Activity #13

The style, movement, and period of art are important factors when trying to understand how a painting was created and what went into making it stand out among the crowd. Style in art, means the sum of such characteristics associated with a particular artist, group, or culture, or with an artist work at a specific time (587). Both Massys and West use representational appearance and naturalistic style, these artists hail from different movements and periods.

Quentin Massys “Ill-Matched Lovers” an oil on canvas was painted in 1520/1525 during the Northern Renaissance movement. This period evolved gradually out of the late middle ages. Painters began using techniques to create more realistic paintings. This type of style is naturalistic. “Ill-Matched Lovers” uses strong visual appearance, the bodies are painted to reveal light and shadow, and reflect The inner structure of bone and muscle, and how the clothing naturally drapes on the characters. These are the signs of naturalistic style (29). The appearance of this painting is representational. Representational is a form of art that presents the world in such a way that we recognize a likeness. Not only does the style make this painting recognizably natural, but the theme does as well. The man being distracted by lust, gets his purse stolen by the woman’s accomplice. Lust, men, women, and thieves are historical and are easily recognized in life and in art. The other painting hails from an interesting movement and period of art.

Benjamin West’s “The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise” an oil on panel was painted in 1791 during the period “The Age of Kings” and the Baroque movement. The appearance is representational and the style is naturalistic. The Baroque movement was a drastic shift in artwork. Artist began to employ vibrant colors while adding emotion, energy, and movement to their paintings. The emotion, energy, and movement are apparent in this historically recognizable painting. The look on Adam and Eve’s faces it etched with anguish and despair. West used such strong detail that the energy exudes from this painting. The movement is visible through the directional lines shifting the viewers eyes from the Angel to the exiting of Adam and Eve. This painting presents the world in a recognizable way because the features and bodies of Adam and Eve are painted realistically with light and shadows. It is also evidently recognizable because the historical aspect of this biblical story. The naturalistic style is evident in the detail of the bodies, faces, and surrounding of this painting.
Although these painting are very similar in appearance and style, the period and movements of their times are completely different. Although they contrast I find that they are strongly similar due to the naturalistic style. Both paintings are unique and fascinating.