A General Idea of Paradise

Most of us envision a paradise to be a quiet island in the pacific loaded with beaches isolated from all society. While most people think of this nowadays, this vision of paradise has been similar but not quite the same through history. Looking back, most paradises are usually related to the Garden of Eden or to some religious aspect. However, the idea of paradise is similar despite the obvious geographical differences between a quiet island and the Garden of Eden. The idea of paradise seems to be some place, usually in a beautiful place full of lush foliage and flowers, and someplace where people can be isolated from the rest of society. These themes seem to be similar in all visions of a paradise.

A Surrealist Idea of Paradise

This painting was done by Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968), it is called Paradise. This painting could perhaps show Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Following the usual Surrealist work of art, it is surprising and confusing, philosophical more than art. The many dark and different confusing colors suggesting different shapes or figures, is standard for many Surrealist works of art. Surrealism came as a result of Dada, which ridiculed the bourgeoisie and most of the modern world following World War One.Dada was a result of the major pessimism felt by the majority following World War One. Artists reflected this in their art, leading to strange and often disturbing art that ridiculed the modern world and the middle class,which the artists saw as the cause for World War One. Dada and Surrealism are often associated with the "anti-art" movement, in which artists reject most conventional ideas of art. Surrealism is also usually defined by its bizarre and often dream-like pieces of art. This painting reflects that because it is quite confusing as to what the true purpose of this painting is. Surrealists reveled in this because they saw there art as a way to show personal philosophies rather than be simple art.

A Romantic Idea of Paradise

John Martin (1789-1854) was an Romantic painter. The painting is the Eve of the Deluge, and seems to be about the moments before God wipes out man with the exception of Noah and the other chosen to survive the Deluge. The scene is right before God will send the flood that will kill all men on Earth, except for Noah. This is part of series painted by Martin showing the different stages of the Deluge, this being the first in the series. The Romanticism era was a result of the Industrial Revolution, which many intellectuals and artists saw as destroying nature. Most Romantic paintings give off very emotional, perhaps morbid, and mysterious themes. They emphasize changes in light, color, and self-expression. The Eve of the Deluge follows this because of the background, which is brighter than the foreground and give a mysterious and perhaps fearful tone to the painting. The painting extends beyond the standard religious painting because Martin gives it his own Romantic touch, excellent use of color and light off the mountains to give a feeling of epic proportions. The Romantic era tried to oppose the Industrial Revolution by painting art that had no firm and straight lines or dull colors, which would give the ideas of machinery or factories, which the artists opposed.

A Rococo Idea of Paradise

Charles-Joseph Natoire (1700-1777), was a French painter and was one of the major artists in the Rococo period. This painting, The Expulsion of Paradise, is one of his most known works. Rococo art is stylized by feminine men and women and a general "soft" look given to all the art. Rococo art usually contains flowery plants and and animals and gives off a light-heated tone. While this piece of art is slightly more serious than some other Rococo pieces, it still contains all the standard Rococo ideas, effeminate men with rosy cheeks, abundant foliage and flowers, and bright cheerful colors. Rococo style started when Louis XIV exited his rule, and the young Louis XV changed the court artists and decorators, creating a cheerful and playful tone for the new young king.It also celebrates the new respect of the high society that now dominated France. Rococo art became very popular in salons, places where the French middle and upper middle classes discussed philosophical and social issues, because the ladies of the salons preferred the light and carefree art to promote discussion. Rococo art contains themes of Baroque art, emotional and usually religious, but also varies because of its lack of symmetrical designs and gentle curving forms.

A Renaissance Idea of Paradise

The piece of art is by Jan Brueghel the Elder,created in 1615. Jan Brueghel the Elder was a Flemish painter who lived from 1568-1625. This piece of art is typical Northern Renaissance style, very religious and painted in oil. It also is a Northern Renaissance painting because it shows nature and animals in typical classical style imitated by the Renaissance artists. This painting is a representation of the Garden of Eden, a standard religious theme done by many painters of the time. One of the Northern Renaissance's major ideas was northern humanism. While still similar to Italian humanism, northern humanism was aimed at reforming human spirituality,education, and make Christians better members of society. This painting then, could be seen as playing a role in northern humanism, because it could be used as sort of propaganda towards Christians, emphasizing standard humanist ideas of paradise; a plethora of wild animals frolicking amongst each other, and two realistic naked people in a playful pose. The animals represent the humanist love of nature and animals. The two people, Adam and Eve, are a tribute to Greek and Roman art, with natural looking humans in contrapostos, people with arms outstretched standing on the balls of their feet.