Visual Art

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Visual Art

Abstract art is the making of paintings that do not illustrate recognizable scenes although they may be derived from natural sources. The Black Square by Malevich is an abstract painting that shows a black square that is strategically placed against the sun. As such, the canvas consists of a slab of black paint that seems to block nature from illuminating it. Hence, it is a sublime way of reminding people about their tendency to conceal certain feelings from outward scrutiny. The image elicits anger and pain that most people go through in life (Bogard 7). However, it is also comforting due to the relief that the hollowness presents. The white and black contrast also serves to make this distinction. Consequently, Mehretu’s Dispersion reinforces the complexity of such artworks. Torrents of wind and plumes of smoke can be seen over different objects that may correspond to roadways and other architectural designs. Directional lines criss-cross the painting as well and some projectiles can be seen in space. This suggestion of flight paths is altered by differently colored objects that seem to show eruptions with the intensity spread across the canvas. Hence, the graphics are intertwined and this symbolizes the chaotic circumstances that society finds itself in when tragedies happen.

However, representational art is the creation of images that are true to form and recognizable for what they intend to be. Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, by Picasso is an example. It is a portrayal of five nude prostitutes poised in a confrontational gesture. In addition, their body shapes are disjointed and the looks in their eyes are menacing. Their frames are also angular. Furthermore, two of them are depicted with mask-like faces that are black in color to resemble the African continent while the rest have the Spanish Liberian style. Likewise, Bierstadt’s the Rocky Mountains is an expression of Lander’s Peak of a Wyoming mountain range. The granite peaks are sharply pointed while the clearly visible clouds can be seen hovering over a wooded area at the foot of the summit. Moreover, a campsite appears on the foreground, with a green landscape and images of people on horseback. This represents the natural beauty of the area with the tribesmen indicating the authenticity of the area. The environment has a serene atmosphere testament of the simplicity of the life explored.

Nevertheless, non-objective art is the development of paintings and sculptures that do not reflect natural objects. Thus, it uses geometrical imagery. Black Lines by Kandinsky is a mixture of different colored objects in various shapes and sizes. Whereas they appear to originate from a central source, they face multiple directions and seem to be incomplete at some edges. Furthermore, crooked lines appear to be preventing them from falling apart but the black shade sends an ominous message of the predicament being illustrated. This creates an effect of dissonance that signifies the destructive consequences of the apocalypse. Similarly, Duchamp made the Nude Descending a Staircase painting that shows a figure’s movements in browns and orches (Bogard 45). The abstract frames are cylindrical and the contours have dark outlines. Dotted lines are also included to symbolize motion while there is a fading element to illustrate transition from one point to another. Translucent colors are also used with the center acting as a meeting point for light and dark ones. As such, this oil painting sends the message of progression, which can be applied in the transport sector or development in one’s career path

Work Cited

Bogard, Roma. For the Love of Art: A Collection of Artistic Inspiration. S.l.: Authorhouse, 2009. Print.