Saturday, 28 November 2015

Comparing and Contrasting 'Marxism Will Give Health to the Sick'- Farida Kahlo & 'Self Portrait 1907'- Pablo Picasso

Compare and Contrast Two Paintings

Choose two paintings and write single words or adjectives to fill the boxes below. 

 

Painting 1

Title: Marxism will give health to the sick- Farida Kahlo 

Artist: Farida Kahlo

Painting 2

Title: Self portrait 1907

Artist: Pablo Picasso

Colour:

Describe the colours each artist has used. Are they dark and mysterious or bright and colourful? Which colour has been used the most in each painting? Is the artist using earthy, natural colours or intense, unnatural colours? Are the colours mixed to create light and shadows or are they flat?
Colors with strong visual impact, like red expressing anger and horror symbolizes the cruelty of capitalism. The bright blue sky makes a strong announcement of peace and hope. The great area of white on the left upper corner used on the dove make a strong saying on peace
the colours used are warm which again represent anger and frustration. The blending also gives an impression of frustration as it is not blended so it appears to be one; it looks like many shades next to each other There is a nice use of shades to give an impression of shadow and tint

Paint Technique:

Describe the way the artist has used the paints and brushes.  Can you see the brushstrokes or is the paint applied very smoothly? Do you think a small or large brush has been used? Do you think the artist worked quickly and energetically or slowly and carefully? Is the paint watery and washy or is it thickly applied? What sort of textures have been created?
There are a lot of brushstrokes in the composition. As it is painted by oil there is obviously a visible texture but you cannot feel it.
There are many sharp lines and angles used which represents anger, stress and frustration.

Composition (use of shapes):
What types of shapes have been used in each painting? Are they rounded and organic or sharp, spiky, angular? Are there different types of shapes in each painting or has the artist just chosen one sort of shape?  Is the painting full and crowded or is it quite simple and plain, with lots of empty space?
In the painting Farida is wearing a corset, she appears one last time against a divided background, one half representing the peaceful part of the earth, the other the part threatened with destruction. Meanwhile, the sick artist is undergoing a miraculous cure. She is gently supported by huge hands, symbols of Marxism; one of them bearing the eye of wisdom, allowing her to cast off her crutches.
There are many sharp lines and angles used which represents anger, stress and frustration. The painting only has him in the picture and there is not that much empty space.

Mood:
How do you feel when you look at each painting? Is it happy or sad? Peaceful or lively? Mysterious? Gloomy? Exciting? Joyful? What would it be like to live inside this painting?
The work does not make me feel anything in particular, For me it has absolutely no meaning and is just a load of symbols in one artwork.
After my research though I found that all those symbols and colors join and make one meaning, with many more open interpretations.

This portrait makes me think of the hard times the artist had undergone in his younger career such as facing poverty in France.

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