When in an art gallery that displays oil paintings from the Renaissance era, one might by mystified as to the true interpretation of such paintings. The majority of people today are unaware that they do not view oil paintings the way they were traditionally meant to be viewed. As we admire them, do we ever stop to analyze why they were painted in the first place, and for whom they were they painted for? By understanding why oil paintings depict certain things, consequently our view and interpretation of them will alter. Oil paintings were a luxury only the wealthy could partake in, seeking out artists that would be able paint their possessions in the most realistic way. Anthropologist Levi-Strauss comments “… rich Italian merchants looked upon painters as agents, who allowed them to confirm their possession of all that was beautiful and desirable in the world.” (qtd. in. Berger 86). It was the wealthy who ultimately instructed the artist what to paint, usually a possession they desired to be put on canvas. In John Berger’s book Ways of Seeing, he writes “Oil paintings often depict things. Things which in reality are buyable. To have a thing painted and put on a canvas is not …show more content…
There is not a single scene from this mythological story painted; but in an essence what is painted is the story from beginning to end. The women laboring in the foreground is the goddess Athena, on the left disguised as a commoner; and Arachne on the right, with her back turned to the viewer. They are in the middle of a battle surrounded by other women as their aids as they determine which of them the superior spinner is. The stairs separate the additional scene painted in the background portraying the conclusion of this battle. After goddess Athena has defeated Arachne, she is transformed into her true goddess state boasting in her
Harrison Bergeron is an Icarus tale written by Kurt Vonnegut about a society where everyone is forced to be equal. This story takes place in 2081 where people have handicaps to create an environment where everyone has the same physical and mental capabilities. Harrison Bergeron is the main character who tries to overcome his oppressive society and be free. Harrison achieves his freedom, but it is short lived and he perishes soon after. This is almost identical to Ovid’s Icarus, where Icarus flies towards the sun to be free, but dies soon after. In the story Harrison Bergeron, Vonnegut is warning the read not to dwell on insecurities because they trap people in negativity, cause people to lose sight of surroundings, and weigh people down.
Museums add new context for artworks, since historical items were not made to be in modern museums. A Pair of Sensing Angels by Circle of Bernaert Orley are two ‘one by three foot’ oil painting on wood from 1535-1540 that depicts two angels. When looking at “A Pair of Censing Angels” we can infer the subject, the value the painting held, and how the meaning alters in its present setting. This visual analysis will describe the artwork, analyze the formal elements used, and how the formal elements of the work and display affects the viewer.
In today’s society, we are constantly being bombarded with visual art forms. Whether they be classical paintings from the Renaissance, a towering and modern skyscraper, or even a cheesy 90’s R&B music video, they all have one thing in common. According to Carolyn Dean’s definition, these would all fall under the category of “art by intention.” In her essay “The Trouble with (The Term) Art” she advocates a distinction between art by intention and what she deems “art by appropriation.” The difference is that one work was created with the intention of being consumed for visual pleasure, while the other was not. However having been educated in the Western school of thought, many art historians cannot help but project their rigid definition of art onto civilizations that may have
In the article “Conditions of Trade,” Michael Baxandall explains that fifteenth-century Italian art is a “deposit” resulting from the commercial interaction between the artist and the purchaser, who he refers to as a client. These works, as such, are “fossils of economic life,” and money, and they play an important role in the history of art. In our current perception of the relationship between the artist and art, “painters paint what they think is best, and then look around for a buyer” . However in the past, especially during the Renaissance period, the customers determined the content and form of paintings, as it was them who commissioned the work before it was created. He states that the artists and clients were interconnected and
Man has been creating art for over 30,000 years. There are cave drawings, sculptures, Egyptian art, Greek Art, Modern Art and plenty more but to many, the Renaissance Art period is considered to be most important. Never had so many geniuses in art lived at one time and never had so many pieces of cherished art been produced. Two examples of Renaissance paintings are Cigoli’s Adoration of the Shepherds and Moretto da Brescia’s Entombment. Both paintings posses the attributes that were popular during the Renaissance period which I will now contrast and compare.
In this selection of the book, Gitlin discusses a seventeenth-century Dutch painter by the name of Vermeer. Vermeer was known for being able to”fr[ee]ze instants, but instants that spoke of the relative constancy of the world in which his subjects lived” (Gitlin 558). People collected Vermeer’s paintings for display throughout their homes. Gitlin sees Vermeer as the seventeenth-century version of the media. In that time, the images painted were relative to the people’s era and private world. In today’s world Vermeer would be the equivalent to a celebrity photographer or movie director. If Vermeer, or any other artist of his time, were to see today’s households, they would find that the once private space inside the home is now much more dominated by images of the outside world than what would have been possible in the 1600’s.
In”Harrison Bergeron” written by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., the family shares similarities and deferences with my family concerning point of view, standing up for what you believe is right, and how it fits into families today. The “Harrison Bergeron” has similarities to my family such as Points of view because in my family everyone has a different option on things. Another thing is standing up for what you believe in, in the story it shows a lot of how concrete Harrison belief is that the handicaps are bad and how he is willing to challenge the whole government over it. There are many families but all of them will have the differences good and bad.
The main theme in Harrison Bergeron is about equality. It shows that people don't need to be the same in every way. Everyone should be able to be themselves and be unique in their own way. Instead of everybody being the same in every way they should be equal with the rights and opportunities they get. Another thing is that the government shouldn't have that much control over a group of people, they should do what needs to be done to help people and keep them safe but should not be so involved that they try to make everyone exactly the same.
Many people prefer short stories to novels because short stories must immediately capture the readers’ attention and pull them into the story. Often the author resolves the conflict in a way that leaves the ending open for interpretation by the reader, thus personalizing the experience. As shown in The Top 20 Literary Quotes About Short Stories, author Lorrie Moore aptly remarked, “A short story is a love affair, a novel is a marriage. A short story is a photograph, a novel is a film.” In the present day world, it has become common for people to strive for equality; however, this could be harmful if taken too far. There would be nothing to make anyone unique, dulling the world of all its wonder. In “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, the year is 2081, and everyone has been physically altered so all people possess equal abilities. The line, "all this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th amendments to the constitution," tells the reader that government brought on the equality. Some people are forced to wear weights to tame their physical strength, masks to hide their beauty, and even ear devices to distract them from meaningful thought. The everlasting theme of the story is equality and control. If an outside force capable of controlling citizens’ thoughts, looks, and actions removed all autonomy, all that would remain would be the shells of those individualized people.
It takes courage to stand up for one’s beliefs, and not everyone is bold enough to take the chance. Freedom, taking risks, and just living in the moment is displayed in the short story of Harrison Bergeron , when Harrison tries to break free from under the government's laws in the future. In society, everyone is different, and has their own hopes and dreams in their lives that are aimed to be pursued like in Harrison Bergeron. The theme “Total equality isn’t an ideal worth striving for, but a mistaken goal that is dangerous in both execution and outcome” is the statement the other is trying to communicate. Kurt Vonnegut, in Harrison Bergeron, helps develop the theme through satire and characterization.
Harrison Bergeron was an imprisoned fourteen year boy was considered above average in his society. He lives in 2081, the future, where everybody in society is equal. Nobody is above average or too much of something. People who is above average get brought down to everybody level by the use of handicaps that restricts them from being different from other people. In spite of the government trying to keep everybody equal, he challenges their laws and tries to be free from his handicaps. He shows bravery when he stands up to show he will not follow the laws of the government just to be another normal person in society; he’s a symbol of change that is waiting to happen.
Art is one aspect of the past that has carried on for decades. Art in any form may it be poetry, novels, and playwright, sculpting as well as painting, has been an outlet for generations and continues to be an outlet and a means for expression. This paper will discuss “ The Mona Lisa” one of Da Vinci’s most famous paintings, as well as another great painting, Antonio Veneziano’s
By what means can someone achieve true equality, other than putting aside hatred. Strict governmental control? Will hiding a person’s real identity, abolish the envy and irrational hatred? Kurt Vonnegut illustrates the individuality of each person, and the lack of equality within society. Vonnegut using symbolism, irony, and simile, describes his view of the government to be dysfunctional and ineffective in his story, “Harrison Bergeron”.
Alberti makes it clear that he is not concerned with painting’s origins, even though he briefly discusses them. Subsequently, the author uses old writings as reference to strengthen his point of view on how highly painting is esteemed above other “crafts” history. It is therefore clear that the author believes painting to be somewhat in metaphysical nature, something beyond the ordinary.
The way in which one views the world and forms an opinion about it is entirely based on what they have experience throughout their lives. This idea was presented in a very long winded essay by John Berger. While keeping this idea in the back of my mind I analyze image D form the Orphan Black Stills that we were provided without any prior knowledge of what story this TV show was supposed to tell. After viewing the episode in which the still I had chosen to decipher my views on what occurred changed a surprising amount simply from the context now provided. With context to frame the still it shows how even a seemingly innocent image can be very different than how it is first presented; even when viewed in hundreds of different locations simultaneously. This potentially challenges John Berger belief that the way one sees something is based primarily on a set context highlighted by one’s life experiences; but instead one’s life experiences highlight what they see with the context helps them form their interpretation.