Contemporary Painting - Tumblr Posts
Claire Scherzinger
The Death of a Giant
Oil on canvas
84 x 84
2019
How to Understand an Artwork: A Brief Guide
I've recently read a book by a French author that promised to teach the reader how to understand a painting.
Art is my special interest. I keep up with contemporary art, attend art fairs etc. I've been to major and minor museums, galleries and churches in Europe and the US. But I feel that there's always room for improvement when it comes to understanding art.
The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991) by Damien Hirst
I went through this heavy tome full of the author's own convoluted interpretations of artworks. The book taught me nothing about how to interpret and understand a painting on my own. But it did inspire me to create my own guidelines for reading works of art.
🦋 Why Bother Understanding Art?
Artworks are rich in meaning, symbolism, and emotion. Learning how to read them can enhance your appreciation and understanding of art and, consequently, life. This includes your own life.
The Embarkation for Cythera (1717) by Jean-Antoine Watteau
I find art an incredible place to seek answers to life's questions. I'll show you how you can do this too.
Additionally, this guide contains some of my favorite artworks, old and contemporary.
🦋 1. Observe the Artwork Closely
First Impression: Start by taking in the artwork as a whole. What is your immediate emotional response? What catches your eye first?
Details: Examine the piece in detail. Notice the colors, lines, shapes, textures, and composition. Pay attention to the focal point - where your eye is naturally drawn.
🦋 2. Identify the Subject Matter
Figurative vs. Abstract: Determine if the artwork is representational (depicting recognizable objects or scenes) or abstract (focusing on shapes, colors, and forms without representing something specific).
Iconography: Look for symbols, figures, or objects that might carry specific meanings. For example, a skull might symbolize mortality, while a dove often represents peace.
Lake George (1922–1922) by Georgia O'Keeffe
🦋 3. Consider the Composition
Balance and Symmetry: Notice if the composition is balanced or symmetrical. How do these elements affect the mood or message of the artwork?
Perspective and Space: Observe the use of space. Is there a clear foreground, middle ground, and background? Does the perspective create a sense of depth or flatness?
🦋 4. Analyze the Use of Color
Color Palette: Identify the dominant colors. Are they warm or cool, bright or muted?
Color Symbolism: Consider the emotional or symbolic meanings of colors. For instance, red can signify passion or danger, while blue might evoke calmness or melancholy.
🦋 5. Explore the Technique and Medium
Brushstrokes and Texture: Look at how the artist applied the paint or medium. Are the brushstrokes smooth or rough? What effect does the texture have on the artwork’s feel?
Medium: Consider the medium used: oil, watercolor, pencil, sculpture, etc. How does the medium influence the artwork’s appearance and impact?
🦋 6. Contextualize the Artwork
Artist's Background: Research the artist’s life, style, and the historical period in which the artwork was created. Understanding the artist’s intent and the era can provide valuable insights.
Cultural and Historical Context: Consider the cultural, social, or political context of the time. How might these factors have influenced the artwork?
The Parakeet and the Mermaid (1952) by Henri Matisse
🦋 7. Interpret the Meaning
Narrative: If the artwork tells a story, try to piece it together. What is happening in the scene? What might have happened before or after the moment depicted?
Themes and Messages: Reflect on the themes or messages the artwork conveys. Is it making a statement about society, human nature, or a personal experience?
🦋 8. Engage with Your Personal Response
Emotional Reaction: Pay attention to your emotional response. Art can evoke a range of feelings, from joy to discomfort. Your reaction is a key part of the interpretation.
Subjective Interpretation: Remember that interpretation can be personal. Your background, experiences, and emotions can influence how you read an artwork. There’s no single “correct” interpretation.
I Want My Time With You (2018) by Tracey Emin
🦋 9. Ask Questions
What does this artwork remind you of?
Why did the artist choose this subject or style?
How does this artwork make you feel, and why?
🦋 10. Discuss with Others
The most useful tip I have for you: Share your thoughts and interpretations with others. Discussing different perspectives can deepen your understanding and appreciation of the artwork.
Reading an artwork is both an intellectual and emotional exercise. It’s about connecting with the piece and the artist, finding meaning, and appreciating the craft.
The more you practice, the more fluent you’ll become in the language of art.
Jonathan Wateridge Host Study, 2023 Oil on linen
what if the washing machine was a portal to the outer worlds :
Painted This portrait for @livvintage.studio on Instagram as a physical painting sitting at a size of just over A4.
The painting is of her.
Also letting people know that if they live in the Galway area that on the 24th and 25th this month that she'll be selling a lot of her wardrobe inside the studio. Do check it out! {Post advertising the event}
Commission Prices are on my carrd website of course!! So If you want something made do check that out!
She felt overwhelmed at that moment. The overflowing love and warmth in her body coated her being in a sense of joy and happiness. It was as if the moment he pulled her back to his body, she knew he would never let her go. He pulled her back and kissed her, deeply. A kiss that conveyed more than words could in that moment.
It was odd, she always felt that words could say more than most other things. Words could bring reality to the pain she felt, to the hurt she endured. But this was different, this feeling was unlike any she had ever experienced with anyone ever. It was new, frighteningly safe, and overwhelmingly warm; a comfort in a person she had never known until now. A safe space in someone she had felt long ago was familiar, and never really got to know until about two and a half years ago.
The love and endearment she felt towards this person, it was amazingly clear, sound. She understood this person as well as she understood the back of her hand; and she stared deeply in his eyes every morning and evening. To love another soul so deeply was risky and vulnerable. But that’s the thing right? When you fall, there’s no coming back. You only have down to go, and once you are at the bottom, you are either alone and wondering how to move forward in the darkness; or cushioned by a soft embrace, one that is never to be experienced again in this life or another.
“To the one who takes my soul, forever yours”, by Kat E🫥
“Latina”, 2018 by Norman Engel