ART 101 FINAL EXAM MUSEUM PAPER

"Ill-Matched Lovers" Quentin Massys 1520/1525 oil on canvas. "The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise" Benjamin West, 1791, oil on panel.


This essay is an essay discussing the similarities and contrasts of two paintings, “Ill-Matched Lovers” oil on canvas, created by Dutch painter Quentin Massys in the year 1520/1525 and “The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise” oil on panel painted by American, Benjamin West in 1791. Quentin Massys’s painting was created during the Northern Renaissance period. This period evolved gradually out of the late Middle Ages, as artists became increasingly entranced with the myriad details of the visible world and better and better at capturing them (Getlein, 411). Benjamin West’s painting was created during the Baroque era. This era contrasts with the renaissance period because whereas Renaissance art stressed the calm of reason, Baroque art is full of emotion, energy, and movement (Getlein, 421). The style of these two paintings is representational. In this essay we will further discuss the subject matter, design, mood, medium and technique, and that went into the creation of the art.
These paintings have an interesting and similar subject matter. The subject matter is the objects or event that the work depicts (Getlein, 36). Lust is often portrayed as evil and taboo, and often the downfall of mankind. Massys painting doesn’t depict a historical story; yet it has a similar theme as classic stories. West utilizes stories and history, as well as sacred realm. Both paintings depict a classic story of a woman tempting a man, the man succumbing to the woman, and the consequence for their action. Massys paints a story of a woman tempting a man with sexual favors; while the man is overcome by lust for her he is unaware her accomplice is stealing his coin purse. West portrays a historical and biblical depiction of an Angel casting Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden. The classic story behind this scene is Eve tempting Adam to eat from the forbidden fruit, Adam succumbs, and they are forever cast out of paradise. Both paintings represent a woman tempting a man, the man succumbing to the woman, and a consequence for their actions. Sacred Realm is depicted in the West’s entire painting. The Garden of Eden has been deemed a holy land given too man from God. Also, notice that a light shines through the clouds onto the Angel. This is a representation of Heaven. The theme builds the mood of the paintings. Massys painting brings forth the mood of treachery and evilness. Not only because the man is stealing the coin purse, but also the man lusting after the woman, has the face of a predator. His features are not soft and innocent; rather they are rough and callous. Similarly the facial expression on Adam and Eve in West’s piece show the mood is full of sorrow and pain. Adam covering his face in shame adds strong emotion to the painting. These artists have interesting and unique subject and mood in their paintings.
The paintings utilize elements of design. A similarity between these artists is that they employ the use of value. Value is the variation of lights and darks (Getlein 92). Notice Massy’s employed value by painting the characters features and clothing in lighter colors in contrast with the dark background. West uses value in a similar way by painting the Angel, Adam, and Eve in shades of white and tints of orange while fading the background out into tints of black and grey. Shade is when the color is darker than the hue’s normal value (Getlein 96). Tint is when the color used is lighter than the hue’s normal value (Getlein 96). Another element of design used by Massys is color harmony. A color harmony is the selective use of two or more colors in a single composition (Getlein, 96). Notice the deep contrast of the man’s red hood to his clothing, as well as the woman’s soft green and white clothing. These artists use the principles of design to create interesting paintings. Emphasis is apparent in both paintings. Emphasis means that our attention is drawn more to certain parts of the composition than to others (Getlein, 134). In Massys piece the woman becomes the focal point because her dress and complexion deeply contrast with the other characters. She has a clear complexion and is dressed in cool colors; the victim and accomplice have ruddy complexions and are dressed in warm colors. This emphasis draws the viewer’s eye to accomplice in action. Benjamin West employs emphasis in color by painting the Angel, Adam, and Eve in light shades compared to the surroundings that are painted dark shades of grey. It makes this scene the focal point and draws the viewer sight to the expulsion. The artists also use balance and hierarchical scale. Balance is defined as the equal distribution of visual weight; the apparent “heaviness” or “lightness” of the forms arranged in a composition” (Getlein, 125). Massys employs balance by strategically placing a deck of cards below the action of the scene. The contrast of the dark coin purse above the deck of cards brings the viewers attention to the crime. Hierarchical scale is the use of scale to indicate relative importance (Getlein, 138). In West’s piece the light coming from the clouds crosses the top of the angel who is above the man, who is above the woman. This emphasizes the hierarchy of the heavens over the angel, the angel over mankind. The use of principles of design helped these artists create excellent paintings
In 1520/1525 Quentin Massys created “Ill-Matched Lovers” using oil on canvas. Benjamin West used Oil as well, on panel. Oil painting came about in the 15th century. Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil, typically linseed oil. Oil paint dries very slowly, which allows the painter to blend colors by layering. Both artists created their painting using layering. Massy used layering to create realistic characters. The complexion’s have multiple colors, making the faces more realistic. He may have employed glazes. Glazes are thin and translucent veils of color applied over the thicker under painting (Getlein, 175). Massys painting is has a smooth appearance. Similarly, West uses layering in his painting to give it a realistic appeal. The clouds are painted with a range of beige, orange, and white colors that are thickly painted using Impasto technique. Impasto is a technique when paint is thickly layered on canvas (Getlein, 175). In contrast to Massys smooth finished painting, this effect of brush strokes makes West’s piece dramatic and unique. Even though both paintings create different images, the artists employed the same mediums of using layering and brush strokes. A difference in technique is used due to one being on canvas and the other on panel. Massys most likely utilized the traditional canvas which is made of linen and coated with animal glue prior to painting. In contrast West used panel which would have to be prepared with gesso. Gesso is a mixture of white pigment and glue that sealed the wood and could be sanded and rubbed to a smooth, ivory like finish (Getlein, 172). This technique helped create these unique artworks.
The style of a painting is an important factor when trying to understand how an artist created their art. 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 (Getlein, 587). Even though these artists hail from different movements and periods, both artists use representational style and naturalistic appearance. Representational is a form of art that presents the world in such way that we recognize a likeness (Getlein, 29). The style makes Massys painting natural, but the theme does as well. As previously explained, 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. “These paintings use 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 appearance (Getlein, 29). The emotion, energy, and movement are apparent in West’s depiction. The look on Adam and Eve’s faces it etched with anguish and despair. This painting also presents the world in a recognizable way with the features and bodies of Adam and Eve painted realistically with light and shadows. It is also representational because the historical aspect of this biblical story. The naturalistic appearance is evident in the detail of the bodies, faces, and surrounding of this painting.
In conclusion, I chose these two painting specifically because of the similar idea behind them. Originally, I only saw the similarity of a woman tempting a man. Throughout this course I have been able to learn and analyze the two paintings more intelligently and accurate. I have realized the unique differences and similarities these two painting share. I will continue to take forth this fascinating experience as I venture into analyzing other artwork. Through this experience I learned that a lot more that a paint brush and canvas go into creating a masterpiece. An artist has to think about and employ subject matter, design, mood, medium and technique went into the creating their art.


Sources:
Getlein, Mark. Living With Art; Eighth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill 2008

“Ill-Matched Lovers” and “The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise” The Collection. National Gallery of Art 4th February 2008 http://www.nga.gov
Copyright 2007 National Gallery of Art Washington, DC

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.

Activity #11 Period and Culture

Every form of art is derived from a period and culture. The period of an artwork is the time in history it was created. The culture is the behavior and characteristic of a particular culture. The two paintings chosen have interesting and important periods and cultures.
The Dutch painter Quentin Massys created, “Ill-Matched Lovers” an oil on canvas in 1520/1525 during the 16th century. This was the period of Northern Renaissance. The Northern Renaissance style evolved gradually out of the late Middle Ages. As artists became increasingly entranced with myriad details of the visible world and better and better and capturing them (411). The strong detail is evident in the characters features and vibrant clothing in the painting. In a fundamental way, Northern painting are about looking (413) This entire painting is about looking. As earlier discussed Massys employed strong directional lines to draw the viewers eyes. The culture of this painting is Netherlandish, (Dutch). These artists didn’t live among the ruins of Rome, nor had the connection to the creators of Classical past.
American painter Benjamin West created “The expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise.” an oil on panel in 1791 during the 18th century. This period was deemed “The Age of Kings”. This is befitting for an American painter who eventually became the historical painter to the king during this periods. Although this magnificent piece is created by an American, It was painted in Europe during the Baroque Era. Baroque art is full of emotion, energy, and movement. Colors are more vivid in Baroque art than in renaissance, with greater contrast between colors and between light and dark (421). As discussed before, West employs value by painting the focal point in light hues and the surrounding in darker colors. This technique brings forth emotion and energy from the painting.
Both painting hail from unique and historical era’s in Art history. These periods and culture will forever be interesting and have an impact on Art.

Activity #10 Mediums and Techniques

In 1520/1525 Quentin Massys created “Ill-Matched Lovers” using Oil on Canvas. Benjamin West used Oil as well, only his was on panel. Oil painting came about in the 15th century. Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil, typically linseed oil. Oil paint dries very slowly, which allows the painter to blend colors by layering. The rich and vibrant of the oil paint helped these artists create unique and appealing paintings.
Both artists created their painting using layering. Massy used layering to create realistic characters. The complexion’s have multiple colors much like reality. He may have employed glazes. Glazes are thin and translucent veils of color applied over the thicker under painting (175). Similarly West uses layering in his painting to give it a realistic appeal. The clouds are painted with a range of beige, orange , and white that is thickly painted using Impasto technique. Impasto is a technique when paint is thickly layered on canvas (175). Even though both painting create different images, the artists employed the same mediums of using layering and brush strokes. Through layering both artists create harmonious and realistic paintings.
Although both artists do employ layering, a difference in technique is used due to one being on canvas and the other on panel. Massys most likely utilized the traditional Canvas which is made of linen and coated with animal glue prior to painting. In contrast West used panel which would have to be prepared with gesso. Gesso is a mixture of white pigment and glue that sealed the wood and could be sanded and rubbed to a smooth, ivory like finish (172).
There are difference and similarities in the mediums used by both painters. But, it stands that the paintings are unique and individual masterpieces.

Critical Thinking Essay

Jacob Lawrence
Cabinet Makers, 1946
American
Gouache with pencil under-drawing on paper.

Nam June PaikVideo Flag, (1985-1996)
American70 video monitors, 4 laser disc players, computer, timers, electrical devices, wood and metal housing on rubber wheels

If a meteorite were to come racing toward earth and just happen to threaten the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, we would choose to save Jacob Lawrence’s “Cabinet Makers” and Nam June Paik’s “Video Flag.” First, Josh will discuss his reasoning for rescuing “Cabinet Makers” and then I will discuss my ideas towards the “Video Flag.”

There are many reasons why I would save this piece. First, it is simply appealing to the eye. The colors used are red, blue, and orange with black and white. The use of only 5 colors gives the piece unity and variety. The reason it is appeasing is because of the contrast in the complementary colors blue and orange, as well as the contrast between the black and white. Besides the colors though, the strongest reason for my choosing this piece doesn’t come from the piece itself; but from the history of the artist and his representation of America as viewers would want to see it. Lawrence came from the poverty of Harlem. Though his life was not advantaged, he managed to become one of the greatest artists from the Harlem Renaissance and in American history. His works portrayed his struggle and his subject matter came from his personal experiences, the black experience, and from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s and always contained narrative (Getlein, 174). His life exemplifies that America is the “land of opportunity” where anyone can become what they want to be and I think that that is important to American history and culture.

I chose Nam June Paik’s “Video Flag” to save. I chose this piece because of the visual and historical impact it would have on the future. This modern piece consists of the latest advances in technology and art. It utilizes laser disks, automatic switchers, thirteen-inch monitors, and other devices. It has 70 television monitors that make it important and individual. Each T.V. displays an integral part of American society. The screens display split-second news stills, rotating statues of Liberty, endless runs of the binary language of ones and zeros, and a face that morphs through every U.S. president (Hirshhorn). This piece is creative and explains the current state of American Society. The American flag is recognizable throughout the world. To use this image and to creatively add other aspects of American culture on the screens is unlike any previous artwork I have seen. I found its impact to be moving and informative. I believe if I saved this piece, many years down the road, people would recognize what America was. The Flag represents the pride and independence of American people, the new stills will represent the mass media’s influence on our nation, and the use of the flashing binary system will explain the historical creation of computers and digital technology, while the former presidents of the United States faces will represent the American government throughout history. It would be a shame to ever see this piece of work destroyed and that is why I would choose this piece to save above all others at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

In conclusion, we both chose to save pieces that reign from American culture. We both find that preserving art from American history would best benefit those who survived and lived to see these wonderful pieces of art.

Sources:

Getlein, Mark. Living with Art, 8th Edition. McGraw-Hill. 2008
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. http://www.hirshhorn.si.edu/collection/record.asp?Artist=Paik&OnView=1&ViewMode=&Record=1

Activity #9 write about it!

Through the invention of the camera, artists were able to express what they saw and felt themselves. A major impact of the camera was the exploration of three important principles of design: color, light, and symmetry. Previous to the camera, painters and sculptors were confined to creating portraits of aristocracy and important events.
The Impressionist movement came from the invention of the camera. Impressionism is a style of painting characterized by short brush strokes of bright colors in immediate juxtaposition to represent the effect of light on objects (Dictionary.com). The era included the prestige’s painter Claude Monet. Monet was a leader during this era. His technique of short brush strokes created texture opposed to the accepted smooth surfaces of paintings in previous era's. Monet was able to use principles of design such as light and color. Monet’s inventive creativity has become art history as well as inspiration to other artists.
Expressionism was the next big era following the invention of the camera. Expressionism is a movement of the late 19th early 20th century which claimed the right to distort visual appearances in order to express psychological or emotional state (Getlein, 583). One of the most influential painters of all time, Vincent Van Gogh, focused on using color in his painting during this era.
These two movements prove that the appearance of visual art changed due to the invention of the camera and photography. Although the camera has affected visual art in many ways, these two era stand out historically because of their impact on the art world. The invention of the camera, and these era’s, brought forth some of the most creative and interesting pieces of art in all of history.

Activity #8 Blog it

This is my ransom note on behalf of myself.

I chose everyday products in our environment to create this piece. Items such as toothpaste, dish soap, foil, sunflower seed bag, cereal containers, ect. It was easy to find all of the these products in my home. I know alot of these items are in my environment as well as other people.Here are some of the photos I had developed and cut from.

I used many more. I just wanted to put a few up!