Nikki Lee

I really liked this photograph by Nikki Lee because her work is so different than the pieces we have seen in previous work. I like the way she transforms herself into any role and she shows women can be anything they want to be. I also like how she brings an american touch to this photo with the popsicle in hand. I think nikki lee shows that art isn't just paintings, or sculptures but also photography as well.

the artist departs from the snapshot depictions of cultural identity for which she has become internationally known to explore how more intimate relationships affect personal identity. As in her previous work, Lee appears in each photograph, which is shot by someone else. Now, however, she carefully stages narrative scenes in which she appears with other performers, typically male companions, who she subsequently cuts out of the picture. The viewer is left to guess the parts that are missing -- the identity of the missing person and the missing holes of the narrative story. Although Lee is recognizable in each image, she appears slightly different, emphasizing the artist's interest in the fluidity of identity and the role of personal relationships in one's sense of self.

This painting is by Shirin Neshat. She is once again showing how she is dedicated to her religion. She has a group of them packed together that symbolized unity to me.

The wrting on there hands could symbolised the words they want to say but couldn't say because of the fear of dying. notice how this is all women in the photo and not mean. that os because men were subjective to wearing the veil.

Shirin Neshat

This is an untitled black and white photo by Shirin Neshat (1996). The photo consists of (presumably) a mother and her child. The mother is extremely covered up in a burqa that runs down her entire face and body. The only body part seen is her arm and hand, which is holding the hand of the boy. The boy, meanwhile, is completely naked and has henna designs drawn all over his body. The picture definitely gives off an unsettling feeling because the woman is highly covered up and protected while the boy is completely naked and vulnerable, playing against many societal beliefs that children should be protected while women stay naked (or at least scantily clad). These polar opposites powerfully bring awareness to Islamic culture and the huge division between men and women liberties. The child's nudity symbolizes a greater amount of freedom and exposure entitled to males than females. His henna designs also indicate not only the idea of Islam being ingrained in children at an early age, but also the notion that a male's word, like the word of Islam, is law. The woman, meanwhile, is nothing but a shadow in society. She has no exposure or freedom. Her whole identity is blacked out except the hand linking to the boy, pointing out that her sole existence is to raise the male child.

Believable

This is another image done by Nikki Lee. What I like about her work is that the things she is performing display the truth about our world in terms of identity and race. The unique part of her images is that she is totally believable to be in that role. This image is just a girl with her boyfriend in a brn with a puppy. There is nothing in this photo you would question. Her skin is still different fromthat of a white person, but does not raise as big a question as a white person with a black. Her images dispay that sense of invisiblity where asians our around us but are not seen as different.

Nikki Lee Photo

This is a photograph by Nikki Lee. The interpretation that I get from this picture is that the woman kneeling down to pose with the dog is a celebrity or wealthy person and Nikki Lee is her personal assistant. They are in front of an upscale-looking store, and Lee is holding the dog's leash in addition to carrying shopping bags. The woman also carries a small bag, so maybe they are just friends that are shopping together. Lee's photographs are very realistic, and I feel like some of them, (such as the pictures in which she portrays a skater, girlfriend of a redneck, etc.), play on stereotypes of specific groups of people.

women on a bridge

Artist: Faith Ringgold

This is a quilt by Faith Ringgold and in this quilt she brings together many different things. I remember us talking about her quilting and how it brought together self portraiture, narrative, and her growing up in Harlem and i felt like this quilt did the same for me which is why i picked it. I think this quilt tells her story and since one of the very popular bridges is scene in this quilt it is obvious that she loved to portray home. I think above everything else the bridge has significance and definetely stands out. I also thought it was interesting that there is a guy standing on top of a building and also what seems like angels flying around. What also stood out to me was the family sitting at the table together at the bottom of the quilt this could represent that family was very important to her as well. I liked this quilt a lot because it had a homey feel to it and you can tell that she is trying to tell her story and portray it in a certain way so that certain things are brought to the audiences attention. As i read more about this quilt i believe it is the one we were talking about in class Tar Beach and the women flying over the George Washington bridge represents women being free and symbolizes potential and they take their liberation by confronting the the huge masculine icon being the bridge.

Ringgold

This is by Faith Ringgold. This is called flag story quilt. Well the name speaks for the piece it self. The heads represent the stars on the flag.

The newspaper article represents the white stip on the flag.This quilt has a mixture of tie-dye colors. I can't really see what the article actually says but i am guessing about the blacks being as one with the whites.

Margaret F. Stewart:Our Lady of Guadalupe

This is a painting by Yolanda Lopez called Margaret F. Stewart:Our Lady of Guadalupe (1978). The portrait consists of a heavy woman making a large dark blue blanket with yellow stars using a sewing machine. At the bottom of the blanket is an angel and a couple of roses. Behind the women is a bright yellow and orange light. The woman in the painting is Lopez's mother Margaret, and she is portrayed as the Lady of Guadalupe, as evidenced by the iconic background of light, starry cloak, and other symbols associated with the Virgin Mary. The Lady of Guadalupe is already the ideal woman in Mexico, but by having her mother embody this iconic woman, Lopez broadens the structure of what the ideal woman should be. For example, this Virgin Mary is heavy-set, effectively combating many of society's beliefs that the ideal woman should be skinny. Furthermore, Lopez's Virgin Mary is hunched over a messy desk with a lamp close to her work, emphasizing the belief that a good work ethic is highly respectable. Also, the sewing machine, much like many of the iconic Virgin Mary symbols in the piece, functioned as another connection to Mexican culture since the textile industry played a huge role in Mexico's economy. By taking such strong symbols of Mexico and reinventing their depictions, Lopez successfully conveys her idea of the ideal woman as nothing more than a hard-working, middle class mother in Mexico.

Ringgold's The Flag Is Bleeding #2

Title: The Flag Is Bleeding #2
Artist: Faith Ringgold
Year: 1997

This is one of the paintings from Faith Ringgold's flag series. Like the one we saw in class, the red stripes are portrayed as dripping blood. In this painting though, there is also blood dripping from the woman's breasts as her two children cling to her legs. The woman's face and majority of her body is set on a different plane that is behind the stars and stripes, but her children are not. My interpretation of this detail is as follows: The American flag is a symbol of freedom and meant to represent all of the people of the United States. However, by putting the woman of color behind the stars.. it shows that at this time, the identity of women of color and people of color in general is obscured or not included in the symbol of unity. The people of color are a part of the nation, but not truly accepted/embraced, and they lack the freedoms and rights that the flag represents. The children are not behind the stripes because they represent a new generation, one in which people of color gain true membership and equal rights.

kiki smith

This painting is by Kiki Smith. This is called tied to her nature. To me this painting means nature and human are one. That animals and human expericence the same behavioral patterns and expresses them in the same ways.

Although it looks like they are having sex, i feel as though they are showing how animals and humans live everyday lives in the same way. That we all are equal to each other even if we are an aminals or and object maybe.

Frida and Me

This is a piece by Miriam Shapiro called "Frida and Me" (1990). It consists of Frida Kahlo in an elaborately colorful dress, with dynamic flowers and two indigenous looking sculptures placed around her. This work was most likely created to honor the late artist, whom many feminist artists like Shapiro viewed in high regard. The bright, vibrant layout and indigenous sculptures are a nod to Frida's own style of painting, which was well known for being influenced by her Mexican culture. The dynamic color and intricate style also capture the essence of Frida's explosive and complex life. Kahlo was plagued with many traumatic experiences and volatile relationships, all of which she used to create energetic and powerful paintings. It is unclear where Shapiro is portrayed in this piece. The title is called "Frida and Me," but the artist is not specifically noted. She could be the small sculpture in the far right, who is watching Kahlo from a distance in a somewhat awed expression, possibly mimicking how Shapiro feels about Kahlo.

Sculpture

Artist: Louise Nevelson
Title: Bride and Disk and Groom and Disk
Date: 1967

This is another piece created using wood. I liked these sculptures because they are so unique. I find it more powerful creating art as unique as these using scraps found. By painting these items in a white creates a unity between the scraps. This is like the one we saw in class that was painted as a brown color creating a unity between the pieces. The intricate details of the small pieces of wood put together shows how talented this artist was. This design and technique has a little more feminine nature than the one we looked at in class. The white and title being about bride and groom gives off a sense of unity, like marriage. This style of using pieces of scrap wood to create a piece of work about itself, does not signify sex or feminine nature.

Kiki Smith's Born

Title: Born
Artist: Kiki Smith
Year: 2002

This is a sculpture by Kiki Smith called Born. She is known for creating shocking and provocative art, and this sculpture demonstrates the reasons for this reputation. In this work, a small deer gives birth to a mature, life-sized woman. I find the idealized forms modeled in the classical bronze to be ironic. Smith uses the traditional style and material of sculpture to depict extremely untraditional subject matter. In some cultures, the deer is symbolic of renewal or rebirth. Smith reveals nature and the connection between humans and animals.

Royal Flush

artist: Audrey Flack

year: 1973

This is a photo of a table with many different things on it including beer, pretzels, whiskey, cards, money, and cigars. In my opinion this reminded me of many of the still lifes that we have seen before. I think this picture is the opposite of the other one we saw by her called the queen because everything in that photo had thinks that represented women where this one takes a much different approach of portraying masculine things on a table. Also audrey flack was known for her photo realism and i think this shows a real life table of which could be found in peoples homes. It captures real life in a different way. The name of this is Royal Flush and a royal flush is an unbeatable hand at poker. All five cards are of the same suit so it bringsan interesting aspect to it because the cards are in the front and placed a certain way. You can't help but notice that the game of poker and possibly a symbol of love as indicated by the royal flush of hearts is represented in this picture.

flowers

Artist: Georgia O'Keefe

This is a painting of many different flowers and in the middle is I believe a tulip that she was famous for painting. She painted flowers because it was exciting and wonderfully alive. In this painting it represents many different flowers and shapes. Some of which are up close and some are farther away. I picked this painting because i thought the representation of color in this specific painting is a noticeable feature. Some of the colors are more subtle and others are more vibrant which brings out the feeling of liveliness that she was trying to represent. I think this picture is very beautiful and the she blends all the colors together well with light blues in the middle and rich red and green on the borders.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

This is a painting by Georgia O'Keefe called "Jack-in-the-Pulpit No. IV" (1930). The painting is a close-up of a flower called Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum). At the lower middle of the picture is a bluish-black cylindrical shape called the spadix, or "Jack," which is the part of the flower that defines the sex of the plant; in this case it is a male plant. Surrounding the Jack are envelopes of white, black, green, and blue petals called the spathe, or "pulpit." This painting is a defamiliarization of the Jack-in-the-Pulpit plant; it is hard to identify such a distorted close-up of the subject without O'keefe's title. The plant takes up the whole space of the painting, giving no indication of formalism or story. The heavy use of black seen throughout the majority of the piece gives off a mysterious tone, however, it is not a mysterious tone that generates fear. The calming white light at the center and the soft curvy lines around the core actually pacify any fears of the unknown. It is almost as if the circular petals are halos, and the white colors seeping around the edges act as a reflection of light. This depiction instead generates a sense of wonder and reverie for the flower. Such a feeling would be hard to reproduce if O'Keefe did not paint the plant close-up, which possibly served as way for O'Keefe to capture the beauty of the flower.

Elaine de Kooning Self Portrait

Title: Self Portrait
Artist: Elaine de Kooning
Year: 1946

This is a self portrait by Elaine de Kooning. The painting caught my eye because it's very unique and obviously much different than the self portraits we looked at in class in the past. De Kooning is seated with her legs crossed, looking at a book with blank pages. Perhaps it's a sketch book. Her body frame appears very thin; her clothes seem to engulf her. Her face is kind of scary; she gazes at the viewer with a very serious and severe expression. I like that there are images and crafts in the background. The coffee cup on the floor and the plant on the shelf make it more interesting. The pictures on the wall add dimension to the painting. The internet source that I got this image from has a quote by de Kooning that I really like: "Style is something I've always tried to avoid. I'm more interested in character. Character comes out of the work. Style is applied or imposed on it." This ideology comes through in her works. De Kooning's painting is an original and reveals her character as an individual.

The Red Maple at Lake George

Title: The Red Maple at Lake George

Artist: Georgia O'Keefe

Time: 1926

Current location: Sold at auction to private owner


This is a painting by Georgia O'Keefe of a red maple leaf during autumn. O'Keefe became very well-known for her magnified and abstract depictions of nature. I chose this painting because it has very vibrant colors with sharp edges and rich blacks that helps to intensiy its focus. It is more than just a picture of a leaf, it is interesting and intriguing. The maple leaf appears to have a breath of life within it. The lines are painted very clean and crisp.

Close up

This painting is by Georgia Okeefe

In the Georgia Okeefe Museum

Title: Abstraction White Rose

Date: 1927

I liked this painting by Georgia Okeefe because we have been discussing her work in class. She was a painter who fought against the name of the best woman painter, but wanted to be thought of as the best painter. She did not feel her work was that characterized by her gender and those types of stereotypes. Even though she fought against the title of the best woman painter, she somewhat remained that title. Her work was very feminist in the respect her subjects were those chosen by women including flowers, radical close ups, etc. She chose to do radical closeups like the one here of the White Rose Abstraction. This is a way in which artists can make the familiar, unfamiliar to the eye. She portrayed many works of art in a radical close up of different flowers. The feminist aspects came through the ones more colorful and beautiful; they resembles women genitalia and reinforced the beauty of the human form. This painting of the White Rose Abstraction is only one of the beautiful radical closeups Georgia Okeefe created. These closeups brought out details, colors, lines, etc. that are not usually the focus of your attention.

Natalia Goncharova

This painting is by Natalia Goncharova. this is similar to her bicycle painting. They both have the source of feeling what is going on in the painting. The tires show how them driving over the rocky streets is very shakey.

The way it is drwn shows the motion of the picture. the driver seem to be struggling in some sort so that they can get through the road. he look very determine and concertrated.

Picking Apples

This is a painting by Natalia Goncharova called "Picking Apples" (1909). The picture mostly consists of a group of people sitting and standing near an apple tree. Some are relaxing in the grass while others appear to be catching apples as they fall. All of the people are wearing modest clothes of white, pink, or blue. In the background are a couple of hills and a few horses and houses. The scene either takes place at dawn or dusk. It is immediately apparent that this painting was done for a proletariat audience. For example, the emphasis of the painting are the people, who are clearly peasant workers. This can be seen from their simplistic form and color. Their clothes are either one or two solid blocks of color instead of intricately detailed as usually seen in a bourgeois subject. Also, the people are barefoot and their actions involve picking apples or letting their horses graze the land, both of which depict a rural proletariat lifestyle. The emphasis of the painting can also be the close interactions the peasant people have with one another. Goncharova was probably trying to inspire a sense of unity between the people in the proletariat class in the hopes of changing the current social hierarchy of bourgeois power. This can be seen from the relaxed state the subjects are in, from leaning against a tree or lying on their belly in the grass; the comfort they share amongst one another is akin to a family. Furthermore, the ambiguity of the scene taking place either at dawn or dusk, as evidenced by the strokes of pink day merging with the strokes of blue night, creates an idea that these people are not consumed with time. By doing so, Goncharova casts the peasant workers in a positive light, as good, stress-free people who socialize and work on their own time. This was probably Goncharova's idealistic view of how a communist society should be. By painting works such as "Picking Apples," Natalia Goncharova awakened the power and worth of the proletariat people, ideas which in turn certainly helped stir the wheels of the Russian Revolution.

Da Dandy

Da Dandy

Artist: Hannah Hoch

1919

This is a photomontage by Hannah Hoch entitled Da Dandy. We know from the article we had to read for class that photomontages are what Hannah Hoch became famous for. She was mesmerized by the beauty of women and it showed in her work. Women were a central theme in her work. In this particular piece of work She references the hypocrisy of the Berlin Dada group and German society as a whole in her photomontage. I liked this piece because i like the way she highlights women beauty and how certain things stand out in the photomontage. For instance women's face and her makeup and also shoes and necklaces. I think this definetely brings to light women's role in media and society of that time. This photomontage really stuck out to me and i found it very attractive and appealing.

Title: Made for a Party

Artist: Hannah Hoch

Year: 1936

Hannah Hoch became very well-known during the Revolution for her creations of photo montages. Women were the main focus of her works, including this one. This has been said to be one of her more optimistic creations of the time. There is an athletic female body dressed in a dance leotard and shoes. She has a large smile and oversized head that is cut off at the cheekbones. She also has very superficial looking blond curls draping the sides of her face. Another aspect that is noticed is the huge staring eye that is pasted over her foot. I liked this piece because it doesn't seem as serious as some of her other works. It appears very simple and put together and with the two-tonal background and oversized head, it emphasizes the smile on the woman and makes you wonder just what is she thinking about during a time such as the Revolution.

Horse Fair

Artist: Rosa Bonheur

Title:The Horse Fair

This image reminds me of the image we saw in class by Rosa Bonheur Plowing in the Nivernais. Rosa Bonheur was able to get away with painting subjects usually not chosen by women. I liked this image because of the action seen in the photo. The positioning of the horses and their positions.The colors give off a sense of seriousness and quarrel. I like the colors chosen in this painting because they really make you draw into the whit horses in the center. I liked the way Rosa painted these manly paintings because she was able to push limits by looking manish, painting manish, and not being made a spectacle. She was able to paint what she wanted to without the eroticism usually seen.

Two Heads

Title: Two Heads
Artist: Hannah Hoch
Year: 1926

This is a painting by Hannah Hoch titled Two Heads (1926). It was originally titled Imaginary Bridge when it was first exhibited in Berlin in 1926. The original title is much more descriptive and helpful in interpreting the painting. The figures appear to be wooden; the one on the right represents a man and the other a woman. One source claims that this is a representation of Hoch and Raoul Haussman's stormy relationship. Haussman is known to have created similar wooden mannequin heads placed on square bases before Hoch painted this. The two figures on Haussman's neck are believed to be his wife screaming at him as he leaves her for Hoch. The message of the painting is Hoch's unfulfilled desire to have a child with Haussman. A child would make a true bridge between them.

Young Woman Reading

This painting by Mary Cassatt is entitled Young Woman Reading (1876). The woman in the painting is sitting on an over plush couch reading a book. The woman's head is resting in her left hand that is prompt on the arm of the sofa. The expression on the woman's face suggest that whatever she is reading is unpleasant for her. Her body posture also suggest that there are other things on her mind.
Mary Cassatt portray of a Young Woman Reading speaks of how women sometimes do things that are unpleasant and unsatisfying but needs to be done. Women can sometime allow their minds to wonder when engaging in an activity that dose not interest them, but they somehow always get the job done.

This is a painting by Mary Cassat called the Children playing on the beach. This painting captures their natural attitudes and their expression on there faces. Thier posture suggest how actively the are focused on what they are doing and not who is painting the picture. The way the child is gripping on the shovel shows her technique of how she pick the sand up and the way she hold the pale shows how she is making sure its not going anywhere.

The boat seems to drift off into the picture; in some kind of way it fades into the background. Notice how everything is small except the children. This is because her main focal point is on the children.

The Child's Bath

This is a painting by Mary Cassatt called "The Child's Bath" (1891-1892). The piece contains a woman washing her child's feet. The child is on her mother's lap while the mother rinses the feet in a bowl of water. The setting appears to be in a house, possibly middle-class, as evidenced by the simple clothing and decor. The emphasis of the painting is the mother and child and the close bond they share. This can be seen from the mother's close embrace with the child, with one arm snuggled around the child's body and the other arm gently holding the child's small foot. Cassatt draws such a loving portrait of a mother a child to appease to the popular thought of the 19th century, which valued the "cult of true womanhood," or the idea that a woman's proper place was at home being a nurturing mother/wife. Much like Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun's "Self-Portrait with her Daughter Julie," this piece resembles much of the Madonna and Child paintings seen in the Middle Ages and Early Renaissance. Also like Vigée-Lebrun, the child is wearing a toga or towel-like material, both of which associate back to simpler times of classical antiquity and conservative traditions . The incorporation of the bowl of water also played into Cassatt parroting the gender expectations of the 19th century. The water symbolizes purity, which was not only a characteristic women were expected to have, but it also enhances the idea of a mother and child's relationship as natural. Cassatt lived during a period where the women's movement was in effect. The ideals of the cult of true womanhood were being threatened and Cassatt's "The Child's Bath" was a way to calm such anxieties of social upheaval.

Young Mother Sewing

"Young Mother Sewing"

Artist: Mary Cassatt

Year: 1900

This painting by Mary Cassatt shows a young mother sewing in a chair with her child leaning on her lap. The mother is completely focused on her work while the childs gaze is staring at the viewers. What drew me to this picture is a couple of things, one being the clothes especially by the mother. She stands out in stripes. Mary Cassatt wanted to bring attention to the mother doing a form of work or labor or even a hobby. I remember us talking a lot about needlework and other things being an example of that time period and sewing could be popular for the time period. Also what stood out in this painting was motherhood since many of Mary Cassatts paintings depicted motherhood i felt that this one also emphasized it as well. The way the child is looking seems like she is waiting for her mother to be done and she wants to be close to her mother and won't leave her side. I also really liked the colors along with the scenery in the back and flowers on the table.

Motherhood

Artist: Mary Cassatt

Title: A Kiss for Baby Anne

I liked this painting because she is emphasizing motherhood and love. We have talked so much about the importance of maternity and the mother-daughter bond. This painting depicts these bonds we have talked so much about. The ways in which they are so close and the mother is kissing her babies cheek truly shows adoration and love. The colors in this painting are so calm; the thing that draws me in the most are the rosy cheeks of the mother and baby Anne which in turn leads you to look at the way she is kissing her cheek. Motherhood is the highest power a woman has in life. Cassatt believed that motherhood was important to all women, even a woman who has no children or doesn't marry still finds maternity important. This painting reminds me of the painting by Vigee-Lebrun and her daughter. The way they show true love through their body positions.

Ballet Rehearsal on Stage

Authour: Edgar Degas

Date: 1874

This painting was done by Edgar Degad. He was known to be a painter and sculpter from France. Some of his greatest works involved impressionism. He was also known for his portrayal of movement. This is an oil painting. In this painting Degas captures the "romance of the ballet" according to many despcriptions of the painting. He trully was able to create a clear depiction of movement as well as depth and emotion. The colors in the painting help bring out, possibly the agony of the dance as well. As we have learned, ballet wasnt necessarilly the most "romantic" dance. It was more so strenuous and arduous. That background information, makes the painting doublefold. While it does serve as a painting that praises the dance, I see pain. I dont think they look happy. The other irony is that it is such a graceful dance however to perform it, requires alot of physical pain. So to the eye this may be a beautiful scene, a candid moment in ballet. However, I think that Degras captured something else, he captured a moment that to me shows hurt. They dont look happy to me, they dont look like they are enjoying it either. It does seem as if they are focused but "romance of the ballet" I dont quite see.

Title: Dancer (Danseuse)

Artist: Edgar Degas

Date: 1874

Present location: Hermitage, St. Petersberg, Russia

Edgar Degas was a late 19th century impressionist. He was known for his works of art demonstrating women performing labor in different settings. Ballet during this time was considered to be economically crucial to a family's survival, therefore, considered more than just a past time. It was a form of income. This oil on canvas artwork is very subtle and chique. The colors are very neutral and soft and they giver the dancer a very plush and feminine look. The way that it is drawn allows the dancer to blend with the background, yet still stand out. I also like this painting because it looks as if she is troubled with something going on and trying to hide away from it.

Spring Morning In the Park

Title: Spring Morning In the Park
Artist: Alice Barber Stephens
Date: 1890

I chose this painting because Whitney Chadwick gives mention to Alice Barber Stephens and her painting The Female Life Class (1879). Unlike her painting in the book, this painting is Impressionistic. One of the main characteristics of Impressionism was capturing light in the moment. The first thing the viewer notices is the light source. It looks as if Barber Stephens captured a moment in time, a freeze-frame of the mother, baby, and nanny(?). It's like she took a picture. The female figure on the right in the background sitting on the bench is kind of cropped, which also makes the painting appear more candid. Perhaps this paiting was a result of the influence of photography.

Feeding the Swans

This is a picture by Edith Hayllar called Feeding the Swans (1889). It is a portrait of a woman and a young girl on a dock feeding two swans. Further back up the dock is a man leaning towards a woman who is sitting down holding a tea cup. The background consists of a house with elderly women sitting and also drinking tea. Lining the outer edges of the painting are numerous trees. The scenic portrait of the people leisurely feeding swans and drinking tea gives off a serene and ordered tone, which acted as a direct response to the atmosphere Hayllar was living in at the time. The 19th century was a time of social unrest. There were many movements fighting for women's rights. Because many social changes were taking place, a higher demand for conservatism resulted, which can be seen in Hayllar's painting. All of the women are situated near the house, which was a symbol of a woman's social expectation to have a domestic lifestyle. The woman feeding the swan is holding hands with a child, which is another traditional symbol associated with women: motherhood. Also, the act of feeding swans itself is a nurturing characteristic, while the colors and composition of the women are light and soft, again emphasizing feminine characteristics. Despite all the numerous symbols depicting a woman's role in society, it can be argued that the emphasis of the painting is the man, who is positioned in the very center. All of the other women are cast off to the side, and most are in a submissive position (sitting down), while the man is standing up in a dominant position. The straight lines on his arms and legs versus the curvy lines of the women also reinforces the idea of strength/power, which is entitled solely to the man. He also seems to slightly hunch over towards the woman, either to help her stand up or to give her something; both of which can be interpreted to emphasize the man as being the dominant support system of a household. This idea combated with the economic changes happening at the time, in which women were fighting for positions in the workplace. Overall, Edith Hayllar's Feeding of the Swans was a reflection of gender expectations in the 19th century and the yearning to keep these traditional ideas alive despite social and economic unrest.

The Love Letter

THE LOVE LETTER

1861

By: Rebecca Solomon

This is a painting of a women standing up wearing victorian looking clothes in front of a mirror. There is a man who has opened the door to the room she is in and interrupts her while reading a love letter. Her gaze is towards the man who has opened the door.

In my opinion there are a couple of ways of interpreting this artwork. First off, the way her gaze is tilted and looking at the guy coming in the door it could mean that she is trying to hide in a room with the door closed trying to read a love note from another man and possibly the man coming in the door is her husband. Their expressions give off a sense of alertness or may their stunned. Definetely interrupted. The second interpretation is that the man at the door could possibly be her lover or an admirer professing his love for her. Either way i really liked this picture because it almost comes off as a hidden love almost like romeo juliet and he is professing love to her and he is coming to see what she thinks of the letter he wrote. Or i thought maybe the man could be her husband and she is finding a letter from him to his mistress or the mistress to her husband. Maybe she is surprised to learn of his infedility. Also obviously this women is educated and of higher class.

Allegory of the Air

Title: Allegory of the Air

Artist: Rosalba Carriera

Country: Venice, Italy

Date: 1774-1776

Present location: Unknown


I chose this painting because after seeing a variety of paintings in class produced by the use of pastels and crayon, I have become engrossed by them. I love the use of the very light, almost delicate colors used in this portrait. This woman is wearing an outfit that is sexy for that time period. It is revealing and feminine and erotic for this time period as well. It is similar to the portrait we discussed in class called "A Young Lady With a Parrot." The dress is slightly draped off of her breast and although the bird in the picture is not pulling the dress off of her, the bird is still there, flying around. I also like Carriera's use of light in this portrait. The background is slightly darker with the dramatic light on the woman's face. It is slightly contrasted in a way that makes the woman and her feminine features the center of attention. This portrait is done so in a way that emphasizes this woman's beauty and delicacy. Her gaze is also focused away from the spectator and moreso on the bird with her arm slightly raised as if waiting for the bird to perch itself onto her fingers. This time period was a time for women to open up and express themselves more freely, as evidenced by this portrait and the many others discussed during class.

A Lady

Artist Rosalba Carriera

Title: A Lady

I liked this picture because it resembles the A young lady with a parrot we discussed in class. This is a warm toned picturd created with class and a small amount of erotics presented. The way her shoulder is showing from her clothing it is like the bird pulling her dress out. It is done in a beautiful manner emphasizing the woman and her beauty. The coloring of her face, arm, and shoulder shown it bright colors truly draws your eye into those features. This piece of art is done in a way to emphasize the beauty of women in an appropriate mannser. Her gaze is beautiful and flirty at the same time. She is giving off a seductive grin causing people to focus more on her shoulder and neck line.

Portrait of Caterina Barbarigo

Caterina Barbarigo

Artist: Rosalba Carriera

This is a portrait of Caterina Barbarigo who belonged to one of the most famous Venetian families and was famous for her beauty. Rosalba Carriera shows her in light with her head-tilted slightly, and her gaze looking towards the audience, this picture clearly awares us of the elevated social status of affiliation and her attractiveness. The brightness of the pearls, in contrast with the dark tones of the headgear and the dresses, against the pallor of the complexion, they contribute to increase her charm.

I liked this portrait because i think it shows glamour and the colors really brought out her attractiveness. I also liked the expression on her face. She seems like she is a natural with the way she is posing. I also like how the colors extenuate the pearls. She is clearly wealthy with her rich clothing and accessories.

Spring

This is a painting by Rosalba Carriera called Spring (1725). The painting depicts a woman wearing a very loose set of clothing, with one sleeve falling off her shoulder and leaving a breast exposed. She is holding a small flower in her hand as if to smell it, with several other flowers in her hair and by her fallen clothing. Her face is cast to the side but her eyes are painted coyly and in the direction of the audience. Overall, this is an erotic portrait of a woman. Aside from the partial nudity and the flirtatious look on her face, the curvy lines of her body emphasize a level of sensuality. Also, the lighting on her chest and face, as well as the pastel used, give a "soft" look to her skin, adding yet another layer of realness and sensuality to the piece. The erotic painting of the woman was a direct result of the changing views on women during Carriera's time. This was a period influenced by the Enlightenment, where not only did women gain some liberties such as education, but the idea of sex was not as conservatively viewed as in the Renaissance or Middle Ages. Once such reason was because marriages were often arranged, leaving married couples unhappy and developing multiple sexual affairs. Thus, the idea of sexuality was expressed more in the public, as seen from Carriera's Spring. Even though such an image was topical at the time, some traditional views of woman are also seen in this painting, such as the incorporation of flowers. The flowers in the painting, as well as the title Spring, are are not only associated with women in terms of reproduction and fertility, but also in terms of trivialness. The idea comes from the Renaissance, where numerous women artists limited themselves to painting flowers because society at the time did not believe women artists were capable of more. Carriera, however, is certainly capable of more, as indicated by this skillful piece.

Madame Rousseau and Her Daughter

Title: Madame Rousseau and Her Daughter

Artist: Elisabeth Vigee Lebrun

Date: 1789

The reason I chose this painting is because it reminded me of Vigee Lebrun's self-portrait with her daughter. This is another work of art with the theme of "Happy Mothers." Madame Rousseau was the wife of the reknown architect Pierre Rousseau. She is well-dressed. The lighting reveals the sheen of her dress, and the detail of the folds add texture. The red, green, and blue colors are rich and beautiful. She is gently holding her daughter's hand. The little girl looks happy and content. She is not making direct eye contact with the viewer like her mother. This painting conveys Madame Rousseau tenderness as a loving mother.

This a painting by Elisabeth Vigee Lebrun. It is called Marie Antoinette and her children and she was a Queen. This painting was suppose to help her reputation by showing that she is a mother. This painting shows that a queen of high authority can have so many things to deal with but, will not forget her most important priority and thats is her children.
She is wealthy and she stands a a good role model for mothers in this time period. This painting also shows how a women can handle other things and manage to take care of her children. I think this picture is the best picture to help women become more active in the everyday life. I am not sure but maybe this help more women to get up and go out to do more things than just be a mother.

Portrait of a Young Woman

I chose this painting by Elisabeth Vigee Labrum called Portrait of a Young Woman. It is dated at 1797, and is currently at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. It is unclear exactly who this is a portrait of, but judging by her clothing I can only assume she was not royalty. Although her garments are nice, they do not seem very elaborate or overly elegant. I found Elisabeth Vigee Labrum's paintings very interesting. It seems as though every portrait of a female by her is done with such confidence we can see it through the subjects eyes and expression. This young woman's face give the impression that she is entirely sure in herself as a person and a woman in this world. I think the wind blowing in her hair adds to this effect, and gives the painting a very natural feeling to it. Although Labrum uses dark colors for most of the painting, there is dramatic lighting on her face and hair. Lastly, the fold in her dress are incredibly detailed and rich.

The Marquise de Pezay, and the Marquise de Rougé with Her Sons Alexis and Adrien

This is a painting by Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun called The Marquise de Pezay, and the Marquise de Rougé with Her Sons Alexis and Adrien (1787). The painting depicts two women, the Marquise de Pezay (left) and the Marquise de Rougé (right), sitting together along with the Marquise de Rougé's children Alexis and Adrien huddled next to her. The four are sitting in a park or garden-like area on what appears to be a cloudy day. The emphasis of the painting is the two women, who are happily conversing with one another, projecting one of the themes of the painting, which is friendship. This can be seen from the open, care-free body positions they have towards each other (leaning, touching the shoulder, etc.), as well as their close seating arrangement. Along with friendship is the theme of motherhood. Here, one child is lovingly staring at his mother, while the other rests on her lap; the light strongly focused on the child's face to emphasize his happiness to be with his mother. Vigée-Lebrun wanted to stress the important relationship between a mother and child, which can not only be seen from the children clinging to their mother but also from the symbolic environment they are in, Mother Nature. The trees in the background and the flowers at the bottom right corner symbolize fertility, reproduction, and the association of women with motherhood as natural. Also, all four are looking in different directions, again reinforcing the idea that this scene is natural and thus motherhood and women friendships are natural. Interestingly though, this scene occurs on a cloudy day. This atmosphere could have been alluding to the troubling atmosphere that Vigée-Lebrun was living under at the time. Since the painting was completed two years before the French Revolution, it can be assumed that tensions in France were quickly accumulating. Vigée-Lebrun could have been making a statement that women should stick together and always attend to their motherly duties despite any impending chaos or change about to take place.

Motherhood

Artist Name:Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun

Painting Title:Madame Rousseau and her Daughter

Year:1789

Museum:Musée du Louvre, Paris, France

This one is very similar to the one we saw of Elisabeth Vigee-LeBrun's self portrait with her daughter. The image truly focuses on the importance of maternity and motherhood. A dominant female role is the mother and in this painting along with the one we looked at truly emphasizes the importance. We can see in this painting the mother and daughter are showing affection in the way they are so close and holding hands. There expressions do not look quite as loving in this painting in comparison to the one we looked at in class. There gaze is in different directions, but still have that sense of closeness that shows love. The way the mother is looking directly at us seems like she and her daughter were distracted and turned to see something. The clothing in this portrait seems elegant and rich in color. These colors are quite rich and deep. Once again this painting is focusing on the importance of the role of being a mother.

Lady Hamilton

'Lady Hamilton as a Bacchante'
Aritst: Elizabeth Vigée-Le Brun

This is a picture of Lady Hamilton. Elizabeth Vigee-Le Brun made four portraits of her during her visits to Naples between 1790 and 1792. Bacchantes were female assistants at the rites and celebrations of the Roman God of wine, Bacchus. In this portrait Lady Hamilton is wearing vine leaves in her hair and her classical clothing is flowing. She is also holding a tambourine and her pose suggests that she is entertaining . As for her gaze, the portrait shows she is happy and vibrant. Lady Hamilton is often shown having expressive gestures and her mime acts that she created to entertain friends. She eventually became famous for this. This picture was thought to be painted in naples because of the background. And actually the background caught my attention along with her facial expression. I remembered in class that we had not seen any portraits done outside until this week. I also liked that this picture showed her being happy and expressive and doing something she loved. She loved to entertain and you can tell in this picture. I think this shows her being real. I like the way her face is portrayed and how the colors really bring out her eyes. It's almost like your not even looking at a picture.

Garden of Earthly Delights

Title: Garden of Earthly Delights

Artist: Hieronymus Bosch

Period: Around 1505

Since we were going over the Renaissance and Baroque art work I automatically thought about this painting, Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch. This was a painting I seen before in another art history class I had here at SXU. This was a painting to the development of the Protestant Reformation. The theme of the whole piece is the issues within the Catholic Church. There are three panels in the painting. The left painting focuses on the creation where the left is the tortures one goes through in hell. The center panel is twice the size of both side panels. It explains the moral issues that were the reasons for the corruption in the Church. In the central panel, the rotting fruit explains the short-lived pleasures in life, which are “earthly delights”. The exposure of several lovers to the world, without their knowledge, hints to the idea that private, lustful actions are still exposed in the end. The seven deadly sins of the earth are punishable in hell: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. This painting overall is using the color positively; bright colors. The images, those that are representing people are more ideal than real.

Flora

Title: Flora

Artist: Rosalba Carriera

Country: Venezia

Date: 1730s

Present location: Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

Rosalba Carriera became very well-known throughout Europe, moreso in Paris, for her constructive use of pastels in her paintings. This portrait is done in pastels on paper and brings about a certain haziness or lightness to the portrait. The colors are subtle and not too overpowering. The background is somewhat dark, except for the main light source hitting the middle of it. The clothing she is wearing is very feminine, almost appearing sheer in some angles. Her hair is toussled and not done up fancy, however, the flowers in her hair add more femininity and delicacy to this person. Her skin is pale, yet flawless; almost angelic. Her gaze is focused on the spectator. The way her dress is drawn open offers us a sense of eroticism and although you cannot see her stance, she appears calm and comfortable in her own skin, which offers us as the spectators a thought of more freedom than the typical woman of this time period. This portrait is clearly about the subject of the patient and soley the subject, nothing or nobody else. It idealizes her as a strong, yet comfortable woman, who is daring enough to not only expose herself, but be painted as a subject exposing herself as well.

Vigee Lebrun's Self-Portrait

Title: Self-Portrait
Artist: Elizabeth Vigee Lebrun
Date: 1800

This is a self-portrait by Elizabeth Vigee Lebrun. In contrast to her self-portrait that we looked at in class this week, she paints herself indoors and in the act of painting, or getting ready to paint. She is sketching the bust of a woman. Like her earlier self-portrait, the artist is nicely dressed. She is wearing gold jewelry and an expensive-looking hair wrap. Unlike Artemesia Gentileschi's Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting and Sofonisba Anguissola's Self- Portrait at the Easel, in which both artists present themselves as serious artists wearing plain clothing, Vigee Lebrun presents herself as an attractive, well-dressed artist. This has the effect that she seems to be more concerned with her appearance rather than her work. Perhaps she presents herself as an attractive and feminine artist in order to make her art more appealing to her viewers as well as to conform to the world's views of objectified beauty.

Childhood

Artist: Judith Leyster

Title: Young Flute Player

This piece is much like the Self-Portrait she did. She painted this of a young boy playing his flute. In the background of this painting their is also a violin. Music is an enjoyable part of childhood for this child. This child's gaze is off into the distance; to me it seems as if music makes him happy. His gaze shows that he is playing for fun and is truly into what he is creating. The gaze to me gives of a sense of enjoyment and carelessness. This child wants to be nowhere and have no cares, just enjoy the music he is making. This is done like the Self Portrait Judith Leyster did of herself; in that painting she depicts herself doing what she loves. Where as in this painting the child seems to truly be enjoying what he is doing. The lightness of the colors in this picture gives off a sense of enjoyment as well. This depicts the fun in childhood. This stood out to me because it is meant to be a portrait of the boy, but also like an action/performance picture. She captured this in a way o show the boys enjoyment of playing this instrument and others. He is musically inclined and yet Judith was able to portray enjoyment, music, happiness, etc. in one painting.

comparison of sofonisba and leyster painting of the children

This Painting is by Judith leyster. It is called Two Children and a Cat. Like her other painting this one show the children enjoying life. The children in her paintings look more like grownups than children. The cat become the object that replaces the dog in her picture.

Sofonisba Anguissola painting of the children are more serious. They have the dog in stead of the cat. Thier clothes look much more expensive. The children look like they mean business and their is no time for play.