in the avant-garde group Les Nabis. Known for his decorative art and printmaking, Vuillard's work was heavily influenced by Japanese prints, which is evident in his unique style of flattened color planes and simplified forms. His paintings, often of interior scenes, are distinguished by their intimate and domestic subjects, displaying a keen sensitivity to the subtle dynamics of everyday life.
In the late 1880s, Vuillard joined Les Nabis, a group of artists who sought to break away from traditional artistic concepts. This association played a pivotal role in shaping his artistic philosophy. Vuillard’s early works, like "The Seamstresses" (1890) and "Child in an Orange Shawl" (1894–95), demonstrate his evolving style, marked by the use of vibrant colors and a distinct lack of perspective, aimed at exploring spatial relationships.
Vuillard's artistic journey included ventures into theater decoration and interior design. He designed stage sets and theater programs, notably for Lugné-Poe's Theatre de l’Oeuvre, and also worked on large-scale panel paintings for French patrons. His close collaboration with the Natanson brothers, founders of the cultural review La Revue Blanche, was significant in his career. This association brought him various commissions, including decorative works for private homes and public buildings.
Vuillard's art evolved over time, transitioning from his Nabis-style works to more naturalistic portraits in the 1920s and 1930s. Despite this shift, his focus remained on portraying the intricacies of domestic life, often featuring the people closest to him. Notable among his subjects were Misia Natanson, a prominent figure in the Parisian cultural scene, and Lucy Hessel, with whom Vuillard had a long-term relationship.
For art collectors and experts, Vuillard's works are a window into the intimate spaces of Parisian life at the turn of the century. His ability to transform everyday scenes into art makes his work particularly appealing. Pieces like "The Green Interior" (1891) and "Breakfast at Villerville" (1910) are exemplary of his style and are celebrated for their quiet yet profound depiction of ordinary life.
Vuillard's legacy lives on in galleries and museums worldwide. His work remains a testament to the power of domestic scenes in art, capturing the essence of the period with a unique blend of realism and abstraction.
For those interested in the subtle beauty of Vuillard's work, subscribing to our updates will ensure you stay informed about new sales and auction events featuring his art. Our updates are tailored for connoisseurs like you, providing insights into the world of art and antiques, with a focus on Vuillard's enduring legacy.
Ernst Hermanns was a German painter and sculptor.
