To express our inner life . . .

Today is the birthday of Edward Hopper (July 22, 1882 – May 15, 1967), realist painter and printmaker.

Nighthawks
Edward Hopper
Oil on canvas (1942)
84.1 cm × 152.4 cm
(33.1 in × 60 in)
Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois (USA)

"If you could say it in words there would be no reason to paint." - Edward Hopper

"Great art is the outward expression of an inner life in the artist, and this inner life will result in his personal vision of the world." - Edward Hopper


See the entire screening Edward Hopper at the National Gallery of Art.

Nighthawks image source (1)

To make others see . . .

Today is the birthday of Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas (July 19, 1834 – September 27, 1917), best known as the artist Edgar Degas, one of the founders of Impressionism.

• "Edgar Degas is usually classed with the impressionists, and he exhibited with them in seven of the eight impressionist exhibitions. However, his training in classical drafting and his dislike of painting directly from nature produced a style that represented a related alternative to impressionism." direct quote source (1)

Dance Class at the Opera on Le Peletier Str.

Edgar Degas

oil on canvas (1872)

33 × 46 cm

Musee d'Orsay

Paris, France

"Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do." - Edgar Degas

"Only when he no longer knows what he is doing does the painter do good things." - Edgar Degas

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." - Edgar Degas


Stamp image source (1)

To make clear what you do not know . . .

Today is the birthday of Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (July 15, 1606 – October 4, 1669), painter and etcher, best known simply as Rembrandt. He was a popular portrait painter and is generally considered one of the greatest painters and printmakers in European art history.

Self-Portrait

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn

oil on canvas (1658)

133.7 × 103.8 cm

Frick Collection

New York, NY

"Painting is the grandchild of nature. It is related to God." - Rembrandt

"Choose only one master - Nature." - Rembrandt

"Practise what you know, and it will help to make clear what now you do not know." - Rembrandt

Stamp image source (1)

To find a kindred soul . . .

Today is the birthday of Camille Pissarro (July 10, 1830 - November 13, 1903), Impressionist painter. He was known as the Father of Impressionism, an inspiration to many young artists during his life and especially, as a mentor to Paul Cézanne and Paul Gauguin.

Boulevard Monmartre in Paris

Camille Pissarro

oil on canvas (1897)

29 1/8 x 36 1/2 in. (74 x 92.8 cm)

Hermitage Museum

St. Petersburg, Russia

"Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing." - Camille Pissarro

"Everything is beautiful, all that matters is to be able to interpret." - Camille Pissarro

"Painting, art in general, enchants me. It is my life. What else matters? When you put all your soul into a work, all that is noble in you, you cannot fail to find a kindred soul who understands you, and you do not need a host of such spirits. Is not that all an artist should wish for?" - Camille Pissarro