Poll: Realism Vs Impressionism

[Flac00]

So after going to the MFA (Museum of Fine Arts) in Boston, I was inspired to ask this: Do you guys prefer Realism or Impressionism. For me, realism. I find that art can only judged by its merits when taken out of context. If I see a painting with only a black box inside of it without any idea of what the box stands for, then it is just a black box, nothing special. While if I look at the Mona Lisa, it is still a great painting, yet I have not idea what the painting is truly about (other than Mona Lisa).

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Can you put in the option for both? I love both realism and impressionism.

Also, you don't need the context to understand an impressionistic painting. That is the point, it depends on how you perceive it, not what the creator perceived when he created it. Knowing what they were thinking is great if you're taking art history, but an impressionistic painting is designed to invoke an emotional response.

 

[SkyrimOrBust]

It's not really a question of what I prefer, it's a question of how it is used. I find some of the best is when a balance can be found. For example, 2001: A Space Odyssey. It's stunningly beautiful, but if there was no meaning then it would be absolutely nothing, like a mutually required relationship; can't have one without the other. It's fantastic Objectively and subjectively. Of course, there is a meaning to 2001.

We just haven't found it yet. Though my guess is that it was made entirely up to the viewer.