Critical Essay on Rembrandt's Self-Portrait, Frida Kahlo's My Birth and A Subtlety, of the Marvelous Sugar Baby

Rembrandt's Self-Portrait

The Self-Portrait, was painted by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1660 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It is a small painting measuring 12.4 by 10.4 inches whereby the artist used oils on canvas.

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My Response to the Work

The Self-Portrait depicts the artist's face and upper body. He seems to be in a seating position as if he was posing to have a passport photo taken. However, as one continues to study the picture, one notices that except the face, the colouring that was used in the upper body, and background is dark, and appears to be gloomy. The shades that were used for both the upper body and background are shades of black and brown, which were intentionally used for two purposes- for an observer to focus on the face in the portrait, and the colours create a mood of sadness or gloominess. Facial features such as wrinkles on the face, eye bags, presence of a double chin are an indication of an aging man. Upon close examination of the face on the painting one notices that there are red flashes on the forehead, under the eyes, beneath the lips, and even on his ear lobes, which are a sign of stress, depression, or anxiety.

Ideas that it Provokes

Examining the man's face one notices that he has wrinkles on his face, eye bags, and red flashes on his forehead, under his eyes, earlobes, and beneath his lips. These are signs of tiredness, anxiety, and depression. It seems that he is worried about something, and this has made him to become restless.

Cultural/ Historical Matters

The Self-Portrait is a reflection of Rembrandt's life at the time of this painting. The reason for this is that he was suffering from financial failure after years of enjoying success, and it hurt his life. For instance, his house and other possessions had been auctioned to pay creditors. Although he was receiving commissions from his paintings, they were not enough to help him repay his debts, and therefore he not only felt saddened by his financial situation, but he was socially isolated.

Medium Chosen by the Artist

Rembrandt work is oil on canvas.

Qualities

The use of oil paints on canvas by Rembrandt assisted him to use the right depth of colour that would signify the mood at the time of the painting. The predominant dark brown colour presents a gloomy atmosphere, which was the mood of the artist at that time. It is important to point out that the artist strategically used colour, light, shadow, and space to portray the mood of sadness and isolation. Shades of dark brown and black signify gloominess. The face has wrinkles, which make Rembrandt appear to be much older than 54. Also, the eye bags and the mouth being tightly closed present a sense of despair. Only the face is well lighted as the other areas are cast in a shadow, which is an indicator of sadness, or gloominess. The use of wavy, or curvy lines and dark colours on the portrait background creates a vastness, or space on the portrait to depict the sense of isolation.

Contextualization of the Visual Analysis

Self-Portrait by Rembrandt is a representation of his private memory. He was a dedicated self-portraits'. Although he painted this work when he was 54 years old, he depicted signs of aging on his face by placing heavy pouches beneath his eyes, having a double chin, and wrinkles on his face. These features are a sign of man who is troubled, which could have been because of the financial challenges that he was experiencing at that time. However, there is a 'spark,' in his eyes, which are a sign of hope, and defiance to his situation. It is as if although he acknowledged his situation, he felt that he had a chance to better his life. However, his later years were coupled with misery, and he died on October 4th 1669.

A Subtlety, or the Marvelous Sugar Baby

Context

A Subtlety, of the Marvelous Sugar Baby was created by Kara Walker at Domino Sugar Factory in Brooklyn, Newyork, in 2014. The sculpture was 70 feet long, and 35 feet tall. It was exhibited to the public from May 10th to July 16th of 2014, and then it was de-assembled. However, the left hand of the sculpture was exhibited in November, 2014 at the Sikkema Jenkins.

My Response to the Work

A Subtlety was dominated by an enormous, and elegant white sculpture, which was strategically placed between two rows of steel, which seem to cage it. The sculpture was made of styrofoam, and layers of sugar paste, and water. Surrounding the sculpture were thirteen figurines that had been built to scale, using molasses, which was melting. They also appear to be carrying baskets that contain farm produce. A Subtlety was located in a Domino factory, which was dilapidated, and it was scheduled to be demolished. Walker's work can be interpreted as form of tribute to the slaves that were physically, and even sexually abused by their 'owners,' and also as a reminder that the 'peculiar institution' was degrading ( especially to the slaves). The reason for this is that the sculpture is naked except for kerchief that is wrapped around her head, the breasts, and genitalia are exposed, and 'she' is in a crouching position.

Ideas that it Provokes

The materials used to make the sphinx, and the figurines (sugar and molasses), the location where it was set-up, and exhibited, and its title provide a deep, or sentimental meaning to this piece of work. It is an illustration of the role of slavery in building the sugar industry in the United States. It is an illustration of how slaves from Africa were exploited to build the sugar industry, and yet they did not reap from its success. Interestingly, the sphinx is a representation of a ruin. In addition to that, its location (the Domino factory), and materials used to build it (sugar) are a representation of a product that was once cherished by wealthy folks, but its consumption today is linked with the onset of a variety of diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases, and it is highly consumed by people who are classified in the low economic status.

Cultural/Historical Matters Addressed

The artwork was created to create, and sensitize the public (especially citizens of the USA) of the impact of slavery in the success of a majority of the agro-based industries, and exploitation of African Americans (who were slaves). The title 'A Subtlety,' demonstrates that this is a difficult topic to analyze, yet, there is the need to address it to solve the racial incidences, and cases that are currently being experienced in the country (USA).

Medium

Walker used styrofoam, sugar-paste and water for the mummy sphinx. She used molasses for the thirteen figurines.

Qualities

The colour that was selected for the sculpture was white. It makes it easily visible, and center of attraction. It represents the innocence, and unity of the slaves. It also symbolizes their contribution to the growth of the sugar industry. Although the Domino factory was huge, A Subtlety was placed between a row of columns, which signify confinement. It is also a dilipadited building, which signifies the collapse, or health effects of consumption of sugar in the United States.

Contextualization of the Visual Analysis

Walker's work is a representation of how the slaves were exploited to build the sugar industry in the USA. She specifically used the materials ( sugar, and molasses), and the location to remind the citizens of the country of the atrocities that African Americans were exposed to. Her artwork addresses different challenges that have, or are affecting African Americans for instance slavery, and conflict. She heavily relies in viewer interaction as is the case with the sculpture that was meant to remind Americans of how slaves were exploited to benefit the whites in terms of riches, and luxury.

My Birth

Context

Frida Kahlo's My Birth was painted in 1932. Its dimensions are 12 by 14 inches' oil on copper painting. She created the painting in Detroit, USA after burying her mother who had died of breast cancer in Mexico City. As of today, the painting is owned by Madonna, who purchased it in the 1990s.

My Response to the Work

It is a 'disturbing' piece of artwork. There is a woman lying on the bed whose upper torso, and face has been covered with a light blue sheet. It seems that she is giving birth, as a head is protruding from the birth canal. However, the emerging head seems to be of a grown-up person. There is also blood, and on the wall, there is a portrait of an elderly lady that has a concerned look on her face. It seems as if she is watching in bewilderment, the event that is taking place on the bed in front of her. What is clear is that the painting depicts more than the process of giving birth to a woman.

Ideas that it Provokes

The painting seems like it was inspired by a horror movie. However, to have a better understanding, and therefore appreciate Kohla's work, it is important to refer to her recent life experiences before painting this piece. She had suffered two tragedies at a short period, a miscarriage, and the death of her mother. The two experiences had a traumatic impact on her trajectory of life, and to convey her emotions to the audience, she painted 'My Birth.' The title also provides a new insight to the artwork because it is as if she is trying to re-enact her birth, and that is why the head is that of an adult. The puddle of birth may be a representation of the blood that her mother lost as she gave birth to her or the miscarriage that she recently experienced.

Cultural, or Historical Matters

The artwork mainly addresses the process of giving birth that women, and the tragedies that come with motherhood as one can experience a miscarriage. She also is trying to portray a sense of helplessness in the loss of her loved ones through the portrait of the older woman who is looking on with a sad, and bewildered face. In addition to that, it seems that she is acknowledging that the process of birth, and death are a part of life.

Medium

Frida Kohla used oil on canvas. although Kahlo used the Retablo style in this painting, it lacks inscription to show the significance of the event that is portrayed.

Qualities

The woman who is giving birth has been centrally placed in the painting, which is an indicator that she is the main subject. All the objects are designed in such a way that they are in their normal size to fit in the room. Interestingly, Kahlo used straight lines a lot in this composition, which provide a sense of stability, and structure in the portrait to depict a chaotic situation. Use of colours has been strategically used in this portrait. Light blue is the most dominant colour as it is the colour of the bedsheets and the wall, and it signifies health and healing from her grieving situation. There is also light brown, which signifies peace and stability, and red, which in this case represents life and joy.

Contextualization of the Visual Analysis

My Birth by Frida Kahlo is a representation of her private memory. Her husband encouraged her to draw the painting as a way to express her pain. Judging from the title, it seems that she was trying to recall her birth, but as she cannot remember it, she drew a full sized head coming from a mother who has been covered by a sheet. The covering of the mother giving birth provides an ambiguous interpretation if this is really her birth, or a representation of the pain of the tragedy she was experiencing.

References

Antelo, F. (2013). Pain and the Paintbrush: The Life and Art of Frida Kahlo. AMA Journal of Ethics.

Carpio, G. R. (2017). On the Whiteness of Kara Walker's Marvelous Sugar Baby. ASAP/Journal 2(3), 551-578. Johns Hopkins University Press. Retrieved August 28, 2019, from Project MUSE database.

O'Neill, F., & Corner, S. P. (2016). Rembrandt's self-portraits. Journal of Optics, 1-11.