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Joan Mitchell Ici Essay

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The painting Ici, by Joan Mitchell, is a piece of contemporary art created in 1992. It has no distinct shapes or outlines in it and it is a very abstract work of art. Ici is French for “here” and that is the subject. However, the painting is so abstract that “here: could be “anywhere” (SLAM wall text). This tells us a lot about not only the painting, but the artist as well. Mitchell probably wanted the subject to be left to the interpretation of the viewer. Which, if one were to look deep into the painting and look at the colors used or placement of those colors, this subject could be found. To me I see a field of golden wheat and a blue sky. The green on the right of the painting reveals itself to me as a tree in the field. While many others will find another subject, I believe that when it comes to a painting like this one can see many things. This tells us that the artist was open minded. Mitchell wanted to make the viewer think. The style of this work is abstract. It reminds me of Expressionism. In particular, it reminds me of a Jackson Pollock painting. The way the colors are placed on the painting is very similar to Pollock. However, Mitchell used a brush instead of …show more content…

Ici is similar to Pollock’s Number 1 in that it doesn’t have distinct, outlined shapes, and its meaning if left to the interpretation of the viewer. This shows that even almost 40 years after his death, Pollock’s works were still influencing artists. Aside from that, the painting is what I would have seen as stereotypical “modern art”. Splashes and wild brush strokes of bright colors on a large canvas. That was before I learned how to look at art. Now I can see past the initial impression that work makes on me. This work of contemporary art that provokes thoughts and definitely represents the era in which it was

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