look and look again

Look, Look Again

Asma Awad

Look, Look Again: Web of Life, John Biggers

What initially drew me to this painting was the actual length compared to the width. It was more of a rectangular shape, a particularly long one at that, compared to the other square framed paintings. The second aspect of the painting itself that struck me was the center, a breast-feeding woman. She appeared to be the main focus of the painting, the other facets branching off of her. She also seemed to act as a divider between the left and right sides of the art, which were as different as could be. The contrast between the sides was clear, but the number of factors that contributed to this contrast was more hidden. The left side portrayed a winter night, characterized by cooler colors and a melancholy aura. It also showed women, standing in a strict formation, carrying what appears to be baskets of crops. The right side, on the other hand, was completely different in both these aspects. It displays a spring day, fruitful with life such as the fish and flowering trees. Rather than women, the right side depicted men engaging in agricultural work, in a more scattered fashion. Taking note of all this, I began to attempt to piece the art together in order to understand how these features connected.

Because the piece is titled “Web of Life,” I assumed Biggers was showing viewers a prevalent interconnectedness in life. The men on the right side of the painting could be sowing seeds, as growers do in spring, and thereby introducing life- literally, through plants growing or metaphorically, through crops used as food. The women on the left side, however, could be harvesting what had been grown, returning the land to its barren state. I believe the winter and spring scenes contributed to implying that the right side of the painting symbolized growth and the left side represented death. The woman breast-feeding in the center of the painting is shown underneath the ground, possibly showing how once people are born, they factor into the system of life and death.

The Virgin by Joseph Stella

Allison Wu

This oil painting of Virgin Mary by Joseph Stella caught my attention because of how much is going on in just one piece. It contains very natural everyday objects such as fruits and flowers, but also uses something so religious and profound like the Virgin Mary at the center of attention. This painting easily draws the eye because of how well the different colors work together. Although this is part of the Infinite Blue collection, there are many subtle, yet bright colors along the edge of the painting ensuring that the viewer focuses not only on the Virgin Mary, but all the details that come with it.

Looking closely and analyzing more intently, the viewer realizes the connection that the artist tries to make between the fruits and Virgin Mary. Just by naming the piece The Virgin, Stella inflicts a sort of innocence and purity not only on Virgin Mary, but also on the piece itself. This is further displayed by Virgin Mary’s gentle face and youthful appearance. The artist incorporates this idea of fertility throughout the painting with the use of fruits and flowers. Although there is a connection of purity and naturalness between Virgin Mary and the objects that surround her, a disconnection also arises when the viewer questions why Virgin Mary has her palms resting on her chest in this painting. This arouses the idea of being concealed and arouses the question of what she is hiding beneath the perceived innocence. The artist attempts to hint at this with the fact that Virgin Mary is covering her breasts specifically and the fullness in them, which contrasts the innocence and maturity going on in this piece.

The Brooklyn Museum- “A Storm in A Rocky Mountain”

rachelswed

 

My first impression of the painting was that it was very lifelike. I felt like I was in the painting when I looked at it closely and it felt real to me. My second impression was it looked very ethereal. The painting looked very light and airy. But there is also a kind of darkness when looking at the mountains so I feel that causes a contrast which was why the painting was so appealing to me. Another thing I noticed was many clouds forming causing the mountains to appear dark portraying a storm is coming which was a crucial part of the painting and what the painting was named after.

 

The Sisters- Abbott Handerson Thayer

abhayvirsingh

This art piece is of two sisters, Bessie and Clara Stillman. The description next to the painting said that they were the sisters of powerful financier James Stillman. Just by this I could infer that they were women of high status, that they got painted. The painting itself intrigued me because it was so mysterious. Similar to the Mona Lisa, the viewer is left to infer so much. It’s one of those paintings at which one can stare at for hours and some new thought will keep coming in mind. Both the sisters have facial expressions that express slight happiness. Both are also looking at different directions. What are they looking at? They are fully covered in black. Are they both widows? One has her hands on the waist of the other which seems to imply intimacy. Are they lovers? Thoughts, ideas and questions kept coming to my mind while looking at the painting and that’s why it intrigued me so much.

 

Look and Look Again

seherakram

              As I was roaming the museum amongst my friends commenting on how aesthetically pleasing many art pieces were, the one that stood out to to me most was titled The Sisters. What really appealed to me was on either side of the painting there were two labels one that said The Brothers, and the other The Sisters. The painting was radiating a sense of empowerment, those two women could have been anyone to each other: lovers, friends, or maybe even sisters. The pose they stood in, with one’s arm around the hips of the other in a protective manner, suggested that they were lovers. They were defying the norm of the time by having the power to pursue their love for each other. They looked fearless, brave, and relentless; all the attributes expected to be seen in men at the time, hence the title The Brothers. The painting definitely; left its mark on me, as it caused me to further probe the meaning behind each painting as I came across them.

The SIsters, Abbot Handerson Thayer (1884)

             The second time around I came back to the painting, what I had previously seen was now gone. Where the painting had originally radiated a sense of empowerment, now the two women looked vulnerable to me. Where they once stood holding each with strength and grace, now they seemed to be clinging onto each other for protection- for the acknowledgment of their love. My perspective of the painting had completely completely changed, and now the title The Sisters seemed to complement the panting a lot more, rather than The Brothers. Where the title of The Brothers signified strength and sanctioned perseverance, the title of The Sisters seemed to radiate a sense of helplessness and vulnerability.. My perspective the second time around had changed magnanimously of the same painting I revisited the second time.