Above: one of Rembrandt's self portraits. Below: a baby (Maggie's niece) in a tub
The eyebrows popped out at me, the round eyes open wide, and I couldn't resist making a connection between the baby photo and the Rembrandt painting. I find human emotion very unique, and yet, to see such similarity in a famous painter's face as in a 6 month old, is just proof of how close we all really are. While the feelings they are conveying may differ, the expressions themselves are very similar. Rembrandt's pursed mouth shows us that he was concentrated and thinking (no doubt, about the picture he was painting of himself), while the baby's face below the eyes is completely slack, appearing more relaxed and curious. I think what seems so identical about their faces is how they seem to portray honest curiosity and interest in the object at which they are looking, and as a result both pictures have the appearance of "candids". - - - - -
This picture and painting go well together, because they are both of two kids looking out to sea. The first is a photograph of Mandy's brother and sister, and the second is Cliff Walk at Pourville by Monet. And even though these pieces differ in time by over 100 years, they both convey the same feeling of children looking out to sea and admiring/wondering at its great expanse. - - - - -
Here we see a large gathering of speed boats racing along one of the lakes in Ottawa, Ontario, set against another of Monet's paintings simply entitled Boats Leaving the Harbor. While they are separate in time, atmosphere, and ship vessels, one aspect I particularly enjoy about these two pictures together is the horizon line. It's almost exactly identical.
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Mandy, Reda and Maggie:
ReplyDeleteGreat job. I really like this set of images, and I'm happy to see that you each decided to choose your own set. I'm interested to know why you decided to do that.
The thing that strikes me about these is that I can sense that the photograph, in each set, has some personal importance. As a result, I find myself looking at the painting in a new way. The painting no longer seems inert, "dead," just another "famous painting"--I can begin to think of Rembrandt and Monet as artists again, as people like you and me who desired to communicate an inner emotional landscape. Let's talk more on Wednesday.
First, the convergence with the Rembrandt and the baby is identical in the expression in the eyes. Eyes and the eyebrows jump out at the viewer and immediately draw the two pieces together. Next, the Monet and the picture of the two people sitting in front of the ocean is identical in setting, but very different in perspective. This is a very interesting view on the two pictures seeing them next two each other. The last convergence is very beautiful. The colors in the Monet give it a very different feeling than the photograph although they are both of boats on the water.
ReplyDeleteI really like the age difference but similarities in Maggie's convergence. It is very interesting to note the similarities in a young and old face. Also the idea of portraits is very cool (Rembrandt's self and candid baby). I like mine, too, haha. And then I also appreciate Reda's because the scenes are so similar and calming!
ReplyDeleteGood job on the convergences. I love how the Rembrandt and the baby are so different in age, yet look so similar in expression. The images of the people by the sea are good as well. I like how similar they are even in two totally different time periods. The third set is also a good choice. I like how the ships in each image face different directions and how the colors are different and yet it is obvious how the two converge. Great job.
ReplyDelete-Mary