Born out of the artists’ desire to break away from the canons of the Academy, French Impressionist artists Manet, Monet, and Renoir explored contemporary subjects and scenes in new and experimental ways. Major contributions of the Impressionists include painting everyday life, they choice to paint en plein air, outdoors, instead of in the studio and most importantly, the fleeting effects of light on a particular subject. These “impressions” of light became the primary subject matter, especially for Monet. On the bridge between Realism and Impressionism is Edouard Manet. Born in Paris in 1832, he preferred a more classical approach to painting. However, his subject matter in paintings such as Le Dejeuner Sur L’herbe and Olympia gave him the reputation as a nonconformist. Manet places the Olympia we see in classical paintings in a contemporary setting rather than an allegorical one and she looks directly at the viewer. The refusal of the salon to show these paintings earned him the dubious title, “Father of Impressionism”. Claude Monet is best known for his paintings of his garden at Giverny. In the 1890’s he began to build a water garden around his house. There he painted his famous water lily paintings. By 1909 he had conceptualized an idea for a vast project of water lily canvases that would envelop an entire room. From 1916 almost until his death he worked on these canvases. He spoke of this endeavor, “In the night I am constantly haunted by what I am trying to realize. I rise broken with fatigue every morning.” In these canvases perspective is reduced to the water lilies floating on the surface of the water. Pierre Auguste Renoir’s painting, Le Moulin de la Galette is a study in impressionism. The scene is of working class people enjoying the leisure of a Sunday afternoon. The artist set up an easel right near the location and painted from life. Renoir was especially concerned with the play of light and shadow as they danced across the surface of an object. The fondness for impressionism exists today because these images capture forever the changing moments of time that we can all relate to in our contemporary world.
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40 Days and 40 Nights
An outrageously sexy comedy starring Josh Hartnett (PEARL HARBOR, BLACK HAWK DOWN) and Shannyn Sossamon (A KNIGHT’S TALE), 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS is another hilarious hit from the producers of NOTTING HILL and BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY. On the heels of a disastrous breakup and a string of unfulfilling romantic conquests, Matt Sullivan (Hartnett) yearns to become a better, more complete person. In the midst of his despair, he chooses to test himself by making a vow of no sex whatsoever for 40 days and 40 nights! With everyone betting he won’t finish … and a seductive new girl in his life (Sossamon) … it’s all Matt can do to just hold on! Fun, fresh, and wildly entertaining — you’ll agree with critics everywhere who found this sexy comedy adventure totally irresistible!
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Customer Review: Should be retitled 39 Days and 39 Nights, right?
Because that’s how long it felt when I watched this. LOL! Oh, sure Hartnett is adorable and an excellent squinter, but the plot was just so STU-PID. I’m always up for a madcap farce, but it must be grounded in reality and teathered to a radiator in my backroom. Because, people, truth is what inspires humor, not a contrived plot full of “That would never happens” and “he must be confused about his sexualitys.” Right? Single handsome men do not refuse sex with beautiful women. I’m living proof of that. Sure, I’ve been with some late-nighters that I regretted the next day, but I’m proud of the body of work I’ve strung together — which was particularly hot in the early 90s after I let my hair grow long and would wear tighter pants than I was accustomed to.
Customer Review: if the tables were turned……
I find it very telling in this feminist society, that a rape scene involving female-on-male rape, is included in what is called a “comedy”! If the tables were turned and it was a male-on-female rape, no one would dare call it a “comedy”.
Secrets, Volume 18: Dark Passions
Flesh to Fantasy by Larissa Ione — Kelsa Bradshaw is an intense loner whose job keeps her happily immersed in a fanciful world of virtual reality. Desperate to protect her existence, she wants nothing to do with Trent Jordan, a laid-back paramedic who experiences the harsh realities of life up close and personal. But when their vastly different worlds collide in an erotic eruption of fantasy sex and real-life emotions, can Trent convince Kelsa to turn the fantasy into something real?
Heart Full of Stars by Linda Gayle — Freed at last from alien bondage, singer Fanta Rae finds herself stranded on a lonely Mars outpost with the first human male she’s seen in nine years. Ex-Marine Alex Decker lost his family in the Aggressions and guilt drives him into isolation, but Fanta’s passion turns his world upside down. When alien assassins come to enslave her, he and Fanta must fight for their lives and a future that holds no guarantees.
Lone Wolf Three by Rae Monet — Planetary politics and squabbling over wolf occupied territory drain former rebel leader Taban Zias. When Taban’s second-in-charge sends him a mediator to help negotiate the Elnar land treaty, he’s pissed. But his anger quickly turns to desire when he meets, Lakota Blackson. Focused, calm and honorable, the female Wolf Warrior is Taban’s perfect mate–now if he can just convince her.
The Wolf’s Mate by Cynthia Eden — When Michael Morlet finds Katherine “Kat” Hardy fighting for her life in a dark alley, he instantly recognizes her as the mate he’s been seeking all of his life. He knows that he will do whatever it takes to claim her, body and soul. But someone’s trying to kill Kat, and the attack in the alley is just the first in a series of close calls for her. With danger stalking them at every turn, will Kat trust him enough to become The Wolf’s Mate?
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Customer Review: Variety is the Spice of Erotic Romance!
Secrets, Volume 18 showcases four talented authors whose novellas demonstrate the broad sweeping array of stories representative of the rapidly growing genre of erotic romance. RAE MONET returns with “Lone Wolf Three” and her appealing Wolf Warriors. The serious minded Wolf Warrior, Lakota Blackthorn has been sent to negotiate an squabble over planetary land politics with young and opinionated rebel Leader, Taban Zias. Taban meets his match in Lakota, but soon comes to realize her steadying influence makes her his perfect mate–but convincing Lakota is another matter. Monet’s characters crackle with life and an emotional realism that too many erotic romances miss for the sake of “heat”. In my opinion, Rae Monet is a writer worth watching! LINDA GAYLE’s, “Heart Full of Stars”, tells the high stakes story of a Fanta Rae, a lounge singer on the run from an alien slave trader who refuses to acknowledge her hard-won freedom. With her transport broken down,she is stranded at a Mars Outpost with the first human man she’s seen in nine years–but ex marine Alex Decker is still mourning over the loss of his family any years ago. Fanta’s entrance into his life rocks his world in more ways than one. Reading like a full length novel, this novella boasts a fully realized plot and a tender, satisfying ending. LARISSA IONE’s,”Flesh to Fantasy”, paints a contemporary backdrop for loner game geek, Kelsa to escape the uncontrollable pain of the real world in exchange for virtual one that leaves her captain of her heart. Easy going paramedic, Trent agrees to enter Kelsa’s world of erotic fantasy so that he can turn their relationship into one of real world pleasures. A fun, fast moving romp. CYNTHIA EDEN’s, “The Wolf’s Mate”, finds Kat Hardy’s life in danger. When sexy wolfman, Michael Morlet rescues her in a dark alley, he realizes he’s found the lifemate he’s been yearning for. Somehow he must earn Kat’s trust,and convincer her that she is destined to be his lifemate. Problem is, someone is trying to kill Kat,and danger lurks around every sexy corner. A fun, sometimes hilarious romp, the hunky and ardent Michael Morlet is a wolfman readers won’t soon forget.
Customer Review: romance and lust
this book was very hot,and sexy you actually get into these characters their fun and very sexual let your amagination run wild.
Seine At Giverny Morning Mist by Claude Monet Art Print Poster
Brand New - Ships Fast!! - Suitable for Mailing, Framing, Displaying as is. - Measures 26.00 x 34.00 in. - Artist: Claude Monet
“The passing cloud, the cooling breeze, the sudden storm that threatens to burst and finally does, the wind that stirs and suddenly blows with full force, the light that fades and is reborn are all things, elusive to the eyes of the uninitiated, that transfigure the color and shape of the bodies of water.” (Claude Monet) The Musee de l’Orangerie sits in the jardins de Tuileries, not far from the Musee du Louvre in Paris. It contains over 140 works by French painters, produced between 1880 and 1930. A specially designed space was created in the Orangerie to house the 12 piece series The Water Lilies, painted by Claude Monet between 1918 and 1926, and gifted to France by Monet following the signing of the armistice. Monet’s own garden and ponds at Giverny provide the setting painted in these works.
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