student post – Page 5 – Fall 2017: The Arts in New York City

The Sisters- Abbott Handerson Thayer

October 2, 2017October 19, 2017abhayvirsingh

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

October 1, 2017October 19, 2017seherakram

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.

Look and Look Again: The Doge’s Palace, 1908 Claude Monet (French, 1840-1926) Oil on Canvas

September 30, 2017October 19, 2017Michelle Bernstein

The Doge’s Palace, 1908

Claude Monet (French, 1840-1926)

Oil on Canvas

Familiar and a big fan of Claude Monet’s works, I was not disappointed by his piece “The Doge’s Palace.” Upon seeing the painting, I made a list of the first wor ds and ideas that came to my mind.

Passing of time
Shadows
Buildings
Dark
Sun
Sunset
Essence
Light
Land
Water
Land & Water
Reflections
Mysterious
Nature
Industry
Color
Contrast
Impressionism

Like most of his other masterpieces, Monet used very short brush strokes to capture light and how it interacts with the world around us. On a closer examination of this painting “The Doge’s Palace,” I grew more and more curious to find out what went on in the Doge’s Palace. The painting made me wonder if the arches on the lower ground served as aqueducts or if there was a barrier between the building and the water. I was very pleased with Monet’s color scheme and I feel as though his choice in color is what adds life to his paintings. I can almost feel the warmth of the sun that hit the facade of this palace.

Look and Look Again: “The Sisters” by Rembrandt Peale

September 30, 2017October 19, 2017makeshabalkaran

*Picture of **“The Sisters”**– Rembrandt Peale, as depicted in the Brooklyn Museum. (Image collected from Google Arts & Culture)*

First Look

A collection of warm and inviting colors towards the middle, surrounded by a trimming of darker material colors
Clearly defined textures and varieties of cloths/furs
The sisters are shown looking almost directly into the eyes of the painter, with a direct focus of view
The brush strokes transfer great detail: strands of curly hair, wrinkles in the dresses of the female characters, contrast and softness of skin, glassines in the eyes of the girls
It is almost eerie the way their eyes focus, staring so intently, it is as if they watch you whenever as you move, tracking your eyes as you watch theirs

Second Look

There is a clear sense of color, the dark blacks, deep reds and luxurious golds, but a closer look shows green of deep emerald (towards the bottom left)
There is a paintbrush in the first sister’s hand, and the paint palette shows those same green colors, as if she was painting and was caught off guard- or staged to look so by the painter
There is a whimsical and soft look from both of the sisters, but a slight curve is seen in the lips of the second (maybe younger) sister whereas a more “maternal” feeling is portrayed through the eyes and the facial feelings of the first sister
These sisters exhibit an almost “Siamese twin” vibe, due to their similarity in appearances; as well as the illusion of them almost being connected in body- as if this painting was slightly expressing one person with two heads and two personalities.
It is almost as if the sisters are trying to discern what you are thinking about them, as you do the same with respect to them

Look then Look Again

September 29, 2017October 19, 2017shainugeorge

Cartonnage of Nespanetjerenpare

This piece was of a mummy’s coffin. My first impression of the coffin was that it was very intricate. The coffin was covered in tiny hieroglyphics. The hieroglyphics showed images of birds, knives, and bowls. Aside from the head

of the main figure, there were also images of people all over the coffin. It is not hard to tell that someone spent a lot of time and efforton this particular piece. Hints of orange stood out from the white-brown background.

My second impression of the piece was pure fascination. I got to thinking about what the purpose of a coffin actually was back then. Not only were coffins used to preserve the dead bodies but they were also used to show wealth and power. It was fascinating for me to see how people put so much effort into how they present themselves even after their life is over. King Nespanetjerenpare made it clear that he wanted it to be known that he was a prestigious, well-respected person of his time period. But it was interesting to me because no matter how lavish someones lifestyle was, their body still ends up in the same place. The corpse could be covered in a beautiful coffin buried in the Egyptian pyramids but at the end of the day it’s still just a corpse. Theres nothing special about it. Life hasn’t changed hundreds of years later. Some people still demand this kind of attention and power. Despite the time difference, certain people still demand to be seen as powerful and almighty, similar to the kings in the coffins.

Look and Look Again: Making Babies for the Indian Market

September 29, 2017October 19, 2017Absara Hassan

I was walking in the “Arts of the Americas” gallery when I stumbled upon this piece. It is a ceramic sculpture titled Making Babies for the Indian Market, created by artist Roxanne Swentzell. At first glance, I was intrigued by the children surrounding the figure: what were they doing? Why were they there? After reading the description, I learned the answers to these questions as well as the deeper meaning behind the sculpture as a whole. In this piece, we see a black pot atop the sitting Pueblo woman’s head. This was intended to give the audience the impression that making pots and making babies are of equal value, and that the Native Americans themselves were treated poorly and seen as a commodity by non-natives. Analyzing the artwork for the second time, I was able to see the message that Swentzell was trying to project. (Also, I discovered that the face of the Pueblo woman is that of Roxanne Swentzell!)