The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí

This is a very very very goooooooood video!!
The Persistence of Memory is used as the topic of a SOUND ART~!!
Although it's only a picture, but it really stimulates my emotion of fear! GooooooooD~!!!



[Source: Salvador Dalí - La persistencia de la memoria - Sound art by andanzza]

The Persistence of Memory

記憶的延續

The Persistence of Memory
Salvador Dalí, 1931
oil on canvas
24 × 33 cm, 9.4 × 13 in
Museum of Modern Art, New York City

The well-known surrealistic piece introduced the image of the soft melting pocket watch. It epitomizes Dalí's theory of 'softness' and 'hardness', which was central to his thinking at the time.

It is possible to recognize a human figure in the middle of the composition, in the strange "monster" that Dalí used in several period pieces to represent himself - the abstract form becoming something of a self portrait, reappearing frequently in his work.

[Source: Wikipedia]

Salvador Dali is a surrealism (超現實主義) artist, he gets the inspiration from a soft cheess, he overthrows the truth of realistic, clock is supposed to be a hard object, but it is turned to a soft chip under his creation. Have you ever thought of that, if the clock is a soft chip, how could it work?? There are totally four clocks in his painting, what are the meanings?

1. The clock could hang on a tree which is growing on a table, he bring us to explore the "time" in his subconscious.
2. This clock is hanging on the table, almost slips down from the table. If you see it detailly, there is a fly on the clock, it means the time "fly" away.
3. There is a group of ants covers the clock, it symbols that the time is eatten gradully, it gives us a sense of deterioration of life.
4. In the isolated desert, there is a lonely distort person, Salvador Dali himself is melting under the hot weather.

Refferences and further readings:

The Persistence of Memory,from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Salvador Dali Paintings, from ArtQuotes.net

陳彬彬, (2008), 從零開始圖解西洋名畫, 台灣:晨星出版有限公司

Why Marat dead!?

The truth of Marat's death is......

The Death of Marat

馬哈之死

The Death of Marat
Jacques-Louis David, 1793
oil on canvas
162 × 128 cm
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels

Marat was stabbed on July 13 while writing in his bathtub by Charlotte Corday, a supporter of the more moderate Girondist faction who came to Paris from Normandy obsessed with the idea of killing the man she perceived as a "beast", in order "to save France", and got to approach him using the subterfuge of reporting traitors to the cause of the Revolution.

David was a close friend of Marat, as well as a strong supporter of Robespierre and the Jacobins. He was overwhelmed by their natural capacity for convincing crowds with their speeches, something he hadn't yet easily achieved through painting (not to mention his difficulty to speak, due to a facial deformation caused by an injury during a duel). Determined to memorialize his friend, David not only organized for him a lavish funeral, but painted his portrait soon afterwards.

Despite the haste in which the portrait of Marat was painted (the work was completed and presented to the National Convention less than four months after Marat's death), it is generally considered to be David's best work, a definite step towards modernity, and an inspired and inspiring political statement.

[Source: Wikipedia]

1. David use the contrast of light and shade to build the effect of stage, a spot light only shots on Marat's face, to light up the hero of revolution.

2. David even states the time and the name of the assassinate through the letter which is being held by Marat, actually, Marat never recieve this letter.

3. There is a dollor bill and a testate letter which is written on "Please give the dollor to a mother who has five children, her husband devoted his life tohomeland." It shows that Maratn has no regret on devoting his whole life to homeland.

Refferences and further readings:

The Death of Marat, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Jacques-Louis David:The Death of Marat, from Boston College

陳彬彬, (2008), 從零開始圖解西洋名畫, 台灣:晨星出版有限公司

Guernica by Pablo Picasso

Woo~~What a great video~~~
It turns the Guernuca into a very fantastic animation~!!! Let's see~~!!!!!!It really helps us to interpret this piece~~~~


[Source: Guernica 1937-2007 by jucela2007]

Guernica

格爾尼卡

Guernica
Pablo Picasso, 1937
Oil on canvas
349 × 776 cm, 137.4 × 305.5 in
Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid

Guernica is a painting by Pablo Picasso, depicting the Nazi German bombing of Guernica, Spain, by twenty-eight bombers, on April 26, 1937 during the Spanish Civil War. The attack killed between 250 and 1,600 people, and many more were injured.

The Spanish government commissioned Pablo Picasso to paint a large mural for the Spanish display at the

Paris International Exposition (the 1937 World's Fair in Paris). The Guernica bombing inspired Picasso. Within 15 days of the attack, Pablo Picasso began painting this mural. On completion Guernica was displayed around the world in a brief tour, becoming famous and widely acclaimed. This tour brought the Spanish civil war to the world's attention. Guernica epitomizes the tragedies of war and the suffering war inflicts upon individuals. This monumental work has eclipsed the bounds of a single time and place, becoming a perpetual embodiment of peace.

[Source: Wikipedia]

It surpises me that Maaaaster Pablo Picasso only use 6 weeks to finish this great piece. He only use white and black in the piece, it creats a sence of sad and his feeling about the war, alive of death!!!He abandons the realistic way of painting but kind of cartoon drawing to show the cruel side of war. I believe that everyone has different feeling when seeing this painting, I just state some of mine.

1. There is a poor woman crying under the feet of a bull while she is hugging a broken baby in her hand. The bull has no feeling about woman's yelling, actually, the bull is the symbolic of Germany army's uncivilized violence behavior.

2. There is a woman holding a candle to light up the cruel side of war, let the world knows the truth of war and the violence of Fascism.

3. Everyone knows that the bull fighting of Spanish is very famous, but it lost its splendid period under the suffer of war. Picasso use a injured yelling horse and soldier who is holding a broken sword and flower to deplore the dead fighter.

Refferences and further readings:

Guernica (painting), from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Guernica painting, from pollocksthebollocks

陳彬彬, (2008), 從零開始圖解西洋名畫, 台灣:晨星出版有限公司

Why Munch screams?

Do you know why Munch is so scary??????
Do you know why Munch screams?????
It's all because........

The Scream

吶喊

The Scream(Norwegian: Skrik)
Edvard Munch, 1893
Oil, tempera, and pastel on cardboard
91 × 73.5 cm
National Gallery, Oslo

The Scream (Skrik, 1893) is a seminal series of expressionist paintings by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, depicting an agonized figure against a blood red skyline. It is said by some to symbolize the human species overwhelmed by an attack of existential angst.The landscape in the background is Oslofjord, viewed from the hill of Ekeberg, in Oslo (then Kristiania), Norway.

[Source: Wikipedia]

In 19th Century, painting is no longer only for record the life, painting could also be an expression of painter, just like Edvard Munch.

1. The face of Munch in the painting is quite simple, just like a skeleton. His face and body, everything are twisted because of his scream except the straight bridge behinds him. It is the affection of end of generation, facing the modernization of industry, humans are gradually replacing by machines, people all have the impluses of screaming like this.
2. Under the fear, sky even turns to horrible red. It also show the extreamly fear from Marat.

3. Follow the scream of Munch, the sea twists and attempts to overflow of the canvas. The curved line of red sky and blue sea totally express the fear feeling of Munch.

Refferences and further readings:

The Scream, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Scream, from Edvard Munch - The Dance of Life Site

陳彬彬, (2008), 從零開始圖解西洋名畫, 台灣:晨星出版有限公司

Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus

Oh!!!What are they doing????


[Music by: "Sexy Back" by Justin Timberlake]

Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus

掠奪留基帕斯的女兒

Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus.

Peter Paul Rubens, 1617

Oil on canvas, 7 feet, 3 inches x 6 feet, 10 inches

Munich, Germany.

The favorite painter among the 17th-century European nobility was Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), a master of the Baroque style.

In this painting, the two gods Castor and Pollux visit earth to take two mortal women as wives. The sisters’ energetic resistance to their kidnapping is emphasized in the twisted forms of their bodies. The furious motion of the picture leads upward, as one sister is lifted inevitably toward heaven. Rubens presents a striking contrast of textures in the translucent flesh of the women, the swarthy skin and hard, shell-like armor of the abductors, and the dappled horses. The clash of textures, the strong diagonal lines, and the writhing twisted forms create a nearly unbearable drama of Baroque violence and energy.

[Words Source: www.etsu.edu]

In the period of Barique and Rococo, the painting is so fancy and vivid. It is really a representation of exaggerated and agitated form of painting. I really like it because it seems that you are the witness of the rape, they seems that are really moving in front of your eyes. Beautiful drawing combined with moving drama.!!!

1. Pere Paul Rubens use the shadow and color to show the power and beauty of human' s muscle. The contrast of the skin color between the brother and princesses is so amazing which you couldn't find in Renaissance and Mannerism period.

2. The peaceful background stresses the powerful movement in front. The tension between is exaggerated by the contrast background.

Refferences and further readings:

The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus - Rubens, 1618 from PC

陳彬彬, (2008), 從零開始圖解西洋名畫, 台灣:晨星出版有限公司

Game: The Starry Night

Just for fun!!ENJOY ~~~~~~

The Starry Night

星夜

Starry Night
Vincent van Gogh, 1889
Oil on canvas
73 × 92 cm, 28¾ × 36¼ in
Museum of Modern Art, New York City

The Starry Night (Dutch: De sterrennacht) is a painting by Dutch post-impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. Since 1941 it has been in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Widely hailed as his magnum opus, the painting has been reproduced many times and is one of his most renowned paintings.

[Source: Wikipedia]

Vincent van Gogh is a very very very famous painter, this Starry night is a significance piece of his life. The landscape is out of shape as horrible as a nightmare. It shows the crazy, enthusiasm, uncomfortable emotions of him. It really shocks people's heart.

1. The moon doesn't like a moon under Vincent van Gogh's hand, it looks like a sun transpiring the fire. The 11 stars fill the picture full , it seems that those stars are approching you head with devil.

2. The devil stars almost could swallow the whole village. That is the scary and complicated emotion that you could feel at the first sight of this piece.

3. Under the eye of Vincent van Gogh, the cypress looks like the hand of devil, extending to the dark night, all the things shows his feeling of fear, isolated and disorder emotion.

Refferences and further readings:

The Starry Night, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Starry Nights, from Van Gogh Gallery

陳彬彬, (2008), 從零開始圖解西洋名畫, 台灣:晨星出版有限公司

Game: Las Meninas Puzzle

Finish the game and you can get the full verion of the painting!!!

Las Meninas

侍女

Las Meninas
Diego Velázquez, 1656
Oil on canvas
318 × 276 cm, 125.2 × 108.7 in
Museo del Prado, Madrid

Las Meninas (Spanish for The Maids of Honour) is a 1656 painting by Diego Velázquez (1599–1660), the leading artist of the Spanish Golden Age, in the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The work's complex and enigmatic composition raises questions about reality and illusion, and creates an uncertain relationship between the viewer and the figures depicted. Because of these complexities, Las Meninas has been one of the most widely analysed works in Western painting.

Las Meninas shows a large room in the Madrid palace of King

Philip IV of Spain, and presents several figures, most identifiable from the Spanish court, captured, according to some commentators, in a particular moment as if in a snapshot.

[Source: Wikipedia]

The selling point of this painting is the amazing depth of view (景深), Diego Velázquez records the moment of palace life and turns it in art.

The most special point of this painting is that Diego Velázquez draws himself into the painting, many artists araise the question that "What position should he stand to draw this moment, including himself?"

Let's see how the depth of view is made by the complicated composition.

1. The large area of wall and ceiling.
2.The cutie princess stands at the center and front.
3. The marshal walks across the door at the back.

4. The reflection of king and queen in the mirror makes the room more large, it seems that you could really walk insode the room.Just like The Arnolfini Wedding which I have mentiones before.

Refferences and further readings:

Las Meninas, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Las Meninas, from EVL

陳彬彬, (2008), 從零開始圖解西洋名畫, 台灣:晨星出版有限公司

Goodbye Art by Phil Hansen

In the old century, people try their best to protect the painting!
In this generation, the artist burns his own piece,,.......
What is he thinking about~~~~????


[Source: Goodbye Art by Phil Hansen]

Sport

[Picture from: Phil Hansen]

The unusual artist, Phil Hansen said: "This is to help me be more creative and spontaneous. Goodbye art means that I get rid of the piece when it is finished, usually by destroying it or letting nature destroy it."

From him I know more about painting, it is not only for record people's lives, show the expression of artist, along the development painting, it also could be the process of thinking, creating and improving.

Phil Hansen is a special artist that he likes to use different medium, methord of painting. It also let me introspect myself that What could painting be?

Refferences and further readings:

Phil Hansen, from Phil Hansen

The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger

The hid meaning insides the Ambassadors???

There is a white human skeleton between two persons. Actually, you can't see the skeleton facing towards the painting, you need to change the angle of viewing so that you could see the hid skeleton which the artist want to express that don't just believe the surface of anthing before you have tried all angles of viewing to find the real meaning.

The Ambassadors

使節

The Ambassadors
Hans Holbein the Younger, 1533
Oil on oak
207 × 209.5 cm
National Gallery, London

The Ambassadors (1533) is a painting by Hans Holbein the Younger in the National Gallery, London. As well as being a double portrait, the painting contains a still life of several meticulously rendered objects, the meaning of which is the cause of much debate. It is also a much-cited example of anamorphosis in painting.

[Source: Wikipedia]

Besides the human skeleton, what other meanings are inplied? This is a precious memory record of friendship.

1. The characteristic of Renaissance and Mannerism is to draw the truth and realistic. As you can see the fur binding of the overcoat is very detialed, you even could see the texture of fur.

2. There are many things places behind them, including the planetarium, tellurion, poem book, music instrucment etc, all shows their rich knowledge and high education. If you do not have the excellent skill of perspective, you can't show the realistic and placement of those objects.

3. Like my video told, the skeleton symbols the changes of life, and sometimes you have to change your angle of viewing in order to find the real meaning of your life.

Refferences and further readings:

The Ambassadors (Holbein), from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Holbein's The Ambassadors and Renaissance Ideas of Knowledge:
"Gratiae invisibilis visibilia signa" from Art Home

陳彬彬, (2008), 從零開始圖解西洋名畫, 台灣:晨星出版有限公司

Mona Lisa in MS Paint

Leonardo Da Vinci spent years to finish the grand painting, Mona Lisa.
However, in this generation, people also could use several hours to paint a Mona Lisa.




[Source from: How to paint the MONA LISA with MS PAINT by EclecticAsylumArt]

Mona Lisa

蒙娜麗莎

Mona Lisa(Italian: La Gioconda, French:La Joconde)
Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1503–1506
Oil on poplar
77 × 53 cm, 30 × 21 in
Musée du Louvre, Paris

Mona Lisa (also known as La Gioconda) is a 16th century portrait painted in oil on a poplar panel by Leonardo Da Vinci during the Italian Renaissance. The work is owned by the French government and hangs in the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France with the title Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo.

The painting is a half-length portrait and depicts a woman whose expression is often described as enigmatic.The ambiguity of the sitter's expression, the monumentality of the half-figure composition, and the subtle modeling of forms and atmospheric illusionism were novel qualities that have contributed to the painting's continuing fascination.Few other works of art have been subject to as much scrutiny, study, mythologizing and parody.

[Source: Wikipedia]

As I said before, everyone knows Mona Lisa is famous but why? Let's see the secret. He create and apply two special drawing methods, chiaroscuro(輪廓模糊法 or 暈塗法) and sfumato (空氣遠近法) to Mona Lisa.

1. First, the living hands of Mona Lisa, Da Cinci uses the chiaroscuro to show the plump hands, the light and shadow constructs the shape of hands, soft and beauty.

2. For many years, people are all guessing what is Mona Lisa smiling for, no one knows, and this is exactly what the smile famouses for. It is reported that Da Vinci is playing music in the painting studio while drawing in order to keep her in a happy mood.

The method of chiaroscuro also makes the shape of her face very soft and natural. The most attractive point is her smile which is drawn with extended shadow, it gives us a large room of imagination.

3. The background is drawn by sfumato. Da Vinci considers that the far view of mountain will be dim under the affection of air and light. The misty background puts all the attention on Mona Lisa.

Refferences and further readings:

Mona Lisa, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Mona Lisa Mania, from Mona Lisa Mania - 29173 Northwestern Hwy - Southfield

陳彬彬, (2008), 從零開始圖解西洋名畫, 台灣:晨星出版有限公司