Sail Baby

It comprises three large shape canvases, the shapes have a strong, separate identities because of their prominent contours. The artist explained that the painting functions as a narrative. The painting can be portrayed as her family or her children. The individual identities of the separate shapes may represent the individuality of the siblings whereas their interconnectedness is established.

In seeing this image, it was quite creative that the artist came up with this idea. Instead of fitting the artwork to the canvas, the canvas is being adjusted to the artwork. It is unique, imaginative and impressive. Bringing something new to the table is essential when it comes to art. We get to learn new techniques and discover new ideas. Making art evolve throughout history. 

Guernica

This is an anti-war painting by Picasso on the year 1937. It has been regarded as the one of the most moving and powerful anti-war paintings in history by many art critics. It has been believed that this painting was a response to the bombing of Guernica located in northern Spain.

The scene in the painting is within a room where at an open end on the left, a wide-eyed bull stands over a woman grieving over a dead child in her arms. The center is occupied by a horse falling in agony. The major focus of the painting is the large gaping wound in the horse’s side. 

Under the horse is a dead and dismembered soldier. In his hand is where a flower grows from his shattered sword. Then up above over the suffering horse, is a light bulb shaped as an evil eye. 


Then on the upper right of the horse, the floating figure is a frightened female, who is witnessing the scenes before her. In her hand she holds a lamp that symbolizes hope.

The first thing I noticed in this painting, I believe it was how the figures are running in terror. Then I noticed a lady crying over a dead child and dead wounded person with a flower in his hand. Also it is hard to notice the figure at the back that looks like he is screaming for help. The artist wanted to show the effects when war occurs, not only the people who are fighting each other are involve but the innocent citizens as well. Many lives are being lost and many are suffering over their losses. Then they will all want one thing, one thing only and that is everything should stop. However despite all the terror and the horror the artist wanted to show he added objects that symbolizes hope and peace. Like mentioned earlier, in the hand of the floating female figure, is the lamp that symbolizes “hope”. And in the hand of the dead wounded person, he holds a flower which I believe symbolizes “peace". 

“Mrs. Siddon's as the Tragic Muse”

The lady in the painting is Mrs. Siddon, an actress and a wife of William Siddons who is also an actor. However, her marriage fell apart and they separated from each other. Her acting career carried on and prospered. She then received an offer for the role of “Queen of Tragedy” which made her a well-known actress.

The painting as seen to your right, was created from Reynolds’ inspirations of Mrs. Siddons’ astonishing talents and Classical subjects about muses from ancient Greek and Roman mythologies. That he painted Mrs. Siddons as Melpomene, the muse of tragedy. He painted her expression in conflict yet with an elegant and noble air that exuded a sense of grace. As you see in the painting she looks undecided as the two allegories, Pity and Terror who stands behind her, cloud her judgment about her situation in which Lady Macbeth will commit a crime and the remorse she will suffer.

When I saw this painting, I was speechless. As I looked closer, it felt like even though she’s going through a difficult situation. She tries to stay calm as she thinks of a solution without anything or anyone to distract her. Why do I think so? The reason is this, the way two figures behind her are acting. They seems like they’re telling the lady what to do and the way the lady is positioned. Her facial expression tells me that she’s doubtful and hesitating in whatever she’s thinking that the two figures behind her kept butting in.