Have Fun With Art

I've said it before and I'll say it again, who needs TV when you can stare at and interact with a painting? You'll find that viewing a painting can give you far more entertainment, not to mention an interactive experience. A lot of times I think people can get bored with art because they're just not looking at the right artwork.

In this post I'll share some paintings I think are pretty interesting. Everybody has their favorite painting or styles, and opinions on art. I hope to hear from you about yours.

Henri Rousseau : A Step Into A Dream...

Henri Rousseau was a self-taught French painter of the late 19th century, who painted in what is known as a "Naive" or "Primitive" way. I absolutely love Henri Rousseau's paintings. His style seems to prelude surrealism, for its dreamy often child-like quality.

 

“The Dream,” Henri Rousseau

I had the pleasure of seeing the above painting, "The Dream" in New York at the Museum of Modern Art. Its absolutely huge. He was noted for his many jungle paintings, he himself having gone on many safaris. You really can't just walk by this humongous canvas or you'd be missing out on a great deal. Spend the time to check out all that's going on here. You may be surprised at all the different creatures that pop up each time you look at it. See the strange figure in the middle with the flute?

The next one here is at The Philadelphia Museum of Art, called "the Merry Jesters." It's currently [12/07] not on view, but when it was I used to like to ask whoever I was with to count how many baboons they see. Few get it right the first glance! Sit back and look, how many do you see?

“The Merry Jesters,” Henri Rousseau

If you counted five, guess again. Zoomed in? Cheater. The real quiz would be to figure out what these "merry jesters" are doing. Are they drumming on a Coke bottle? Sometimes it's not so easy to interpret dreams.

Oops: How Do You Look At That Painting?!

This painting by Van Gogh was incorrectly hung upside down by a museum. Is it right-side up here?
      

“Grass and Butterflies,” Vincent van Gogh

The paintings below are incorrectly positioned. Click on them for the correct view.

A bowl of veggies, or...
    

Arcimboldo Bowl

These are some paintings of Giuseppe Arcimboldo who was way ahead of his time (he lived in the 16th century), but more on him later.

Putting Themselves In Their Masterpieces

There's a narcissist in every painter I believe. You have to have a large ego, thinking you will become immortal through your paintings, painting your likeness for all to see and admire. There's very little modesty there.

The following are some paintings you may enjoy. Can you spot the artist's own likeness in the compositions?
   

This is "the Martyrdom of Saint Mathew," by Michelangelo Merisi da Carvaggio

“The Martyrdom of Saint Mathew,” Carvaggio

And how about this one, another by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio...
 

David With Head of Goliath, Caravaggio

Yep, that's him, pretty grotesque. Caravaggio was on the run from the law for the last few years of his life for killing a tennis opponent. His desperation and despair showed more and more the later in the chronology of his works. Here he is clearly showing his fear of decapitation, a recurrent theme (head of Medusa, etc.). But then again, these are deep-rooted fears shared by all men, in the depths of the sub-conscious: the position of the sword is no accident.

This is Rembrandt's "The Militia Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq." Which one of these characters is the Dutch Master's own likeness? Did he paint himself into this picture?
  

“The Night Watch”

James Ensor was a famous Belgian Painter who painted all kinds of morbid mask paintings. Here he painted himself far into the future as he was sure to look:
  

“Self Portrait in 1960,” James Ensor 1888

He Only Sold One Painting In His Entire Life?

Which of the following paintings by Vincent van Gogh was the only one to have been sold during his lifetime?
  

“Starry Night,” van Gogh
   

“Night Cafe,” van Gogh
   

“The Red Vineyard,” van Gogh

“Sunflowers,” van Gogh

You probably guessed "Starry Night" didn't you? If you did you are absolutely wrong. "The Red Vineyard" is the only painting Vincent van Gogh sold during his lifetime. In 1990 the van Gogh painting, "Portrait of Dr. Gachet" sold for $129.7 Million (1997 numbers), making it the 4th most expensive painting.

Who Is The Most Important?

It seems in every professional painter's career there comes a time to paint the group portraits of a distinguished group of ladies and/or gentlemen. Now this group may have a leader of some sorts, but many times the sitters are among equals. How then, must a painter choose a composition which doesn't favor any one particular person. Simple psychology tells us that we, as viewers, look at the painting and recognize emphasis immediately and so on. How then, was Frans Hals to paint the "Regents of Saint Elizabeth's Hospital?"
 

“The Regents of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital,” Frans Hals

Now I'm no professional art historian, and I haven't read anything about this subject but I'll take a shot at it. Stand back and look at the whole painting, what ideas come to you?

First as we view a painting we (in the West), instinctively look at a painting from left to right, because that's the way we read. Hence the importance of "stage left," which is occupied here by the jolly fellow on the left side of the table. So we see him first, he occupies a very important part of the painting.

Then we see a gentleman standing. At first it seems there is no real emphasis on this character but then again he commands the highest presence in the portrait, so this carries some weight.

To his left is a man holding a book (does he keep the books, or is this an otherwise intellectual compliment?) looking at the man on the other side of the table. The man holding the book is in a very prominent part of the painting: the exact center!

I'll skip to the man at the far right, whose countenance shows a considerable degree of emphasis. The artist has chosen this regent to have a very bright face, which leads the viewer's eye to look at him. Also notice where at the table he is sitting. This man sits at the head of the table.

Finally note the only man on the viewer's side of the table with his back turned. Notice again the emphasis of the white on his collar: this is brightest spot in the whole visual field. His collar also seems to point up to the man's face in a bright triangle. His face is also bright, and with the collar hold the central focal point of the painting. Another note is there is a pen very close to his hand, a symbol of authority. There is also some psychological points of interest here. He is the only sitter to seem to look away, with all others looking toward him, suggesting he does not seek the approval of his fellows, as the three on the left clearly look to him.

So we have stage left, the highest person, exact center, head of the table with an emphasized face, and a gentleman suggesting authority with the brightest point in the painting. In my own humble opinion I'd have to say that the man with his back turned is the highest "rank" with the others his subordinate, the most immediate being the head of the table. 

But its not obvious. One thing Hals has done here is to be sure not to insult anyone, giving each sitter a very important space and presence in the visual field, as I have outlined, leaving no man to be an inferior. Even the gentleman with his back turned, makes no effort to command the highest rank, which could possibly give us an insight into his leadership. But then again, each of these men may possibly be equals. What do you think?

Well I hope maybe you had a little fun here and realized theres all kinds of interesting trivia about art we can learn. You learn something new everyday and I hope maybe you could share some tidbits of info or trivia. If you have anything to contribute, or would like to give your theories on the Hals painting or others, leave a comment.

Until then, take care.