England: Stella Newman (Learning on Excursions)

Learning on Excursions

In one of our classes, Weird Victorian, we went on a day trip to Oxford. While in Oxford we did a walking tour of the city. We learned about the extensive history of the Universities in Oxford and the power that they hold. We also went to an exhibit called “Colour Revolution: Victorian Art, Fashion & Design”. The exhibit dispels the common misconception that Victorian fashion lacks colour. As the Industrial
Revolution progressed scientific developments also did. This led Victorians to use more and different colours in breakthrough ways. The exhibit discusses the vital ways in which colour has shaped our art and culture.

The art piece in the exhibit that most captured my attention was the painting of Queen Victoria’s monotone mourning dress, Deprés Del Ball. Despite the cooler of the dark black dress she is wearing the painting is a quintessential example of Victorian eccentrics and colour. Queen Victoria is depicted dramatically sprawled out on the sofa with a small book in hand. This eccentricity is a key characteristic of Victorianism. In addition, the black dress contrasts with the mint green sofa further emphasizing the coloured portion of the painting.

The Colour Revolution: Victorian Art, Fashion & Design exhibit inherently connects to our class Weird Victorian as it is an exhibit discussing the use of colour and eccentricity in the Victorian era.

 

 

 

 

Stella Newman

Major: International Studies and Spanish

Hometown: Middleton, Wisconsin