Amitai Sasson

Posts by Amitai Sasson

Amitai Sasson of overstockArt.com is a renowned world traveler on a mission to seek out the beauty and passion of the art world. As an avid enthusiast of art and oil paintings, he contributes to ArtCorner.com as Chief editor and writer.

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt Named Most Romantic Oil Painting for Valentine’s Day

Klimt’s Masterpiece Portraying a Man and Woman in a Tender Embrace Garnered the Highest Traffic in overstockArt.com’s Romantic Gallery for the Second Consecutive Year.

Written by Amitai Sasson on January 26, 2012

Post Card Jan. mass mailer 2012 front 211x300 The Kiss by Gustav Klimt Named Most Romantic Oil Painting for Valentine’s DayThe online art gallery overstockArt.com, published today its official Top 10 list of most romantic oil paintings for Valentine’s Day 2012. Topping the chart for the second year in a row is Gustav Klimt’s sensual masterpiece “The Kiss.” Other artists named on the 2012 Valentine’s Day Top 10 Romantic Oil Paintings list include Marc Chagall, Salvador Dali, Paul Gauguin, Edward Hopper, Pablo Picasso, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

The Top 10 Romantic Oil Paintings according to overstockArt.com’s statistics are:

  1. “The Kiss,” Gustav Klimt
  2. “Hand with Bouquet,” Pablo Picasso
  3. “Summer Evening,” Edward Hopper
  4. “The Equestrian,” Marc Chagall
  5. “When Will you Marry?,” Paul Gauguin
  6. “Dance in the City,” Pierre-Auguste Renoir
  7. “Two Women Running on the Beach,” Pablo Picasso
  8. “Boating on the Seine,” Pierre-Auguste Renoir
  9. “Fulfillment (The Embrace),” Gustav Klimt
  10. “The Meditative Rose,” Salvador Dali

More than 3,700,000 page views to overstockArt.com’s Romantic Art Gallery in the past year were tracked. According to the click tracking, “The Kiss,” was the most sought after painting clicked at nearly seven percent, and Pablo Picasso’s “Hand with Bouquet” came in second, garnering five percent of the clicks to grab.

kiss 250x300 The Kiss by Gustav Klimt Named Most Romantic Oil Painting for Valentine’s DayCreated during Klimt’s “Golden Period,” “The Kiss” is renowned because of its tender representation of two lovers intertwined into one being, symbolizing the strength of this bond. The opulent and sensuous images in the painting create a sense of decadence, which modern art lovers appreciate to this day. “The Kiss” has topped not only the Top 10 Romantic Oil Paintings for two consecutive years, but has been one of the top four paintings in overstockArt.com’s annual Top 10 Oil Paintings list for the past six years.

“Every February we see a large spike in the traffic visiting our Romantic Art Gallery. Last year, the two weeks leading to Valentine’s Day brought 50 percent of all annual traffic to the gallery,” said David Sasson, founder and president of overstockArt.com. “Valentine’s Day brings out the romantic in all of us and with sensuous paintings like ‘The Kiss’ and tender images such as ‘Hand with Bouquet’ – it’s easy to find a fine art piece that your loved one will treasure for a lifetime!”

Top ‘Liked’ art posts from facebook

Top art-related-posts across the social media realm... Join us for more artistic conversations on facebook...

Written by Amitai Sasson on January 18, 2012

artistic conversation Top ‘Liked’ art posts from facebookThe following is a collection of the top posts of the week that we’ve shared on our facebook wall. We try and make our facebook posts informative and engaging as we love to hear what our fellow art lovin’ friends have to say about particular artists and their art.

So if you have a moment, check out our facebook page and share your passion for art and wall decor with us!

  1. 390676 10150676315882846 6665652845 12202169 1410696941 s Top ‘Liked’ art posts from facebook“I make no distinction between painting and poetry….” The poetic paintings of 20th century master Joan Miro (1893-1983) amuse, inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.

    Born in Barcelona, Spain, Miro studied art at School of Fine Arts at La Llotja and Gali’s Escola d’Art. His earliest works show the influence of the Fauve and Cubist movements which were fashionable in Spain during the early part of the century. In 1920, Miro traveled to Paris and painted with Surrealists Andr, Masson and Max Ernst. While frequently identified with the Surrealist movement, Miro never fully accepted the movement’s creed and refused to sign the Surrealist Manifesto.

    Miro’s vibrant canvases transport the viewer to alien worlds inhabited by all manner of whimsical creatures. His work has been characterized as psychic automatism, an expression of the subconscious in free form. By 1930 Miró had developed a lyrical style that remained fairly consistent. It is distinguished by the use of brilliant pure color and the playful juxtaposition of delicate lines with abstract, often amoebic shapes. Throughout his life, Miro felt a deep connection to his Catalan heritage and much of the symbolism that is so prevalent in his work is deeply rooted in this bond.

    In 1940 Miro returned to Spain and began to explore new media including large scale sculpture, ceramics, murals and tapestries. Following his first retrospective at The Museum of Modern Art in 1941, Miro achieved international acclaim and is recognized as a pioneer of Modernism. After 1941, Miró lived mainly in Majorca. He painted murals for hotels in New York City and Cincinnati and for the Graduate Center at Harvard. In 1958 he completed ceramic decorations for the UNESCO buildings in Paris. Many of his canvases are in the Museum of Modern Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, both in New York City.

  2. 387466 10150682365797846 6665652845 12225276 862027681 s Top ‘Liked’ art posts from facebookPablo Picasso (1881-1973) experimented with the Cubist style he co-founded throughout his career, varying the style to create new ways of expressing himself. Painted in 1932 when he was 50 years old, Pablo Picasso’s “Le Rêve” (“The Dream”), has long been famous as an example of his later Cubist works — and infamous for its erotic portrayal of his then young mistress Marie-Thérèse Walter.

    “The Dream” became something of a nightmare for owner Steve Wynn, who purchased “Le Rêve” in 2001 for an undisclosed sum, estimated to be about $60 million. The painting became the centerpiece of his collection, often on display at the Bellagio Las Vegas, but in 2006, Wynn was set to part with the painting for a record $139 million. Sharing the news of the recently finalized sale to friends, Wynn accidentally elbowed the painting, creating a half-dollar sized hole in the masterpiece. Wynn ultimately decided to release the buyer from the sale agreement and to repair and keep the painting himself, and “Le Rêve” remains part of Wynn’s private collection, which also includes works by artists Paul Cezanne, Paul Gauguin, Vincent Van Gogh, Édouard Manet, Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol, and Johannes Vermeer.

    Experience our collection of Picasso’s incomparable art.

  3. 402337 10150684440597846 6665652845 12231543 2028093140 s Top ‘Liked’ art posts from facebook“I have never painted a self-portrait. I am less interested in myself as a subject for a painting than I am in other people, above all women.” – Gustav Klimt Paintings.

    In his lifetime, Klimt (1862 – 1918) was known to have an exceeding love for two things: his home country, Austria, and women. Klimt was known among art circles as something of a womanizer (fathering at least fourteen illegitimate children), and it was this extreme admiration of women that motivated both his philandering and his artwork. The former, of course, eclipsed the latter, and today we have Klimt’s wonderful oeuvre of gilded and intricately adorned ladies.

    The names of the models and other women in his life do not always survive, partly because his most famous lover Emilie Flöge burnt much of his correspondence after his death from a stroke in 1918. One who has been identified by chance only recently was Hilde Roth, a beautiful Bohemian redhead from Budapest whose face can be seen in Lady with Hat and feather Boa, 1909.

  4. 387766 10150665740622846 6665652845 12164683 357634058 s Top ‘Liked’ art posts from facebookWe are looking forward to an inspiring 2012! What do you predict will be your biggest inspiration this year?

    The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to evaluate the state of things and look forward to a new start. Whether 2011 was the best year yet or you’re happy it’s dead and gone, we can all welcome new opportunities for great things to come. A wonderful new year’s “resolution” could be to focus on the creativity inherent in our surroundings. In nature, music, conversations, facial expressions – art is truly everywhere you look.

    Nobody can predict what 2012 will hold, so why not create your own reality? Get inquisitive about life, work hard for the things you love, and look around plenty of the time to appreciate the beautiful things in life. Happy New Year!

This is it! We hope you will continue to enjoy reading our ArtCorner blog in the new year and come join us on facebook for more artistic discussions!

Add a Splash of Tangerine Tango to Your Decor

overstockArt.com’s Design Expert Advises on how to Incorporate the Color of the Year into Your Home Design

Written by Amitai Sasson on January 15, 2012

Water Serpents II displayed in bedroom 300x300 Add a Splash of Tangerine Tango to Your DecorTangerine Tango, Pantone’s 2012 Color of the Year, is the “spirited reddish orange” shade that will be brightening up cosmetics, fashion and home trends this year. Design Expert Dawn Kail of overstockArt.com advises that it’s easy to brighten up your home design with the color Pantone describes as being “reminiscent of the radiant shading of a sunset.”

“Decorating with vibrant shades of orange, like Tangerine Tango, adds a playful, lively energy to the home,” said Kail. “In feng shui, the color orange is often called the ‘social’ color and is used in areas of the home where you want energy that promotes lively conversations and good times.”

Kail advises to start small when decorating with such a vibrant color, “I wouldn’t advise you to repaint every wall in a room or purchase all new furniture in tangerine tango, use the color to accessorize and accent your home. Doing too much will leave your room looking like a pumpkin patch.”

Enliven your home decor with five decorating tips from Kail that make it easy to incorporate the color of the year into your look:

  1. Color pairings – Traditionally an autumnal shade, Tangerine Tango can last all year when it is paired with popular neutral tones like white and gray. The reddish-orange color pairs well with other vivid shades of red, yellow and fuschia. You can also tone down the look by offsetting it with shades of mint and modern shades of blue. Add a sense of sophistication to your look by adding hints of gold.
  2. Home décor – The easiest way to introduce the color of the year is with home accessories. Soft linens, like pillows, throws and bedding, in the bright orange shade will quickly add spice to a room. Vases, candleholder and even cabinet knobs and drawer pulls can be used to brighten neutral color schemes. Displaying vibrant pieces of art featuring the playful color quickly livens up a room. Either go with a piece that predominantly features the orange shades, like Paul Klee’s masterpiece “Head of Man.” Or display a piece with pops of the bright color, such as Gustav Klimt’s sensual painting “Water Serpents II.”
  3. In the kitchen – For a dynamic burst of energy in the kitchen, incorporate Tangerine Tango colored appliances, like KitchenAid’s signature stand mixer in the hue. Add a bright splash of color to your walls and backsplashes with fine art. Hang a painting or try a textured ceramic art tile. Fine art trivet tiles featuring the shade, like Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Oriental Poppies,” can decorate your wall and your table.
  4. Walls and windows – Brighten up your entryways, hallways and rooms by painting a wall in this vivacious orange. Or paint your front door in this welcoming shade. Wallpaper has returned, so why not add a punch of color to your walls with wallpaper that highlights this juicy hue. Or add a small burst of the brilliant shade to drapery panels and curtains.
  5. Home furnishings – Add key pieces to a neutral room, like a vivid armchair or side table. In the bedroom, custom headboards in the bright shade or nightstands add a playful look.

“The orange color trend isn’t meant to dictate your home’s color scheme, it is more a directional suggestion,” said Kail. “All you have to do is add a splash of Tangerine Tango to add a fresh and fun spirit to the look of your home.”

See more of Kail’s suggestions for incorporating Tangerine Tango into your home on the overstockArt: Tangerine Tango Pinterest board.

Top ‘Liked’ Art Posts from Facebook

Top Art related posts across the social media realm... Join us for more artistic conversations on facebook...

Written by Amitai Sasson on January 4, 2012

artistic conversation Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookThe following is a collection of the top posts of the week that we’ve shared on our facebook wall. We try and make our facebook posts informative and engaging as we love to hear what our fellow art lovin’ friends have to say about particular artists and their art.

So if you have a moment, check out our facebook page and share your passion for art and wall decor with us!

  1. 383035 10150655482797846 6665652845 12105312 1284093515 s Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookMay all your dreams come true in the New Year!

    Born on New Year’s Eve of 1869 (d.1954) – 142 years ago – Henri Matisse once said, “What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter”, and he dedicated over a half century of his life to fulfilling his dream.

    Matisse is often regarded as an artist devoted to pleasure and contentment, and his art, particularly his expressive abstractions, has a rhythmic balance of color and design that achieves pictorial harmony and communicates the artist’s joy in life. Matisse’s experimentation with different styles and techniques while exploring the expressiveness of color was instrumental in moving art beyond the imitation of nature to an artistic expression of emotion and ushering in the new age of Modern art. Celebrate Matisse’s birthday and usher in the New Year on a positive, uplifting note with a visit to our Matisse galley.

  2. 395709 10150654255277846 6665652845 12099557 778143193 s Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookGustav Klimt’s “Mother and Child”, a detail from “The Three Ages of Woman”, has become an iconic portrayal of maternal love and infantile contentment, an enduring expression of unconditional love.

    A forerunner of the Modernist and Art Deco movements, Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) used the female form as his primary subject, often depicting a lone woman ornately dressed, but “The Three Ages of Woman” includes three feminine subjects at different stages of life. Klimt often explored the cycle of life and death, love and regeneration in his art, and the blissfully content mother and infant daughter on the right side of the painting are juxtaposed by an aged woman, sorrowful and decrepit, to their left.

    “Mother and Child” is among our collection of Klimt’s beautifully expressive artworks.

  3. 380515 10150654237272846 6665652845 12099523 931746685 s Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookThe Japanese consider the orderly unfolding of a chrysanthemum’s petals to represent perfection, and Chinese philosopher Confucius suggested mums be used as an object of meditation. Capturing the beauty of a single red and gold bloom, Father of Impressionism Claude Monet pays tribute to this long celebrated flower in today’s featured work “Vase of Chrysanthemums”.

    In most gardens even the late bloomers retire for the winter, but grown indoors the chrysanthemum – the most popular container plants in the U. S – can be encouraged to brighten winter days with its colorful, attractive blooms.

    Our Floral gallery also blooms year round, with a colorful display of artwork that will brighten even the bleakest winter day.

  4. 400543 10150646006172846 6665652845 12065071 1502708848 s Top Liked Art Posts from Facebook“It often seems to me that night is still more richly coloured than the day; having hues of the most intense violets, blues and greens. If only you pay attention to it you will see that certain stars are lemon-yellow, others pink or a green, blue and forget-me-not brilliance… it is obvious that putting little white dots on the blue-black is not enough to paint a starry sky.” (Vincent Van Gogh, in a letter to his sister Wilhelmina)

    Always fascinated with color and light, Vincent Van Gogh (1853 – 1890) embraced the challenge of painting the night sky. Capturing the nighttime nuances of color and shadow, his night scenes, including today’s featured work “Starry Night Over the Rhone”, are among his best known works.

    Painted en plein air from the riverbank in Arles, “Starry Night Over the Rhone” captures much more than just white dots on a blue-black background. The sparkling colors of a turbulent star studded night sky are juxtaposed with the new gaslights illuminating the town, with the reflections of both the natural and the artificial lights captured in the rippling waters of the Rhone.

    For our full gallery of Van Gogh’s oil paintings.

This is it! We hope you will continue to enjoy reading our ArtCorner blog in the new year and come join us on facebook for more artistic discussions!

Top ‘Liked’ Art Posts from Facebook

Join us for more artistic conversations on facebook...

Written by Amitai Sasson on December 28, 2011

artistic conversation Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookThe following is a list of the top posts of the week that we’ve shared with our facebook friends on the overstockArt.com facebook page. We try and make our facebook posts informative and engaging as we love to hear what our fellow art lovin’ friends have to say about particular artists and their art. So if you have a moment, check out the overstockArt.com facebook page and share your passion for art and wall decor with us!

  1. 387786 10150631559482846 6665652845 11997726 230283832 s Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookThe ornate decorations of the holiday season can bring to mind the highly decorative art of Austrian Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt (1862 – 1918)?, particularly the bold and lavish works of his Golden Phase like “The Kiss”.

    The son of a gold engraver, Klimt’s work is often distinguished by elegant gold or colored decoration, by spirals and swirls. Klimt made prominent use of gold leaf in many of his paintings during his Golden Phase. These works are noted for figures (painted without shadows) which are composed of flat, highly patterned areas of decoration and which seem to radiate from the canvas. For our full gallery of Klimt’s richly decorative work, visit The Gustav Klimt Gallery.

  2. 406946 10150630049162846 6665652845 11992170 260395022 s Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookVincent Van Gogh “Starry Night” Most Popular Oil Painting in 2011 – We released our Annual Top 10 List; Van Gogh Remains Most Popular Artist in the World. For the complete list and more about the Top 10 Oil Paintings of the year go to: Our Special ArtCorner.com Announcement
  3. Kymia is the Next Great Artist! – From the exciting and ever stressful season finaly emerged Kymia is the big winner of this year Bravo TV’s “Work Of Art: The Next Great Artist”. Catch the top art from the second season of Work Of Art: The Next Great Artist on overstockArt.com.
  4. 374206 10150620601777846 6665652845 11950836 843372178 s Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookLiving in the moment and indulging in life’s temporal pleasures were among Pierre Auguste Renoir‘s favorite themes, and he expressed them more than any other Impressionist. A renowned leader of the Impressionist movement, Renoir (1841 – 1919) enjoyed depicting his friends and lovers with expressive candor, conveying a youthful exuberance and intimate charm that suggests visions of an earthly paradise. By focusing on the ‘here and now’ of his time, these fleeting moments become relished nostalgic memories. Renoir’s portrayal of luminous color, skillfully varied brushstrokes, nuances of light and shadow all worked together to form a warm sensuality.
  5. 393468 10150615873872846 6665652845 11935840 2071836422 s Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookConsidered one of the foremost painters in 19th century America and a preeminent figure in American art, Winslow Homer (1836-1910) excelled at illustration, oil painting and watercolors. Largely self taught, Homer worked independently of artistic convention and his body of work is prolific and varied. His idyllic farm and rural seascape scenes, many of which like “Moonlight” feature solitary figures, have become classic images of nineteenth-century American life.

    A versatile artist who displayed a wide range of subjects, styles, and mediums, Homer initially won acclaim for Civil War battlefront illustrations rendered for “Harper’s Weekly” and is best known for his works that capture the beauty and mystery of the sea, but throughout his career Homer took several working vacations that produced a vast array of images depicting the inhabitants — mostly women and children — of farmlands and coastal villages in America and on England’s North Sea.

  6. 381361 10150606396482846 6665652845 11907194 949619036 s Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookBorn last week in 1886 (d.1957), Mexican artist Diego Rivera rose to legendary status in his own lifetime. As famous for his tempestuous personal life and provocative political stance as he was for his larger-than-life murals, Rivera enjoyed international renown during his artistic career, but since his death a continued tendency to focus on the details of his life and his controversial politics often takes precedence over appreciation of his artistry. “Nude with Calla Lilies” is a stunning reminder of Rivera’s ability to masterfully present universal images and ideas in his art.

    While Rivera’s overall accomplishments as an artist are often overshadowed by the searing social and political commentary found in much of his work, his artistic legacy has also been further eclipsed in the last half century by a growing appreciation of and interest in the works of his wife and fellow artist Frida Kahlo. Yet Rivera’s artwork, created for the masses, continues to hold mass appeal. Discover the art of Diego Rivera, or marvel again at his artistry, by browsing our collection of his work.

  7. 388685 10150606368697846 6665652845 11907172 1328439743 s Top Liked Art Posts from Facebook“No art is less spontaneous than mine. What I do is the result of reflection and the study of the great masters.” -Edgar Degas

    Given his playful subject matter, it can difficult to reconcile with the above Degas’ quote with what we know of the artist’s work. Furthermore, Degas’ reputation as one of the founders of Impressionism – a style that was all about movement, and that many considered bohemian—lends to the idea that he painted any random dancing scene that happened to strike his fancy. Most people are not aware of the fact that Degas was a renowned draughtsman, and considered himself more of a Realist than an Impressionist.

    Degas’ earliest works were conventional historical paintings, but he is of course best known for his paintings and sculptures of dancers. He was taken with dancers because their grace and movement offered him an artistic challenge, and so he applied his academic artistry to their depiction. In an attempt to create prefect ballet scenes, Degas painted them repeatedly; dancers now account for more than half of his oeuvre.

    Visit our entire hand painted Edgar Degas collection.

  8. 378004 10150597722467846 6665652845 11883099 2042279169 s Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookUsing form and color, Georgia O’Keeffe (1887 – 1986) created organic compositions both intimate and dramatic. The swirling forms in “From the Lake I” capture attention and draw the viewer in, while the blues and turquoise impart a contrasting calm. Make a dramatic difference in your décor — enliven your home with the contained energy of O’Keeffe’s “From the Lake I”.

    O’Keeffe developed a compelling personal style, and her abstract representations of the beauty of the American landscape are among the most innovative works produced by American artists in the early part of the 20th century.

    Browse our entire Georgia O’Keeffe collection.

  9. 388525 10150592419672846 6665652845 11864703 359775613 s Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookVery little is known about the life of Johannes Vermeer, which only adds to the intrigue of the unnamed subject of his masterpiece, “Girl with a Pearl Earring.”

    Vermeer (1632 – 1675) was baptized as “Joannis,” but he is also called “Jan” or “Johan,” depending on the source. He lived his entire life in the Dutch town of Delft, where he was both an art dealer and a painter. Vermeer’s work was well-regarded in his hometown, but a local patron commissioned many of his paintings, and Vermeer’s otherwise limited oeuvre prevented him from gaining wider fame. When painting, he worked slowly, and with great care, and scholars have determined that most of his works are set in the rooms of his home at Delft.

    That the subject of “Girl with a Pearl Earring” may have been invited into the artist’s home is one of many factors contributing to the painting’s mystery. Romantics speculate that the girl is a lover of Vermeer’s – a theory supported in part by the intimacy of her gaze. More pragmatic hypotheses suggest the girl is merely a model, and that the painting is a “tronie” – a popular genre that focused on facial expressions, rather than creating a recognizable portrait. Whatever Vermeer’s motivation, there’s no denying he created a classic.

  10. 388540 10150586912737846 6665652845 11844753 43741863 s Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookPainted in 1869, Monet’s “Thunderstorm” depicts the view from his family’s coast-side retreat in Normandy, France. Stormy landscapes were far from Monet’s vernacular at this point in his career. This painting in particular is noted for Monet’s use of pale and luminous colors in the context of a fleeting state of nature. And, though “Thunderstorm” was met with criticism by the art salons of Paris, is seen as an achievement given Monet’s personal challenge to stray from his normally bright palettes and sunnier scenes. But Monet’s foray into gloomier subjects was never complete, as amidst this corner of thunderous landscape he renders a small boat romantically floating on the water – a sweet and wonderful detail to appreciate.
  11. 388660 10150586559347846 6665652845 11843191 291902252 s Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookGustav Klimt’s richly colored and elaborately detailed “The Tree of Life” has become an iconic representation of the timeless themes of love and life, but while many may consider the work appropriate for the living room or bedroom, Klimt created the original work to adorn a dining room.

    Klimt created “The Tree of Life” as a three part mosaic for the dining room of industrialist Adolphe Stoclet’s palatial home in Brussels. Made of marble and adorned with precious stones and gold enamel, the original work would have provided quite the conversation piece for Stoclet’s dinner guests!

  12. 377329 10150586551497846 6665652845 11843154 1875429062 s Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookGustav Klimt’s “Water Serpent” series contains his signature elements: highly ornamental areas, dazzling gold tones, and an erotic jolt involving a female subject. Klimt (1862 – 1918) rose from poverty to great significance in the Viennese Secession and Art Nouveau movement. Over the course of his career, he produced works depicting regeneration, love, death and explicit sensuality, embedded with symbols emphasizing the freedom of art from traditional culture. Gustav Klimt Paintings‘s are a lavish palette of Egyptian, Classical Greek, Byzantine and Medieval styles.

    Visit the complete Gustav Klimt Gallery to view more of the artist’s muses.

  13. 383325 10150586544327846 6665652845 11843124 233651545 s Top Liked Art Posts from FacebookThe relationship between Vincent Van Gogh’s art and his madness will always be debated, but Van Gogh may have expressed it best himself: “I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process.” Although he suffered ongoing attacks (likely caused, at least in part, by epilepsy) van Gogh produced many of his most powerful works during his one year stay at an asylum in Saint-Remy, France. Capturing the life force inherent in nature, “The Mulberry Tree” is a striking example of van Gogh’s output while in voluntary confinement at the asylum.

    Seemingly at the height of his artistic ability, Van Gogh’s stay in Saint-Remy proved to be one of the most productive periods of his career; tragically, the paintings produced were among his last — he took his own life just months after leaving the asylum. Exhibitions following his death finally brought van Gogh’s work the fame he never received during his life. An inspiration for the Expressionists, a continuing influence on generations of artists, van Gogh created a lasting legacy as one of the most acclaimed artistic geniuses of the modern era.

This is it! We hope you will continue to enjoy reading our ArtCorner blog and come join us on facebook for more artistic discussions!

Vincent van Gogh “Starry Night” Most Popular Oil Painting in 2011

overstockArt.com Releases Annual Top 10 List; Van Gogh Remains Most Popular Artist in the World

Written by Amitai Sasson on December 20, 2011

starrynight 300x250 Vincent van Gogh Starry Night Most Popular Oil Painting in 2011The online art gallery, overstockArt.com, revealed today its annual Top 10 Oil Paintings rankings for 2011. Topping the list is Vincent van Gogh’s masterpiece, “Starry Night.” Other artists named on the 2011 list include Salvador Dali, Wassily Kandinsky, Gustav Klimt, Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso.

Van Gogh had a spectacular year with his art taking the top three spots in overstockArt.com’s annual list of the top best-selling oil paintings of the year. “Starry Night” is back to reign supreme as the most popular oil painting of 2011 after a short relinquishment of the title to another of the artist’s masterpieces, “Branches of an Almond Tree in Blossom” in 2010.

The top 10 oil paintings sold online in 2011 according to overstockArt.com’s statistics are:

  1. “Starry Night” – Vincent van Gogh
  2. “Café Terrace at Night” – Vincent van Gogh
  3. “Branches of an Almond Tree in Blossom” – Vincent van Gogh
  4. “The Kiss” – Gustav Klimt
  5. “Garden Path at Giverny” – Claude Monet
  6. “Poppy Field at Argenteuil” – Claude Monet
  7. “The Dream” – Pablo Picasso
  8. “Farbstudie Quadrate” – Wassily Kandinsky
  9. “Persistence of Memory” – Salvador Dali
  10. “The Old Guitarist” – Pablo Picasso

“Van Gogh consistently remains the most popular artist in the world,” said David Sasson, CEO of overstockArt.com. “While ‘Starry Night’ and ‘Café Terrace at Night’ have been staples on our top 10 lists throughout the years, we credit the continued popularity of ‘Branches of an Almond Tree in Blossom’ to the unique interpretations of the painting we introduced last year.” In 2010, overstockArt.com debuted several renditions of the painting featuring different colored backgrounds. The online art gallery trademarked the red rendition, which according to Sasson, was an instantaneous best-seller and remains one of the gallery’s most popular paintings.

Picasso has two oil paintings in the Top 10, a testament to the wonderful year he had in the limelight as his art was featured in museums across the United States and has been stolen and recovered several times throughout 2011 alone. In addition to commissioning thieves to try and steal a Picasso, private collectors have given Picasso art the highest bids in auction in 2011 and his mass appeal has been fueled by international press coverage.

Woody Allen’s film, “Midnight in Paris,” has given the artists of the roaring Paris scene in the 1920′s a surge that is visible in the year’s top 10 list: Dali, Picasso, Monet and even Kandinsky are all mentioned in the film and aptly included in this year’s Top 10.

The Top 10 list is released annually due to popular demand, “Consumers and companies strive to keep up with the latest interior décor trends to maintain a modern appeal,” said Sasson. “Just like they care about Pantone’s annual ‘it’ color, they want to know what décor accessories are hot. Our annual top 10 list makes it easy for consumers to stay on top of the trends and find out which oil paintings are most desirable in the marketplace.”

In 2011 overstockArt.com sold more than 60,000 oil paintings. They are one of the web’s most notable distributors of wall décor items with the most comprehensive selection of hand painted reproduction oil paintings, frames, and ceramic art tiles to choose from in the online decor industry.

brought to you by overstockArt.com

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