From Pressure - Jacob Uribe

One of Georges Seurat's most famous pieces, this busy-yet-relaxed image of people enjoying a Sunday evening showcases the art style that got Seurat's artwork rejected by the Paris Salon - though, it's not the same piece that was rejected from the salon. The original, Bathers at Asnières, was missing from google's art collection, so this piece was chosen to represent the similar composition, subjects, and color pallet of the Bathers. The bathers, as stated before, was rejected from the Paris salon. To this, George Seurat responded by leaving the group he was with, and instead joined the growing amount of independent artists at the time.

Boulevard des Capucines is a great example of rejected art. Claude Monet, famous for pieces like Impressionist Sunrise, created this piece in the during a period of great tribulation. Boulevard des Capucines focuses on an elevated view of a bustling city scene bellow the viewer. Using his signature blot-like art style, the people below seem to be moving about, blurred by the motion of their pace. This piece was finished during a trying time for Claude Monet, as none of his pieces were selling. In fact, He would only begin seeing his artwork being sold for another 6 years after this painting. Close to 40 years of age, he finally found breakthrough in his art, vindicating his dedication to the medium a little more.

Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec went through a multitude of troubling life events and illnesses during his time, but what we got from his struggle was honest look into the Moulin Rouge, painted in a dazzling fashion. This work focuses on a brightly dressed maiden at what appears to be a dance hall. While her complexion and demeanor seem to exude a reserved and honorable nature, but the background filled with darker, more contrasting colors show a rowdier crowd, dancing and moving about. though he would bring about beautiful pieces like this Henri did not have a easy time being recognized for what he accomplished. Though beauty was found in pictures as such, his appearance and size could not be looked past by some of his peers. Having quite a few chronic health problems and disabilities and being mocked by those around him would cause him to become an alcoholic. To top off this list of problems he face, doctors would eventually name an ailment after him - Toulose-Lautrec Syndrome, or pycnodysostosis.

Alfred Sisley would become one of the artists to live his life without ever seeing any recognition from his work. Even among his peers, this artist could never make any headway to fame. Though Cows in Pasture is simply that, cows eating in a pasture, the depth of detail put into this piece is outstanding. The landscape seems to come to life with the deep green color found throughout, and the impressionist style adds to the design of this piece, with each stroke feeling like a blade of grass. The landscape is so immersive that you almost don't see the figure of the man standing under the tree, gazing at the cows grazing. Paintings like these did not do anything for Sisley though. He had been a part of the original impressionists group when it was beginning, but Sisley's work could find anyone who seemed to be interested in what he did. Art exhibitions in France never accepted his pieces, and even his comrades seemed to be disinterested in his work. In his lifetime, he wouldn't see any of his pieces rise to fame, but as time has passed, they have been recognized for their style and colorful simplicity.

Nocturne in Black and Gold, The Falling Rocket paints a dream like image for us: The picture is of a small audience watching a fireworks display overlooking a body of water. The figures of the audience are somewhat transparent, giving them an semi-transparent body, while bright botches of paint simulate the embers and explosions of the fireworks show. For this painting, James McNeill would be criticized heavily due to it's style. One critic, John Ruskin would go as far to say that it was empty, meaningless, and unfinished. This would cite anger in McNeill, and he would take Ruskin to court for his comments. In the end, McNeill would win, but, with very little damages awarded, he would go bankrupt.

Portrait of Anthony Valbrégue shows a solum-faced man staring into middle distance. His clothing suggests that he is of a higher class, but his expression denotes a feeling of dissatisfaction. Created using oil on canvas, this image showcases the end of Cézanne's troubles. Paul Cézanne was shown rejection more than some other artists in this gallery. Cézanne had his works rejected from the Salon for five years; from 1864-1869, no one accepted artwork he created, and his works went ender some patron's radar. This rejection was from his painting style, which showcased very visible brush stokes and very little blending of paints or colors. This piece was created at the end of Cézanne's salon issues, being finished in 1871

With all the rejection, hardship, and health problems some of the artists would undergo, it's no surprise that some have retaliated against those who wronged them through their art. Edouard Manet would be one of the artists to do just that. Luncheon on the Grass pictures somewhat of a surprising scene. What looks like to be a simple picnic by a body of water is interrupted by the sight of a undressed woman gazing at the viewer, while surrounded by well dressed men. A picture like this cause an uproar in the conservative French population. Depicting such an image of what is a reserved group of people caused quite a stir among those in the salon that Manet submitted this piece to, which led to it's rejection from the exhibition. In response to this, Manet created his own exhibition, but it never took off, as reviews of it were very negative. Now, it's seen as a beautiful piece of art, and a great stance against the social norms.

El Greco was one of the oddballs out in his time. Never staying with conventional beliefs, he would soon be dismissed by those around him. The Assumption of the virgin is a great example of his work that would come the spotlight in the end. Focussing on a figure of Mary rising towards the heavens, the picture details the catholic belief in which Mary transcended into heaven after her earthly duties were done. Painted with bold colors, the image shows those around Mary watching in awe as she rises toward the sky. Art like this didn't settle too well with everyone around him though. Combining art styles, he created a piece that has been considered ahead of his time, and his personality and artistic beliefs would bring him to be ostracized. In the end, his works would go on to be influences in art periods such as cubism, and even expressionism.

Out of all the artists, Paul Gauguin might have had the hardest life of them all. Death and disease seemed to follow Gaugin wherever he went, and it would end up overtaking him before he could see the effects of his work. Manao Tupapau illustrates a young lady laying unclothed on bed in a simple room. Behind her sits a sinister figure, which would be the spirit referred to by the parenthetical title for this piece. The young lady seems to be unaware of the creature, as she has a somewhat pleasant expression on her face. Like the lady in this picture is haunted by the specter, so too was Paul Guaguin's life haunted by another spirit: death. Guaguin's son and daughter would die of different diseases, which would in turn cause him to go on escapades that weren't of the best intention. After all of his trouble, he would end up dying of heart failure before his art would be recognized, alone, with no one with him. His art became the beginnings of primitivism in the end, for which he will be remembered throughout the ages.

If Guaguin had the most hardships during his lifetime, Johannes Vermeer might have had the least amount of hardships. In the painting of Woman Holding a Balance, Johannes captures a lady studying a small hand scale which she has suspended above a small work table. On the table gold beads and blue fabric can be found, which may indicate that she is a seamstress. the darker, muted tones of the image is punctuated by the light streaming in from the window above the lady. Behind the lady is a painting with as much detail as the one it's in, Giving a life like quality to the picture. The simple life of this supposed seamstress seems to be perfect, which is more than what can be said about Vermeer's life. Though Johannes Vermeer would find those who appreciated his work, they would be from the middle class, while he was aiming for the higher class. With the same amount of time being put into the painting as would be done with higher class commissioned work with a lower return on money, he would have to borrow money from his mother-in-law to stay afloat. This would end up causing the mother-in-law to go into debt though, as all debt was transferred to his family when he died.