The Politics of Art & Authenticity

Visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art was a truly rewarding experience. The Museum has something that everyone of all ages can enjoy.

I particularly like the George Bellow Exhibit because it was a special exhibit that will only be in the Museum until February.

I tried taking pictures of Bellow’s beautiful paintings, but the guards stopped me. I learned that the Ashcan movement inspired Bellows to create these marvelous paintings. The Ashcan movement was inspired by the a group of eight painters that portrayed the realistic elements of poor neighborhoods in New York City.

My favorite painting by George Bellows was called “Morning Snow” and it was created in 1910 by using oil on canvas. What struck me was how Bellows incorporated New York City and the Hudson River into a mundane setting of snow and trees. The painting used horizontal and vertical rhythms that allow the viewer to imagine life during a freezing cold snow day. Some abstraction elements can be seen by Bellows using elevated vantage points and horizontal and vertical elements. What I loved most about this painting the was the beauty of it and how real it looked. I particularly liked it because I rarely got to see snow when I was growing up and I love the snow.

Another painting that I loved by Bellows was called “Polo at Lakewood” and this painting was also created in 1910 by George Bellows. This painting depicts a group of men playing polo. I learned in my history class that during this time period the masculinity of men was being challenged by women. Men played masculine sports like the Polo depicted in this painting. I could feel the essence of the time period just by looking at the painting, and this shows how authentic Bellow’s paintings truly were. I also learned that this painting refers to Teddy Roosevelt and his clan of Rough Riders that embraced masculinity. But what I truly loved the most about this painting was how brilliant the sky looks. It looks as it is almost going to rain and might portray that a dark future is ahead for masculinity.

I also  was enamored with the Egyptian art. I learned that art can take many forms, and that each culture has a different form of art. I loved seeing the ancient hieroglyphs and this reminded me of the Luxor casino in Las Vegas. This experience made me a little homesick, but it was worth it since I love ancient artifacts.

I also enjoyed looking at the Medieval art and armor. This art reminded me of my days of playing Runescape, a game that is set in the Medieval times. It reminded me of all my friends that used to play it and the different types of weapons and armor that we would use in battle.

I thought this experience truly enhanced my knowledge of art and history. I got to see amazing works of art that transformed me through several time periods. I cannot wait until I visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art again so I can strenghthen my knowledge and have fun!

Image Source: http://www.newyork-hq.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/metropolitan-museum-of-art-01.jpg