first impression: post impressionism; O'Keeffe, Hopper, Johns

Music, Pink and Blue No. 2 (1918) x Georgia O'Keeffe

This painting, in conjunction with its name, reminds me of one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs, Human Nature. Just like the painting, the song is beautifully complex. The lyrics of the song have no real explanation behind them, but to express the confusion that is human nature. This work is a freeing piece that allows me to gracefully transcend reality and take a peek at a, quite contradictory, tranquil commotion. O'Keeffe utilizes the different shades of blue and pink to add an air of childlike serenity. The warm pink is juxtaposed with the cool blues to make a bold statement amidst the calm.

New York Interior (1921) x Edward Hopper

This piece breathes New York City to me. The space that he has painted for this unknown woman to stay in is quite small. This speaks to the city's limited amount of available space. I find that he alluded to the city's glamor in two ways; the woman's dress and the clock on the mantle. By the looks of her tube top dress with full skirt, she looks as if she is going to a gala of some sort. The clock is a small piece, however, I find that it is crucial to the piece. The gold makes it opulent. Hopper used it as just another hint of the city's glitz. Hopper didn't give a face to his subject, he painted her from behind. That is the most intriguing part of this work for me. I feel like he did this for one of two reasons; to show that no matter who you are, if you are in New York, you can live the glamorous life that it offers. Or to show how easy it is to lose yourself in the razzle-dazzle of New York. Either way, I feel as though I could insert my own face in the painting and live the story. The colors of the piece are deep and warm. I feel that this brings the piece to life.

Three Flags (1958) x Jasper Johns

I see America when I look at this piece. It's so simple because it's just the American flag painted three times. If you look deeper at the colors and the shading, you can see American struggle. Johns could have painted the flag with bright reds, whites, and blues, however, he muted the colors just enough and added the look of wear and tear to give the flag that dingy look. I feel like this was done to signify all of the struggle that the United States of America had been through up until this was painted in 1958. Considering the fact that he still painted solid flags, it shows that through it all, we remained strong, we remains America. Quite possibly, the three flags could stand for growth of our country or the traditional three signifying the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (In God We Trust kinda thing).

my impression of an impressionist. van Gogh, Degas, & Monet.

The Sower x Vincent van Gogh

I see a hard day's work coming to a close. I get the feel of the sower being drained from all the work that he did by the use of the blue tones. The overall feel of the painting is more upbeat; it overcomes the forlorn blues. The yellows, oranges, and burnt reds are prevalent throughout the entire piece. To me, they are conveying triumph over the tedious task. They blend into a crisp gold which could be a symbol for a trophy that the sower has received for his work. The stance of the sower is another connection to the theme of triumph.

Camille Monet on a Garden Bench x Claude Monet

I found 2 opposing themes in this painting. On the left side, there are soft, bright colors. The woman looks to be enjoying the flowers on a sunny day. The right side tells a different story. There is a tree that isn't shown in the painting, however, it is casting a shadow on the 2 characters on the right side. Both figures have black colored clothing which add to the doldrum atmosphere of their side of the painting. The woman's facial expression says a million words. She is looking directly in the face of the viewer with a look that seems to be a plea for help. The male figure's watchful eye on her tells me that he may play the part of an oppressor to her.

Dancer at the Bar x Edgar Degas

This work touches home being that I am a dancer. The number one rule of Ballet is to dance with all your heart and to leave all your problems on the barre. The blue touches that are found all over this painting display all different levels of emotion. I feel her release of emotion as she looks down with her eyes closed. She is concentrating on allowing her emotions to move her in beautiful ways.