Hello readers, unlike previous weeks it did not take me long to know what piece I wanted to write on as I have seen this one and have personal photos of this copy when I visited the Louvre museum last spring. I did not know much about the painting as they only give a small piece of context in such a big building but thought it would be a good time to touch on it deeper now.
The Abduction of the Sabine Women
By Nicolas Poussin
With so many bight colors in the women's dresses and parts of a blue sky, it seems that it would be a colorful painting with happiness. Looking deeper into the painting there is a singular man high above everyone else and a mix of men that are holding the women and putting up a fight and it is more of a distress picture that does not give the same inspiration for an awe. The painting amplifies the Baroque style through its use of movement, theatricality, and strong contrast between light and shadows.
Poussin's The Abduction of the Sabine Women is an example of Baroque art that evokes emotion through dramatic composition, movement, and the use of color and light throughout. The painting captures the legendary moment when Roman men who were under the orders of Romulus, abduct Sabine women to ensure the future of their civilization's growth. The chaotic scene has an overwhelming sense of urgency and struggle as it is filled with varied figures and expressive poses. The scene is packed with dynamic figures caught in moments of struggle and their gestures heighten the tension. The different composition also directs the viewers eye across the chaotic scene at all of the different me depicted. The gestures and vivid expressions heighten the emotional impact which makes me feel as a viewer the amount of tension and distress taking place during this event. The arrangement of figures and architecture elements with the colors chosen creates depth and balance reinforcing the moment.
The painting is connected to the influence of royalty, as Poussin painted for patrons associated with the French monarchy who admired classical themes and historical narratives that reinforced ideals of power. Additionally, The Abduction of the Sabine Women reflects the expansion of the knowledge during the Baroque period, particularly in how Poussin applies the principles of anatomy, perspective and proportion to achieve realism and structure. The artist's intellectual approach to painting demonstrates and is intensified by the Baroque emphasis on movement and theatrically, bringing in the drama and passion as they were happening in real life. I do feel in a way that the style of Baroque and Renaissance could be compared in ways that lighting and emotion were used greatly in both, but at two different extremes as technique was mastered and heightened as time went on. Poussin painted this work during a time when European monarchies sought to reinforce their divine right to rule. He was known for his intellectual approach to painting, studying classical sculptures and using mathematical principles to construct balanced compositions.
What I really liked about your choice of painting is that although it presents bright colors interpreting positive affiliations there is a deeper hidden meaning. The connection with the relationship sounds like typical men behavior back than, however, connection with reality to power and unfairness from women to men. Reading more about this work in further translation it is interesting to know that these women were looked at as brides rather than captured humans.
The Nazca Civilization Hello readers, glad we are finally coming to an end to the semester and I hope it has gone well for everyone and that we have learned a lot to move forward to the next semester. This week we have been given some freedom to choose a non western area of our choosing, and I am choosing the Nazca Civilization, originated in Peru. I do not know much of this area and knew nothing of the different groups of people that were from there so lets get to learning together. The Nazca civilization flourished in the southern coast of Peru between approximately 100 BC and 800 AD. The culture was heavily influenced by the preceding Paraca's culture so some viewers have a hard time seeing when the change takes place. Their art which includes potery, textiles and geoglyphs offer valuable insight into their cultural beliefs, social structure and artistic techniques. These artworks showcase a unique blend of geometric shapes, animal figures, and human representation with s...
When it comes to art, before this class, I was more drawn to landscapes that told a story or a pretty picture of a couple together, which points me to more of the Romantic Era. In this week I will be comparing four different pieces from this era comparing the different happy smiles and pretty colors to desperate tragedies in Pre-Raphaelite and post-impressionism. Proserpine By: Dante Gabriel Rossetti Rossetti was an English painter and poet, known for his Pre-Raphaelite paintings. Rossetti's work Proserpine, painted in 1874, is an example of the Pre-Raphaelite style itself, that is known for the vivid detail and symbolism throughout. In this painting, Proserpine is the main focus as she was the goddess of the underworld in Greek mythology, seen standing in dim lighting with a pomegranate in hand. There are a few things hidden in plain sight that also have a great influence on what the story might be and that would include the pomegra...
The Age of Digital Entertainment Hello everyone reading this weeks blog, I decided to focus on the impacts of digital entertainment and its impact on Post Modern artworks that I will be showcasing below. The rise of digital entertainment transformed not only how people consume media but how artists can create, critique and communicate. In the Post Modern era, art seems to be a reflection of our world surrounded by screens and internet culture, video games, and social media. Electronic Superhighway By: Nam June Paik Created in 1995 by Nam June Paik, the Electronic Superhighway is a powerful reflection of how digital technology reshapes perception and identity in postmodern media art. The work consists of 336 televisions, 50 DVD players, 3,750 feet of cable, and 575 feet neon tubing that outlines the glowing map of the United States. If you look up a video clips of the art piece, each state has personal video clips designed for each st...
What I really liked about your choice of painting is that although it presents bright colors interpreting positive affiliations there is a deeper hidden meaning. The connection with the relationship sounds like typical men behavior back than, however, connection with reality to power and unfairness from women to men. Reading more about this work in further translation it is interesting to know that these women were looked at as brides rather than captured humans.
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