Art at the MET

Salvatore Rosa is from Arenella, Province of Naples, Italy. He was an Italian painter from the Baroque period. In the 17th century Rosa was known to be very versatile and a bandit or a rebel. One of his most known influences within his work is the romantic style within his paintings, including his use for themes with magic or wilderness. He painted for his own satisfaction and chose his own subjects on what to paint. The way he paints his face within his self-portrait has a sort of softness and emotion to it. His "Self-Portrait" painting was made in 1647 during the Baroque period, and it is an oil on canvas painting. It is 39 by 31 1/4 inches. His painting is dark, mysterious, almost sinister, and dramatic. Here he is carving into the skull the words "Behold, whither, when" in Greek. Behind him looks to be a dark clouded sky with a quarter moon quietly appearing in the corner. In his facial features he appears to be looking downcast as if he is depressed or mourning after writing the Greek words on the skull. Rosa's "Self Portrait" is a great example of art in the Baroque period because his painting shows qualities of emotion, drama, and dark symbols. 

Agnolo di Cosimo was born in Florence, Italy 1503 and he practiced Renaissance style art. He later on changed his name to Bronzido. Bronzido's painting "Portrait of a Young Man" was created in the 1530s from the Renaissance period. It's an oil on wood painting that is 37 5/8 by 29 1/2 inches. The identity of the boy in the painting is unknown but Bronzido depicts him as innocent and thoughtful. As he stands with his book open and elegant clothing, he portrays a great example of a painting with the Renaissance period. The boys face is hard and stiff with a slight blush presented on his cheeks. 

 

Impressionism & Post Impressionism

Impressionist made art based on portraying every day life activities, and landscapes. This defied the trend of historical art because their paintings illustrated nature or the way things are viewed. In Edgar Degas "Dancers at the Barre" he portrays what he saw around him. During this period painters painted quickly and the colors aren't mixed much. This is shown in Degas‘ painting. 

During the Post Impressionist period artist applied similar paint strokes as the Impressionist but it is still very different. Post Impressionist include more emotion, imagination, or figment to their art. The art is more free like because they interpreted things like shapes or nature, and their work was also inspired by Japanese culture and their prints. Paul Signac's painting Breakfast is a good example, he paints with colorful dots and it's difficult to pinpoint some of the occupants expressions in the painting.
 

Rembrandt

1. This portrait of the fur merchant portrays a Russian businessman. His business consisted of furs. Rembrandt painted this man Nicolaes Ruts and in the portrait he is portrayed as someone with wealth. He has fur mostly all over his body (his coat) and way Rembrandt portrays him is as a clean and pretty sharp man. He is illustrated as a potential businessman with examples of wealth like his fur coat, the exhaustion portrayed around his eyes, his sharp eyes and face for example. 

2. The portrait of the 83 year old woman's mood portrays gloominess, depression, or misery. Rembrandt created this mood by illustrating the elements in this woman's face. He makes her appear to be exhausted, her eyebrows are in a frown, her eyes lids are drooping, she also doesn't appear to be focusing on anything. It's as if she's lost in her own thoughts. 

3. What Rembrandt is communicating within his painting of Samson & Deliah is Deliah's betrayal. This painting represents how betrayal is used within romance. She found Samson's strength, his hair. The servant is holding the sword threateningly. Even the way she holding Samson's hair, as if to comfort him but it isn't really comfort at all. 

Museum Trip David Wojnarowicz

 

In this screen print called ”Untitled (ACT-UP)” Wojnarowicz portrays the AIDS crisis and (people who are suffering from AIDS) how they are being ignored by the government as the number of people suffering continues to increase. I believe that art can change the publics opinion especially when it is dramatic like this screen print. When Wojnarowicz shows the pattern or repetition of the percentage numbers going across the screen print. I believe it dramatizes the issue at hand, it bring attention to North America. For example the target inside North America is very dramatic and portrays the need for immediate attention. Wojnarowicz intention was to benefit the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power. He attended their demonstrations, meetings, and rally's to keep the conversation about AIDS in politics. The point was to let Americans know that the AIDS crisis will not be ignored. Wojnarowicz artwork on AIDS or ACT-UP depicts that the AIDS crisis is still very relevant today, especially when medical professionals talk about or try to enforce the use of protection, because terrible illnesses can come about if we're not careful. Even when it comes to drugs or the use of needles we still have to be very cautious to try and prevent these illnesses from spreading. HIV and AIDS still affect minorities today so I believe that his artwork is very relevant.

 

In his painting ”History Keeps Me Awake at Night” made with spray paint, acrylic and collaged paper, Wojnarowicz presents different themes and symbols in this work. There's an green alien, a statue of a man riding on a horse, a red wheel, a man sleeping, another man pointing a gun forward with a cut out of the human body behind him on his right side. There's another man behind him on his left, he has no face, and it looks like he is playing with chemicals or creating dangerous chemicals. The symbols shown in this painting are still relevant in today's society because it depicts the themes of drugs, illnesses, gun violence, poverty, and politics. I think it illustrates that to the public they're many things that are going on at once, and we shouldn't focus on just one issue. His intention was to portray an American dystopia by showing crime, poverty, and the fear of AIDS.