The Head of Saint Mathew
When artists create a piece of work, they have an underlying message that inspires them to create the piece in a way they deem best. The Head of Saint Mathew is a work of art with major symbolism and underlying motivation (Guler, 2019). The art, in its entirety, is a narrative that depicts an ancient period of thought and the formulation of philosophies that shaped the world. The Head of Saint Mathew was meticulously crafted to convey the story. The artist intended this painting to depict a period of serious philosophical reflection and meditation (Head of Saint Matthew, n.d.). The painting may have different interpretations depending on various views and their supporting arguments.
The Head of Saint Mathew is expressive as well as formative. It is expressive in that it disseminates ideas; the art has a philosophical calmness to it, and it arouses a sense of social, personal, and cultural identity in the viewer. This work’s creator had a specific end goal in mind. The drawing was painstakingly crafted to convey the owner’s original message. The careful selection of lines, colors, and background gives the impression that the work is formative. Colors, lines, shape, form, value, texture, and space all play important roles in conveying the original concept. The Head of Saint Mathew employs carefully chosen elements to focus the viewer’s attention. The elements work together to instill the main message in the viewer’s mind. The work is so well connected to its design elements that the contents are carefully used to convey a single meaning.
Personally, the art may elicit more than one feeling from different viewers, but my initial inclination toward the art of The Head of Saint Mathew is reserved. The excellent piece of art is a reminiscence of the ancient days when thinking was the order. The painting serves to commemorate the great thinkers of the past and their contributions to philosophy. The work was done during a period of great thinking and is likely to be pegged to a deep philosophical motivation. The head depicted is serious and mentally focused, thus implying a moment of deep thinking.
Marilyn (vanitas)
Marilyn (vanitas) is a mediocre work of art with a message and a broad concept that allows it to pass despite being rated averagely in the previous parts. The painting has a distinct underlying message, and it seamlessly blends the traditional and modern eras. To some, this may imply a period of transition and, more specifically, that the old and new blend seamlessly. The use of various colors in this work of art evokes a wide range of interpretations and a theme of freedom.
The story told in this artwork depicts a time when freedom reigns supreme. The use of various traditional and modern components implies the degree of free choice. The unrestricted use of contrasting elements advances the narrative more clearly. The meaning of this work, in my view, alludes to the ever-changing nature of life and the conceit associated with worldly pleasures; the choice of symbols used in this art provides evidence of this.
Both expressive and formative aspects of the art are present. The expressive aspect of this work is prominent; the piece of art arouses feelings and moods while also conveying a message in a single glance. Colors, shapes, lines, and other elements are carefully chosen to hold the viewer’s attention and help cement a general idea (Maurer, 2009). The elements used in the art have a formative aspect in that they show creative manipulation and dedication to bringing out different perspectives. The use of engaging elements and in a manner that calls for deep consideration of the work of art arouses the viewer’s judgmental personality.
The work’s format and content are a perfect match. The careful use of texture, lines, shapes, and other techniques complement the form; each element has a purpose. The work can be interpreted in various ways by different viewers, depending on their point of view; each viewer is guaranteed to come up with a satisfying conclusion.
References
Guler, K. (2019). Rembrandt: Compliant Calvinist or independent thinker? Saber & Scroll Historical Journal, 8(2), 28736. Web.
Head of Saint Matthew. (n.d.). The national gallery of art. Web.
Maurer, A. (2009). Audrey Flack’s Marilyn: Still life, vanitas, Trompe. The University of Arizona Museum of Art and Archive of Visual Arts. Web.