This one’s dedicated to Kov.
I know it’s been ages since I last updated this blog, I know..I know. Anyway, I’ve been trying to think of a painting to come back with, and I’ve been juggling a few around; I’ve finally settled on Betty by Gerard Richter.
Betty (1988)
No, it isn’t a photograph. I’m serious, it isn’t! So not only is Richter’s painting of his daughter’s back, but it’s as if he’s giving his back to conventional perceptions of portraits. I personally love the contrast and focus in the painting; the white and red against the monochrome background is stunning.
So, what do you think of this painting?
This post is dedicated to one of my best friends, Lina, because she loves Faulkner’s art so much.
Is Iain Faulkner, the new Jack Vettriano?
Chance Encounter
Crossed Legs
Leaving Venice
He Loves Me?
Contemplating Leaving
Nightwatch
Writer
Self Portrait
I haven’t really mentioned any female artists yet (how could I!) Who else to feature but the amazing Frida Kahlo?
Khalo wasn’t afraid of painting her emotions, and her reality - the way she saw it. Personally, I love the vibrant colours she used, it’s as if somehow they contradict the pain she depicts.
‘Self Portrait’
‘The Two Fridas’
‘My Grandparents, My Parents and I’ (Both her Mexican and Hungarian heritages)
‘ Self Portrait With Loose Hair’
‘A Few Small Nips’ (This painting depicts the numerous operations she underwent)
No matter how beautiful some contemporary surrealist paintings are, I don’t think I’m ever, EVER going to see paintings like Salvador Dali’s.
Reflection of Narcissus
Celestial Ride
Gala Looking into the Mediterranian Sea (Yeah, that’s Abe Lincon!)
Hallucinogenous Bullfighter
The Hand
Battle in the Clouds
Sun of Dali
I chose today’s painting, The Arnoflini Marriage by Jan van Eyck, to show you that sometimes it’s the little things that really count. Painted in 1943 by van Eyck, the subjects in the painting are Giovanni di Nicolao Arnoflini and his wife Giovanna Cenami.
Get your scalpels out because the dissecting’s about to begin!
Above the bed post, you can see a statue of Saint Margaret, patron saint of childbirth.
Above you can see a tree with flowers or fruits in bloom, which means it’s spring or summer. So why are the subjects wearing fur lined cloaks? (See below)
The cute little pup symbolises fidelity.
The oranges on the left side of the painting symbolise fertility.
This is my favourite part of the painting, the convex reflection in the mirror. It kind of loks like an all-seeing eye, doesn’t it?
Male clogs and female slippers, I love how they’ve been added to the painting, it gives it a very “at home” feeling.
So we’ve dissected the painting, take a look below for what the dissected put together make:
Gustav Klimt, an Austrian painter, is one of my favourite artists, so you’ll be seeing a lot of his work on this blog.
Klimt was comissioned to paint three murals for the University of Vienna (now known as Klimt University of Vienna). ‘Philosophy’, ‘ Medicine’, and ‘Jurisprudence.’ Klimt’s murals caused controversy due to their slightly erotic theme. Unfortunately, the murals were destroyed by a fire in 1945; only photographs and sketches remain.
‘Medicine’
‘Philosophy’
‘ Jurisprudence’
That was just a brief introduction, the painting I want to show you is ‘Goldfish’, it’s Klimt’s comeback to everyone who objected to his murals. I don’t really need to explain what the painting’s message is trying to convey, take a look:
So, what do you think the message of Klimt’s message is?!
I love it when artists use gold leaf in their paintings, it just gives it such a vibrant effect. Just look at Klimt and Fikry’s paintings, now try to imagine them without the gold. What do you think?
‘Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I’ by Gustav Klimt
‘Untitled’ by George Fikry
The idea of creating an art blog has been brewing in my mind for a while now. The basic concept of this blog is to try to share different artwork [not my own] to those of you who appreciate art. Here it is, I present to you my perspective, my artlook.
I’ve been thinking of which art pieces to put in the first post; it’s been hard, but I’ve settled on these beautiful pieces.
‘Casually Dressed’ by Barny Bewick , inspired by René Magritte’s ‘The Lovers’
‘No 1 Untitled Royal Red and Blue’ by Mark Rothko
‘The Game of Life’ by Jack Vettriano
