Art 101 - Essay 3
Essay 3 will arrive on July 23. (My birthday)
The Theme and Purpose of "The Dance Lesson."
My first piece from the National Gallery of Art, "The Dance Lesson", circa 1879, is by Edgar Degas. Degas lived between the period of 1834-1917. The medium is oil on canvas. The movement is Impressionist. The theme and purpose of this painting is looking outward: the here and now. As with the work "The Dancing Couple," the viewer is like the proverbial fly on the wall in this piece. This is the classic example of an average day of ballet lessons. It is almost as if the teacher is about to stand and direct the other students to line up on the mirrored wall.
This theme intersects with the theme of visual delight and the art of daily life. It is apparent, particularly to anyone who has taken ballet classes that this is indeed an average day for the dancers. Although many inferences can be made to the symbolic meaning Degas attached to the colors and motion, this work is also extremely accessible. The average lay person can gather that this is a dance lesson and with that knowledge the theme of art for art's sake is clearly evident. It might be a bit of a stretch, but I am also seeing themes of looking inward: the human experience. This is evidently an example of ritual, as this discipline requires an almost daily commitment of time, like prayer or chanting. In contrast, "The Dancing Couple" shares the same theme, however, it is concentrated on emotions, such as happiness, love and childhood.
The Theme and Purpose of "The Dancing Couple."
My second piece, "The Dancing Couple" from 1663, is by Jan Steen. The period is 1625/1626-1679. The medium is oil on canvas. The movement is Baroque. "The Dancing Couple's" theme and purpose is visual delight and the arts of daily life. It is as if the viewer is peering into the lives of a group of common folks as a fly on the wall. This painting is visually saturated with what appears to be the daily rituals of common people. A simple table of various foods are spread as it would be on any other festive occasion. The man to the right, sitting, is having a glass of spirits. The woman to the left is appeasing a small child. The overall mood of the work alludes to a gathering, though simple, that is a part of the general lives of people like you or myself.
The work also exhibits notions about the here and now. This work could actually be captured by a photo camera, had the camera been created during the 1600s. This is a snapshot of a day in the life of commoners. Emotions of happiness, love, and childhood are evident as the couple dances, the people laugh and clap, the couple sits and converses, and the infant enjoys a simple toy. These examples of looking inward: the human experience are clear and give the work character and life. Finally, this is also an example of art for art's sake. It is easily accessible, despite the viewers knowledge or lack there of art. The emotions of the characters are palpable, as if one could step right into the scene of festivities.
An apropos quote to give the total impression of this work is: "...art does not always have to reach so high. Sometimes it is enough just to look around ourselves and notice what our life is like here, now, in this place, at this time." This work definitely fits into the parameters of this quote's description -- a simple evening feast.
Citations
Getlein, Mark. Gilbert's Living with Art, Seventh Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.
The Theme and Purpose of "The Dance Lesson."
My first piece from the National Gallery of Art, "The Dance Lesson", circa 1879, is by Edgar Degas. Degas lived between the period of 1834-1917. The medium is oil on canvas. The movement is Impressionist. The theme and purpose of this painting is looking outward: the here and now. As with the work "The Dancing Couple," the viewer is like the proverbial fly on the wall in this piece. This is the classic example of an average day of ballet lessons. It is almost as if the teacher is about to stand and direct the other students to line up on the mirrored wall.
This theme intersects with the theme of visual delight and the art of daily life. It is apparent, particularly to anyone who has taken ballet classes that this is indeed an average day for the dancers. Although many inferences can be made to the symbolic meaning Degas attached to the colors and motion, this work is also extremely accessible. The average lay person can gather that this is a dance lesson and with that knowledge the theme of art for art's sake is clearly evident. It might be a bit of a stretch, but I am also seeing themes of looking inward: the human experience. This is evidently an example of ritual, as this discipline requires an almost daily commitment of time, like prayer or chanting. In contrast, "The Dancing Couple" shares the same theme, however, it is concentrated on emotions, such as happiness, love and childhood.
The Theme and Purpose of "The Dancing Couple."
My second piece, "The Dancing Couple" from 1663, is by Jan Steen. The period is 1625/1626-1679. The medium is oil on canvas. The movement is Baroque. "The Dancing Couple's" theme and purpose is visual delight and the arts of daily life. It is as if the viewer is peering into the lives of a group of common folks as a fly on the wall. This painting is visually saturated with what appears to be the daily rituals of common people. A simple table of various foods are spread as it would be on any other festive occasion. The man to the right, sitting, is having a glass of spirits. The woman to the left is appeasing a small child. The overall mood of the work alludes to a gathering, though simple, that is a part of the general lives of people like you or myself.
The work also exhibits notions about the here and now. This work could actually be captured by a photo camera, had the camera been created during the 1600s. This is a snapshot of a day in the life of commoners. Emotions of happiness, love, and childhood are evident as the couple dances, the people laugh and clap, the couple sits and converses, and the infant enjoys a simple toy. These examples of looking inward: the human experience are clear and give the work character and life. Finally, this is also an example of art for art's sake. It is easily accessible, despite the viewers knowledge or lack there of art. The emotions of the characters are palpable, as if one could step right into the scene of festivities.
An apropos quote to give the total impression of this work is: "...art does not always have to reach so high. Sometimes it is enough just to look around ourselves and notice what our life is like here, now, in this place, at this time." This work definitely fits into the parameters of this quote's description -- a simple evening feast.
Citations
Getlein, Mark. Gilbert's Living with Art, Seventh Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.
posted by Wendy Thompson | 7:04 PM
2 Comments:
Wendy this is wonderful, and very well written.
Wendy, I certainly hope that you are going to write - you just do it so well, and I look forward to reading your essays with relish! The ability you have to easily transition between interpretation and objective analysis is wonderful. For example, "As with the work "The Dancing Couple" the viewer is like the proverbial fly on the wall in this piece." The choice of theme seems to perfectly align itself with this painting by Degas.
"The Dancing Couple" Jan Steen, does appear to indeed be a slice of life. This essay appears to have such a graceful flow of knowledge and plain talk. WOW, great job.
brew
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