14 Simple Art Questions That Few Know the Answers to

Have you ever wondered why a conductor needs a baton or why it’s so difficult to distinguish words in opera? Or, for example, why did Picasso paint such strange pictures, even though he could draw very well? If you are one of the people who have always had these questions, we are happy to say that in this post you will find answers to these and other mysteries about ballet, painting and classical music.

At the awesome.club we tried to explain everything in the simplest way possible, so that even those who do not have a deep knowledge of art can understand the answers to some of the most common questions in this area.

In short, he was looking for his own style. His turning point in art was the Portrait of Gertrude Stein, in 1906, which he was unable to finish for a long time. The writer posed for him 80 times, but Picasso didn’t like the result. He took a break of several months and completed the work after moving away from the realistic style. In the portrait you can see the changes in the shapes, which would intensify with time.

Also, in the same year, 1906, the artist visited an exhibition and got to know an African sculpture, which had a great influence on his work. The artist was impressed by the simple shapes and absence of unnecessary details, and the painting “Les demoiselles d’Avignon” (and later Self-Portrait, made in 1907), were his first works in the Cubist style. It is the best confirmation of how strong the impact of this event on the artist was.

From ancient Rome. The first contracted applause also appeared, which today are called “cheers”. These are people who applaud an actor or singer in exchange for a fee. Emperor Nero was famous for his passion for applause: he loved to perform on stage, reciting poems and songs of his own authorship. Later, the tradition moved to churches, where the people applauded the priests who preached.

We cannot say that the obesity of opera singers is a myth, but it is a rumor that probably came about due to famous artists like Luciano Pavarotti and Montserrat Caballé. An opera singer needs good breathing and a large diaphragm, not a large body volume. On the other hand, singing lessons develop the rib cage, so a singer may look more obese than he really is.

By the way, Pavarotti himself said that his enormous weight was nothing more than a consequence of his great love for good food. Today, among young opera singers, we find thin people more and more often, as appearance plays an important role.

Because it’s not just about that. In the octave, in addition to the 7 notes known to all, there are also semitones, dieses, flats and sharps, through which 12 sounds appear. Furthermore, the sequence of notes is not everything: there is also rhythm, registers and a different combination of instruments. Interestingly, there is also a similar “problem” in the literature. The theater expert, Frenchman Georges Polti, considered that all literary works in the world are based on 36 dramatic situations that represent people’s experiences and their mutual relationships.

Yup. As studies of the painting show, under a layer of paint there is an inscription that probably reads like this: “Battle of the blacks in a dark cave”. It was made by Kazimir Malevich himself. Also, below the square, there is an abstract composition with colors.

For your theft. The story of the Mona Lisa’s worldwide fame began in 1911, when it was stolen from the Louvre by one of its employees, Vincenzo Peruggia (even Pablo Picasso was suspected of this crime, by the way). “La Gioconda” was found just two years later and for six months it was exhibited in galleries, appeared in the press of every country and featured on stamps and postcards, becoming the most replicated work of art in the world.

For your way of painting. Édouard Manet painted more realistic paintings, with clear contours and real objects, while in the works of Claude Monet special attention is paid to the combination of color and light, and the brushstrokes are often thick. Interestingly, both artists lived at the same time, were Impressionists and had a beard, so they were sometimes confused.

There is a widespread opinion that if there are people in the picture, then it is Manet, and if, broadly speaking, there are blurs, it is Monet. However, Claude Monet often painted people, so you need to focus on the style of painting.

Due to the fact that artists have to sacrifice the correct pronunciation of words and letters for the benefit of the sound of the voice. First of all, it’s about the vowels, which singers pronounce in such a way that they all sound almost the same. This is necessary to create a resonance, or, in other words, for the voice to occupy the entire theater room, because in opera the performers do not have microphones: this function is fulfilled by the singer’s vocal apparatus.

It’s just for the comfort of the ballerina. The history of the tutu goes hand in hand with fashion. The first ballerina costumes, similar to modern ones, appeared in the 1830s, when Marie Taglioni, soloist of the ballet “La Sylphide”, appeared on stage in a lush white skirt below the knee, which did not restrict her movements. According to legend, the lightweight costume was invented by the girl’s father, who wanted to make his daughter’s imperfect figure appear more refined and light.

A near-modern tutu emerged in the 1920s when low-waisted dresses became fashionable and the most famous element of the ballerina dress moved to the hips. The tutu was made in the 1960s, but in modern ballet you can often find a fluffy skirt that goes to mid-hip.

So that your hand movements can be seen by all musicians. For the same purpose, the baton is white. In the hidden part of the conductor’s palm there is a counterweight in the form of a round button, and the center of gravity moves to be in the area of ​​the second or third fingers. All this is done to make it more comfortable to hold it.

For the comfort of horses. The father of the modern circus is considered to be the Englishman Philip Astley, who, in the late 1760s, founded an equestrian school. There, in addition to training, performances were organized in which equestrian acrobatics were shown to the public. It was because of the horses that the track became round. Astley empirically established that it was more comfortable for them to gallop in a circle. In addition, he calculated the ideal diameter: 13 m. Since then, the arenas of all circuses in the world are round and have the same size.

Sitting in the form of a fan helps the musicians to see the conductor well, who is in the place where the imaginary axes of this object are located. Musical instruments of the same type are placed in the same row or group. In this way, the musicians can be heard and the sound becomes more harmonious. Also, since the number of instruments and the volume in different groups are not the same, sitting in a certain way allows the orchestra to sound the way you want. However, despite all the rules, the final location of the musicians depends on the conductor.

In classical opera (or grand opera) all dialogues and monologues are sung, but in comic opera the performers can also speak. In the operetta, in addition to singing and conversation, there can be dancing as well.

Yes, you will not be prevented from entering the room. However, if it is a premiere or if your seats are in the audience, you should choose an outfit that is considered more appropriate for this type of occasion. A man can go in a suit and a woman in an ordinary dress that is knee-length or larger, with a closed back.

What kind of art do you prefer? What was the most recent cultural event you attended?