Art Visual Analysis Essay

Introduction

Artists have expressed their skills in history in different ways. When artists use various elements in their drawings, they always present a specific meaning to the audience. The theme of power has been clearly expressed in the painting discussed in this paper. The two artists include Hokusai and Sir Peter Paul Rubens. The two drawings are discussed below.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The Great Wave off Kanagawa

The Great Wave off Kanagawa is an iconic display of the power of the sea. The woodblock print by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai is a clear description of power (Dudley et al. n.d). The elements in the print show overwhelming waves of the sea. It shows the merciless power of nature against the powerless human beings. The print shows three boats that are threatened by a series of waves. However, despite the gigantic waves, the three boats stay afloat and the crew still safely onboard.

The background of the artwork comprises the snow-capped Mount Fuji. The mountain is considered sacred among the Japanese. Hokusai had a personal fascination with the snow-capped mountain (Dudley et al. n.d). The artist portrays the mountain standing firmly against the raging waves of the sea. The mountain is considered a deity that is taking care of the people despite their various challenges. The waves seem to threaten the boats and the crew, but the mountain is not shaken. As such, the mountain is a sign of power that is able to withstand the merciless nature. Additionally, the mountain is the hope for the people who are struggling under the great waves. The artwork depicts the power of nature and the frailty of human nature (Dudley et al. n.d). The natural forces of nature depict that human beings are humble and insignificant compared to the powerful waves of the sea.

The power theme is expressed by the white pigment utilized in some parts of the high-rising waves. The white color is similar to the color on the cap of the Mount Fuji. The white colors show that even though the waves are high-rising, they cannot totally destroy the boats and the crew (Dudley et al. n.d). The reason is that Mount Fuji is standing strong despite the waves in the sea. The white snow at the cap is unshaken and similarly, the white color of the waves cannot totally destroy the boats. The artwork is held with high-esteem across the world since different people express different interpretations of how it expresses power.

Portrait of Philip II

The portrait of Philip II is an expression of power. The reason is that the artist draws Philip II on a horseback in an executive armor plus a sword (Katarzyna 102). A sword is a representation of a king who is ready for war. During the time the artwork was drawn, kings would carry swords to war. The horse is a representation of power plus the armor. In the ancient times, kings rode on horses. The horses were used during the war since they had enormous strength and they could run fast. On the other hand, the donkeys were for the common people. Therefore, only the senior people in power or wealthy people would ride a horse. On the other hand, the armor of the king is fully adorned (Katarzyna 103). The king is taking a ride alone although the background seems to have some people who might have accompanied him. While he is taking a ride, an angel puts a crown on his head. The presence of an angel placing a crown on his head is an indication he is getting more powers.

Moreover, the angel is a symbol of power since he is crowning a king with more power. In the ancient times, people believed that to be visited by an angel was a sign of divine approval. Therefore, the king is getting additional power to his leadership. The angel shows a divine power that is adding more weight to his power (Katarzyna 102). The angel is placing a crown on his head showing a different power is to be within him. The crown is being placed on him while he is a secluded place away from other people. The reason could be that when he goes back to the throne he would use his powers to increase his influence in the territory.

Art History Analysis

'The Actors' is an artistic work attributed to Nicolas Bollery. It was painted between 1595 and1605. The artwork depicts a scene from Commedia dell'Arte composed of characters with distinctive and exaggerates masks and clothes (Movies and Masterpieces). The scene shows a man called Pantalone at the middle and two women. One of the women is stealing his money pouch while the other one is distracting him by playing with his beards. The two women and the Pantalone are distinctively dressed up. Today, the artwork is located in Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida (Movies and Masterpieces). The artwork portrays the deceit expressed by the gypsy women who are tricking an innocent man while wearing prostitutes' garbs.

The artwork is composed of various elements, colors, and characters. It comprises of the green color of one of the dresses worn by the ladies stealing from Pantalone. Another color is yellow, which is the color of the dress worn by the second woman. The third lady who is carrying a child is curiously walking away. The lady who is stealing the black money pouch is holding the Pantalone in a romantic way to avoid being detected. All the ladies in the artwork have black, curly and long hair (Movies and Masterpieces). They are all wearing round hats on their heads. The Pantalone at the center is wearing a turban around his head. The artwork is 118.3 by 147.9 cm. The various elements in the artwork are used to show the settings of the scene. The man at the center is surrounded by ladies dressed like prostitutes, but they are disguising as fortune tellers through palm reading. The lady wearing the yellow dress, which is vividly visible color is being looked at by the man at the center. On the other hand, he might have felt safe in the hands of the lady in the green dress (Movies and Masterpieces). However, it is not true that the two have good intentions since they are after his money pouch.

The two ladies are wearing a soft fabric such as silk to make themselves look attractive. The garbs depict them as prostitutes although their actions portray their habit in their prostitution work. The ladies seem to have a habit of stealing from their clients. They have developed a habit that is not known by the clients. However, the lady who is walking away dressed in a red dress seems to be noticing what the two women are doing (Movies and Masterpieces). Her face is not delighted by what the other two ladies are doing. The various elements of the artwork are working together to portray the deceit that is expressed by the prostitutes. The two women are smartly dressed to seduce men. One of the women seems to be showing off her body by wearing a soft silk fabric. She uses the seductive nature to attract the attention of the man at the center.

The background color of the scene is black. The scene seems to have been in a house since the moon is missing from the artwork. The scene could be at a club since there are no lights at the back. The few of people in the scene shows that the man could have been taken to a secret place by the ladies (Movies and Masterpieces). Additionally, there is another man who is approaching the scene wearing a red hat. The red hat could indicate the danger of foiling the whole trick of stealing the money pouch. It could be a friend to the Pantalone who is aware of what the two ladies are doing. He is making an entry into the scene although he seems late. The Pantalone is distracted by the two ladies making it difficult for him to realize the tricks from the two women (Movies and Masterpieces). Therefore, the women can easily walk away with the money pouch.

Personal Opinion

According to my opinion, the artist has expressed the erroneous behavior of prostitutes to wear seductively and steal from their clients without their knowledge. The clients seem to be enjoying the presence of the women little do they know the ladies are making them comfortable to ensure they steal their money.

Works Cited

"Movies and Masterpieces". The Ringling's Oscar Picks, 2018, https://www.ringling.org/movies-and-masterpieces-ringlings-oscar-picks. Accessed 24 Sept 2018.

Dudley, John M., Veronique Sarano, and Frederic Dias. "On Hokusai's Great wave off Kanagawa: localization, linearity and a rogue wave in sub-Antarctic waters." Notes Rec. R. Soc.67.2 (2013): 159-164.

Katarzyna, Krzyzagorska-Pisarek. "Two portraits of the Prince Ladislas-Sigismund Vasa from the collections in Wawel Castle re-examined." Rocznik Historii Sztuki (2012).