I am very uncultured when it comes to describing art, yet this painting illustrates the childlike and "dream-like" nature of the medium I so yearn for. In my class back at Franciscan University, my professor had us read an entire chapter about the mundane nature of a portrait focused on a soup can (and the entire class moaned as they were wishing to discuss about Sacraments in a Theology class, not art). And yet that entire chapter dissecting the mundane soup can told me about how secular art was becoming borish, not because of a lack of faith or belief but because the world was becoming simplified. The imagination of man was ceasing to draw a frame of a soup can. It isn't expressive, it looks "nice" as it was in a time before art became needlessly abstract. But rather it wasn't "human". It lacked the emotion depth of what it meant to experience life as man and woman. But when I see this painting, I see a woman dashed in all white as light is gazed on her. While her "co-star" is slightly out of focus of the light, drowning himself in some angst. Perhaps it is because the "play is ended", they yearn for the spotlight always. It captures so many emotions and thoughts of what interpretations may end up because it is so alive. It makes art... well art! It makes you just think. And not just think in a way to trap you in abstract thinking but rather about what it means to be human. "Beauty will save the world" - Dostoevsky.
I am very uncultured when it comes to describing art, yet this painting illustrates the childlike and "dream-like" nature of the medium I so yearn for. In my class back at Franciscan University, my professor had us read an entire chapter about the mundane nature of a portrait focused on a soup can (and the entire class moaned as they were wishing to discuss about Sacraments in a Theology class, not art). And yet that entire chapter dissecting the mundane soup can told me about how secular art was becoming borish, not because of a lack of faith or belief but because the world was becoming simplified. The imagination of man was ceasing to draw a frame of a soup can. It isn't expressive, it looks "nice" as it was in a time before art became needlessly abstract. But rather it wasn't "human". It lacked the emotion depth of what it meant to experience life as man and woman. But when I see this painting, I see a woman dashed in all white as light is gazed on her. While her "co-star" is slightly out of focus of the light, drowning himself in some angst. Perhaps it is because the "play is ended", they yearn for the spotlight always. It captures so many emotions and thoughts of what interpretations may end up because it is so alive. It makes art... well art! It makes you just think. And not just think in a way to trap you in abstract thinking but rather about what it means to be human.
ReplyDelete"Beauty will save the world" - Dostoevsky.
What a beautiful reflection! Thank you.
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