9.2 Cloisonnism

Cloisonnism emerged as a distinctive Post-Impressionist style in the late 19th century. It emphasized subjective expression through bold outlines, flat colors, and simplified forms, rejecting naturalistic representation in favor of emotion and symbolism.

Key figures like Gauguin, Bernard, and Anquetin developed Cloisonnism, drawing inspiration from medieval stained glass, Japanese prints, and folk art. The style influenced later movements like the Nabis and contributed to the evolution of modern art.

Origins of Cloisonnism

• Cloisonnism emerged as a distinctive style within the Post-Impressionist movement in the late 19th century
• Developed by a group of artists who sought to break away from the naturalistic approach of Impressionism
• Emphasized a more subjective and expressive approach to painting that prioritized emotion and symbolism over realistic representation

Synthetism vs Cloisonnism

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• Synthetism and Cloisonnism are closely related artistic movements that emerged in the late 19th century
• Both styles prioritized a simplification of forms, bold outlines, and flat areas of color
• Cloisonnism is considered a more specific subset of Synthetism, characterized by its emphasis on bold outlines and stained glass-like quality

Gauguin's role in development

• Paul Gauguin played a central role in the development of Cloisonnism
• Gauguin's paintings from his time in Brittany and Tahiti exemplified the style's emphasis on simplified forms, bold outlines, and flat areas of color
• Gauguin's work helped to establish Cloisonnism as a distinct artistic movement and influenced many younger artists

Bernard's role in development

• Émile Bernard was another key figure in the development of Cloisonnism
• Bernard's paintings, such as "Breton Women in the Meadow," exemplified the style's decorative quality and rejection of naturalistic representation
• Bernard worked closely with Gauguin and helped to refine the principles of Cloisonnism

Anquetin's role in development

• Louis Anquetin was also an important contributor to the development of Cloisonnism
• Anquetin's paintings, such as "Avenue de Clichy: Five O'Clock in the Evening," demonstrated the style's emphasis on bold outlines and simplified forms
• Anquetin collaborated with Gauguin and Bernard in the development of the Cloisonnist aesthetic

Defining features of Cloisonnism

• Cloisonnism is characterized by a set of distinctive formal and stylistic features that set it apart from other artistic movements of the time
• The style prioritized a subjective and expressive approach to painting that emphasized emotion and symbolism over realistic representation
• Cloisonnism sought to create a new kind of decorative and symbolic art that drew on a range of non-Western and historical influences

Bold outlines vs natural contours

• One of the most distinctive features of Cloisonnism is its use of bold, black outlines to define forms
• These outlines are not naturalistic contours, but rather serve to flatten and simplify forms into abstract shapes
• The bold outlines give Cloisonnist paintings a stained glass-like quality and emphasize their decorative nature

Flat areas of color

• Cloisonnism is also characterized by its use of flat, unmodulated areas of color
• Colors are applied in broad, uniform patches with little or no shading or modeling
• The flat areas of color contribute to the overall decorative quality of Cloisonnist paintings and reinforce their emphasis on simplified forms

Simplified forms

• Cloisonnism prioritizes a simplification and abstraction of forms
• Objects and figures are reduced to their essential shapes and contours, with little concern for naturalistic detail
• The simplified forms give Cloisonnist paintings a primitive, almost childlike quality that reflects the artists' interest in non-Western and historical art

Decorative quality

• Cloisonnism places a strong emphasis on the decorative quality of painting
• Paintings are often composed like tapestries or stained glass windows, with flat areas of color and bold, rhythmic patterns
• The decorative quality of Cloisonnist paintings reflects the artists' rejection of naturalistic representation in favor of a more symbolic and expressive approach

Rejection of illusionistic space

• Cloisonnism rejects the illusionistic space of traditional Western painting
• Instead of creating a sense of depth through perspective and modeling, Cloisonnist paintings emphasize the flatness of the picture plane
• The rejection of illusionistic space contributes to the overall decorative and symbolic quality of Cloisonnist paintings

Influences on Cloisonnism

• Cloisonnism drew on a range of non-Western and historical influences in its development
• The style reflected a broader interest among avant-garde artists in primitivism and the art of non-Western cultures
• Cloisonnist artists sought to create a new kind of symbolic and expressive art that drew on these diverse influences

Medieval stained glass

• One of the key influences on Cloisonnism was medieval stained glass
• The bold outlines and flat areas of color in Cloisonnist paintings are reminiscent of the leaded glass windows of Gothic cathedrals
• Cloisonnist artists were drawn to the symbolic and decorative quality of medieval stained glass and sought to incorporate these elements into their own work

Japanese woodblock prints

• Another important influence on Cloisonnism was Japanese woodblock prints, or ukiyo-e
• Cloisonnist artists were drawn to the flat, decorative quality of Japanese prints and their use of bold outlines and simplified forms
• The influence of Japanese art can be seen in the flattened perspective and emphasis on pattern in many Cloisonnist paintings

Folk art

• Cloisonnism was also influenced by various forms of folk art, including medieval tapestries, primitive sculpture, and children's art
• Cloisonnist artists were drawn to the simplicity and directness of folk art and sought to incorporate these qualities into their own work
• The influence of folk art can be seen in the naïve, almost childlike quality of many Cloisonnist paintings

Key works of Cloisonnism

• Cloisonnism is exemplified by a number of key works that demonstrate the style's distinctive formal and stylistic features
• These works reflect the diverse influences and artistic goals of the Cloisonnist movement
• Many of these key works are now considered masterpieces of Post-Impressionist art and have had a lasting impact on the development of modern painting

Vision of the Sermon by Gauguin

• "Vision of the Sermon" (1888) is one of Paul Gauguin's most famous Cloisonnist paintings
• The work depicts a group of Breton women listening to a sermon, with the figure of Jacob wrestling an angel in the background
• The painting exemplifies Cloisonnism's use of bold outlines, flat areas of color, and simplified forms to create a symbolic and expressive image

Breton Women in the Meadow by Bernard

• "Breton Women in the Meadow" (1888) is a key work by Émile Bernard that demonstrates the decorative quality of Cloisonnist painting
• The work depicts a group of Breton women in a stylized, almost abstract landscape, with flat areas of color and bold, rhythmic patterns
• The painting reflects Bernard's interest in creating a new kind of symbolic and decorative art that drew on non-Western and historical influences

Avenue de Clichy: Five O'Clock in the Evening by Anquetin

• "Avenue de Clichy: Five O'Clock in the Evening" (1887) is a notable work by Louis Anquetin that exemplifies Cloisonnism's rejection of naturalistic representation
• The painting depicts a Parisian street scene in a highly stylized and simplified manner, with flat areas of color and bold, black outlines
• The work reflects Anquetin's interest in creating a new kind of urban landscape painting that emphasized the decorative and expressive qualities of the medium

Impact of Cloisonnism

• Cloisonnism had a significant impact on the development of modern art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• The style's emphasis on simplification, abstraction, and symbolic expression influenced a range of later artistic movements
• Cloisonnism's legacy can still be seen in the work of many 20th century artists who sought to push the boundaries of traditional representation

Influence on Nabis movement

• Cloisonnism had a direct influence on the Nabis, a group of French artists who emerged in the 1890s
• The Nabis, which included artists such as Pierre Bonnard and Édouard Vuillard, adopted many of the formal and stylistic innovations of Cloisonnism
• The Nabis' emphasis on decorative patterning, flat areas of color, and symbolic expression can be traced back to the influence of Cloisonnist artists such as Gauguin and Bernard

Contribution to evolution of modern art

• Cloisonnism played an important role in the evolution of modern art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• The style's rejection of naturalistic representation and emphasis on formal experimentation paved the way for later avant-garde movements such as Fauvism and Expressionism
• Cloisonnism's interest in non-Western and primitive art also helped to broaden the scope of modern art and challenge traditional notions of beauty and representation

Legacy in 20th century art

• The legacy of Cloisonnism can be seen in the work of many 20th century artists who sought to push the boundaries of traditional representation
• Artists such as Henri Matisse, André Derain, and Maurice de Vlaminck were influenced by the bold colors and simplified forms of Cloisonnist painting
• The decorative quality and symbolic expression of Cloisonnism also had an impact on later movements such as Art Nouveau and Symbolism