Introduction
The study of works of art is of particular value for modern generations, as they provide an opportunity to get to know better the different eras in which artists worked. In other words, they reflect the main trends and movements in the society that was relevant for a particular century. However, no less interest is the detailed examination of how the artist uses various elements of the artwork to give accents and focus to the painting. Within the framework of this analytical paper, “Esther before Ahasuerus” by the Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi will be investigated. With the help of various elements of art, the artist creates a picture of a biblical plot, which is of value for the study since it touches on such a new topic for that time as feminism and reflects the Baroque style of the 17th century.
Thesis
This analytical paper strives to study how Artemisia Gentileschi through the image of the biblical story, touches on such an innovative topic as feminism in her work “Esther before Ahasuerus.”
Discussion
First, it is necessary to gain an understanding of what the picture chosen for analysis is. “Esther before Ahasuerus” was painted by the famous Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi in 1628 (Esther before Ahasuerus). The painting is currently presented in the National Museum of Capodimonte in Naples, Italy. The most prominent style in which the work was created is the Baroque and represents a scene from the Old Testament book of Esther. The main character, Esther, a Jewish queen, appears before King Ahasuerus of Persia, who is her husband. The purpose of this visit of a woman to her spouse was to plead for the lives of her people. What makes the artist special is that she was one of the female artists who created her works and became famous in the 17th century (Artemisia Gentileschi). This condition was practically impossible since basically many areas, including art, were dominated by men, and the prerogative of women was taking care of children and the house. This is one of the reasons why the work of “Esther before Ahasuerus” requires special attention.
A distinctive feature of Gentileschi’s works was the depiction of women. However, all her paintings showed the power and strength that women gained over men. The uniqueness of the artist’s works was given by the transfer of the fact that women defended their rights and dignity on them. This factor distinguished the works of art of Gentileschi from all the others since often the Baroque concentrated on the tenderness, lightness, and beauty of the female sex. At the same time, Gentileschi portrayed them in highly contrasting works, playing with color, light, and shadow, which gave tension and suspense to the scenes depicted. “Esther before Ahasuerus” is an excellent example of this way of depicting the struggle of males and females. Esther, filled with a desire to help her people, comes to her husband, the king. In the picture, the women and the man are on opposite sides, which differentiates them and makes them resemble some kind of battle. Rich colors and exceptional attention to detail, with inherent patterns and textures, give realism to the action taking place.
A more detailed study of the selected painting should begin with a formal analysis, which will focus on the artwork’s use of the elements and principles of art and how they were used to convey meaning. The artist masterfully and intricately uses the visual components of the painting to create a tense atmosphere of conversation between the queen and the king. The first aspect that viewers pay attention to is the color palette of the painting. Henceforth, Gentilesch uses a warm palette for his work, paying great attention to colors such as orange, yellow, and red. Like other paintings, “Esther before Ahasuerus” heavily relies on the use of contrast between light and shadow, with the help of which the main characters, husband and wife, are highlighted in the foreground from the servants behind the woman. Moreover, this technique allows the painter to deepen the image, giving it volume and expressiveness.
Warm colors are not the only ones that the artist uses. Hence, to balance the image and color palette, she also resorts to cooler shades, such as blues and greens of the background. They contribute to the creation of contrast between the depicted people and also reduce the brightness of warm colors. The need for this palette is due to the fact that an excess of warm tones can shift the tension and pressure of the scene, and cold colors help to restore the seriousness and tragedy of the depicted situation.
Especially striking is the realism of the image, which creates an overly realistic perception of the work. Distinctive merit in this is the use and emphasis on lines. The artist uses a combination of strong, bold, and softer lines and more flowing strokes. This traces in the writing of various fabrics and textures, such as the clothing of the central figures. In accordance with the Baroque style in which Gentileschi worked, Esther’s dress is given special attention. Every small fold is drawn in it, and the lines go from brighter to more subtle and delicate, giving the clothes movement. The viewer can feel the whole figure of the woman waving along with her clothes, following every slightest change in the position of her body. Thus, the use of colors, lines, light, and shadows contributes to the creation of an emphasis where Esther is the focal point of the painting. This is due to the fact that she is the central character of the biblical story, a woman who goes against men.
When considering the painting “Esther before Ahasuerus” by Artemisia Gentileschi, the analysis within the feminist movement becomes critical. Research stated that “in the 17th century, a number of women artists altered the arena, and women indeed are the focal point of a study of gender and art in the 17th century” (Hofrichter 2). Thus, the study of this work of art must be carried out through the prism of this movement. As already mentioned, the story is a biblical narrative found in the book of Esther, which tells the story of a young Jewish woman. Esther is a queen who decides to ask her husband to help her subordinates. In other words, this action can be interpreted as her step against her spouse, becoming a lawyer for the social movement.
Esther’s story challenges traditional gender roles and stereotypes by showing that women can be influential individuals and decision-makers. The image of Esther as the central part of the painting shows her predominance in the situation. It can be assumed that she uses her charm as a weapon against the king. The artist depicts her in a fainting state, which can be interpreted as a woman’s knowledge of what tools can play a role in convincing her husband. In addition, there is no doubt that she deeply cares and worries about those people for whom she has taken responsibility. Thus, the story of the Jewish Queen can become a strong example that was encouraging women to use their voices and take action to fight against injustice.
Summary
This analytical paper studied a painting called “Esther before Ahasuerus” and interpreted the main idea of the artist through the use of artistic elements. The main unique feature of Gentileschi was the use of contrast of light and shadow to give his works a high degree of drama and tension. This choice was because she wanted to convey the struggle of women for the right to vote and the choice that they did not have at that time (Artemisia Gentileschi – Baroque Painter and Boundary Breaker). Therefore, the painting also touches on the theme of feminism through the image of Esther on the petition before the king. Being a Jewish queen, she wanted to help and protect her people, for whom she was very distraught. Esther can be seen as a symbol of bravery and faithfulness to God.
Conclusion
“Esther before Ahasuerus” by Artemisia Gentileschi is an essential work of art that was created in the 17th century. The main aspects of this work that give it value are the masterful use of artistic elements and a hint of the feminist movement. Studying this kind of painting helps to understand how aspects such as the color palette and the contrast of light and shadows contribute to giving depth to the image. Furthermore, the use of variations of thin and thick lines gives the main characters dynamics and liveliness.
Works Cited
“Artemisia Gentileschi – Baroque Painter and Boundary Breaker.” Art in Context, Web.
“Artemisia Gentileschi.” The National Gallery. Web.
“Esther before Ahasuerus.” The Met, Web.
Hofrichter, Frima Fox. Gender and Art in the 17th Century. Oxford University Press, 2020.