Report On Art Analysis

Many museums across the country are filled with phenomenal art. Many pieces cannot be denied by the trained eye or, in my case, the eye in training. Other pieces, however, are still lacking visual stimulation. Regardless of their appeal, almost every piece of art in museums across the country leaves lovers of the craft awestruck. The Denver Art Museum is one such establishment, offering paintings, sculptures, and other mediums from different times in human history dating back to the Renaissance and traveling into modern times. Using normal critiquing methods, I will praise and analyze a few pieces seen at the museum, comparing them to one another as I share my experience.
The first striking piece I saw at the Denver Art Museum was a painting by Albert Bierstadt called Estes Park, Longs Peak. Painted in 1877, it shows the deforestation already taking place during the 19th century. Though many trees stand tall in the background of the painting, the foreground shows evidence of destroyed forest. The pallet is a soft neutral, containing dark greens and brown, as well as dark blues, purples, and greys for the lake, sky, and mountains in the background. The blending is impeccable each element stands on its own, but shows as one cohesive scene. The principle of design used is perspective. I believe the artist was trying to convey the true beauty of Estes Park’s past versus its fading beauty right now, hence the ruined foreground, which grabs more of the onlooker’s attention. I loved this piece in comparison to other’s I saw. It was powerful for several reasons. It was painted in dark colors, but did not make me feel dark. There was a message, but it did not make me feel pessimistic. It managed to show the presumed truth of the time, that has managed to overwhelm most of the earth (deforestation), but somehow the Bierstadt managed to maintain the true beauty of the area.
Another piece of art seen was a Japanese bamboo and wooden sculpture. The sculptor is unknown; the piece was given as a gift to the exhibit known as the Lutz Bamboo Collection. It is called Eagle, and dates back to the 1800’s. It shows an eagle, mid-flight, as if it has just perched on an upright piece of wood. The etching is detailed. The eagle’s feathers are visible, and the wood grain can be seen. Even the eagle’s eyes are visible. The same elemental color is used, with the bamboo being the same reddish color as the wood. There could be some political significance in the sculpture’s methodology, given that the eagle is made out of bamboo, and is perched on a wooden log. Given that it is a Japanese sculpture, and the eagle is the national symbol of American, the individual sculpting it may have wanted to create the illusion that America was still owned by Japan, or would one day be owned by Japan, despite its claims of freedom. Must like the painting of Estes Park, Eagle was also beautiful. The detailing was ornate and wonderful. However, if the sculptor truly meant it as a political spectacle or warning, it is also terrifying. Deforestation is also terrifying. Without air we cannot breathe; however, the idea of another country making a mockery of the freedom other countries attempt to maintain is equally frightening. The sculpture’s message was simply more ostentatious than the painting’s message.
A third work of art analyzed was called, Young Woman with a Harpsichord from Mexico. The artist is unknown. The painting again was donated to the exhibit from the collection of Frederick and Jan Mayer. It is thought to have been created around 1740. The painting depicts a young woman in the trappings of wealth. She wears a red dress with floral beading and lavish lave trim. She wears an ornate, golden collar as a necklace that hangs down toward her breasts. Her hair is white, braided, and rolled. She wears jeweled pins to hold it back out of her eyes. Her face is stern and unforgiving she looks out from the painting. Her eyes are wide and brown, not exhibiting the “typical” beauty of women in portraits. More importantly is the large, seeming birthmark just to the left of her right eye, under her hairline. Space and light are used as designs in an effort to draw attention not only to the girl’s riches, but also to her skin. The position of the woman’s hem is used as a principle of element, leading the onlooker’s eye up to her face, or out toward her dress. I am not sure what the artist’s message was, other than the girl featured in the painting looks profoundly sad. Perhaps her riches weigh her down. The painting affected me deeply, much like the painting of Estes Park and the eagle, but for a different reason. Her eyes evoked humanity within me. If I had one negative critique, it would be that the artist could have made his or her message more obvious for the art critic to notice. Despite being able to notice exactly what they wished to convey, I was able to notice the sadness in the woman’s eye and feel the same deep melancholy over other things in my life, though nothing as ravishing as a diamond collared necklace.
In sum, art can be a powerful thing. The Denver Art Museum had many pieces to choose from that were both wonderful and horrible. All of them made me feel something very deeply. However, these works were the three that made me the most contemplative and, therefore, the ones I assumed were the most worthy of true analyzing. While some authors decide to make their message very plain through their work, as in Estes Park, Long Peak. Others, like Eagle and Young Woman with a Harpsichord, are more difficult to read. Some, like Eagle are even slightly frightening. However, art is always supposed to be a little frightening. From our darkest places is where the greatest work often forms.