GED0106 Lec Section 51 January 30, 2020

Art Appreciation

Group 1:

Amadar, Ahllieza Herras, Marx Louis C. Oka, Marie Anlaye

Butial, Mhariel P. Mariano, Aeron Terrence R.

Questions:

1. Based on the painting alone, what does each painting tell?

2. Extract a portion from each painting. Without regard to the rest of the painting where it
was taken from, what does it want to say?
3. Consider the background of the artist. What does he want to say through his work?
4. Synthesize all your responses to answer these questions:
 How do we see images?
 What affects the way we see them?
 How does this affect our judgment in daily life?

“Regents of the Old Men’s Alms House” – Frans Hals

1. Judging the gestures and the pose of the subjects of the painting, the regents project
authoritativeness. The same assumptions can be made if we are also to look at how they
were dressed.
2. The disoriented face of a regent positioned third from the right of the painting made us
assume that he was drunk. As for that assumption, it can also be possible that drinking of
alcohol is a common practice back then.

A regent of the alms house, third from the right

3. Considering that the artist had a considerably poor way of life, it is possible that through
this painting, he is trying to show that these regents are the causes of poverty and a less-
favorable way of living.
“Venus and Mars” – Sandro Botticelli

1. As obviously seen in the painting, Venus and Mars can be seen resting well with the
fauns playing with Mars’ gears lying around them.
2. The God of War seen asleep is a very hood indication that a woman and her sexual
appeal and adroitness can overcome even the might of a courageous man like he is. The
sleeping warrior with almost no clothes left suggests that he is exhausted after his
lustfulness is satisfied by his partner Venus, the Goddess of Love.

The sleeping God of War, in detail

3. Since the artist himself is in an illicit affair, it can be inferred that the painting is a
representation of his own love life. Venus is said to be married with Vulcan at the same
time she is having an affair with Mars.

“Wheatfield with Crows” – Vincent van Gogh

1. In seeing the wheat field in such colors and with the objects in it, we have arrived with an
impression that suggests something dark and unsettling. A rather sad theme is displayed
in the painting.
2. The crows flying above the field signifies a negative vibe. Crows are known to be signs
of unpleasant events ready to take place.

Crows above the field, in detail

3. Knowing that Vincent van Gogh met his death by committing suicide, it can be inferred
that this very painting of his is a representation of a certain part of his life where he found
himself lost and out of life’s place.
“The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and Saint John the Baptist” - Leonardo da Vinci

1. Looking at the painting, what we can see is the care and admiration of a mother tho her
child. The care of a parent to his/her child can be seen by the gestures of Saint Anne and
The Virgin.
2. The smiling face of The Virgin while staring at The Child is a symbolism of a mother’s
great admiration and unconditional love that any mother would feel and give to her child.

The Virgin’s smiling face, in detail

3. Knowing that Leonardo da Vinci is the illegitimate son of Ser Piero da Vinci, it can be
concluded, in line with the painting that he as a child longs for the genuine and
unconditional love of a mother or a true family.

 How do we see images?

- We see images with utter ambiguity. We do not simply view the images in a way that
we simply look at it. We intend to see images around us with curiosity, consciousness
and logic. In seeing an image, we get curious with the details that are visible and also
why was it included in the work. Most importantly, we also ask ourselves how are the
details of the image related to our society back then and now.
 What affects the way we see them?
- The elements of an image and our knowledge affects the way we see and process
what we see. Initially, we process what elements are visible in an object or image but
shortly after, the knowledge we already have will correlate with what we’re currently
seeing. Thus, making us process the image even deeper and more rational.
 How does this affect our judgment in daily life?
- The way we see images may also show how we use our judgment in every other
aspect in our life. If we just simply look at images with no other feelings, it is
possible that we also view other things in life that simple and with no other
accompanying logical sequences. And if we see things with processing and in-depth
curiosity, it is also possible that we judge things with logic and a bit of complexity.
The way we see images is somehow relevant to how we use our judgment in life for it
both requires the skill of thinking and rationality.