Back to the PMA

Our assignment was to go back to the PMA and look at the same piece we did 2 weeks ago and think about some different things then we did before. I was originally attracted to this piece because it was in a section of the museum that I am interested in.  I love impressionism especially French impressionism.  The colors in this piece are neutrals of of the compliments red and green. I think this attracted me to the piece because the compliments naturally work so well together.  Also red and green hues have the same value as each other they are equal, so when the artist uses white or yellow ocher it really pops.  My favorite part of the painting is the glow that the little white lamp gives to this dimly lit room and the white lamp shade really pops against the reds and greens being used.  This piece is a couple fighting and I can somewhat sense the tension in the room these two figures are in.  I can related to this because I hate the uncomfortable feeling I get when I'm in a fight with my boyfriend or when I'm in the room and my parents are fighting.

trip to the PMA

    My favorite style of art is French impressionism.  I know that the PMA has an extensive collection of artists from this movement so I was clearly drawn to that area of the museum.  The work of art that I chose to write about was by my favorite artist Edgar Degas.  It was called interior.   This piece is about 3ft by 4ft so it is a decent size.  The medium is oil on canvas.  It was made in 1869.  I chose this piece because its different from mot of Degas work.  He is known for his work in pastels and his extensive collection of compositions of dancers.  The palette in this particular piece is also different from what Degas is more known for.  This piece is darker then one of his more famous pieces and the narrative in this piece isn’t as whimsical as his ones of dancers.  The reason I chose this piece is because Degas is my favorite artist and I wanted to further examine this work of art that is different from his other pieces that I’ve seen.  The colors in this piece are more neutral like warm shades of burnt sienna and yellow green.  The room that the two figures are in gives off a warm feeling and the light of the small table lamp in the middle of the painting gives off the perfect glow.  I think this is one of my favorite parts of the painting.  I really like that I can see where the light source is coming from.  I can imagine that it is night time and that maybe this couple has gotten in a fight.  The man in standing in the shadows leaning up against the wall with his hands in his pockets looks like he feels uncomfortable, while the woman is sitting with her back to him and her one hand is in her lap and the other hand is up to her face maybe she is wiping away tears.  The way that the light from the lamp highlights the back of her dress is just beautiful.  This painting gives the look of a very intimate setting. This is an uncomfortable situation between two people, who are possibly lovers.  I love that he puts us right in the middle of the event but doesn’t give us any clues as to what is actually going on.  It allows the mind to wander.  As I looked at this painting I thought about what might of happened and I also noticed all the details in the rest of the composition.  The style of the room with the patterned wall paper and the mirror that subtly reflects the light from the lamp above the glowing fireplace.  I imagine that if I was standing in this room that it would be very warm.  Also I noticed that the main underlying colors in this piece are complementary red and green.  I’m not sure if I noticed this because I’ve been working with complementary colors and the color wheel a little too much in 2D but it seems to really bring the whole painting together.

Response to quote

. Respond to this quote. No lame answers (I like, I disagree…). Respond thoughtfully, I’m interested in what you think:

"The point is, that every piece of art changes your whole perception of the rest of the world for the rest of your life. And it's not a joke! And if it doesn't, then it's not art, it's a commodity."

- Lawrence Weiner responding to a question from Liam Gillick in "Between Artists"
pg20

I think that this quote is for the most part true.  I remember my first trip to the Met, I have always enjoyed going to museums and exploring work that other people have created. I love almost all forms of art; ancient art that helped document historical events, the classical art that formed most of what we learn in school, the works of art that have sparked revolutions, and even the strange art that you have to stretch you imagination to even slightly understand.  After my trip to the Met I saw the sketches from the 1700's and 1800's and they were sketches of the same kinds of exercises that my art teacher was making me do, and after seeing that people hundreds of years ago were doing the same kind of art I was it made me feel like I was part of something bigger.  Art work is meant to inspire the viewer and make them think.  I don't think that every work of art will change my life but I know many that have.  I also don't think that just because a piece doesn't change your perspective on the world that its not are.  An individual decides what they think art is not the general public.  Art is very personal and i think that it depends on the viewer if they make a strong connection to the piece or not, then they can decide if they think it is art.