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).