Chapter 20- Late Medieval and Early Renaissance Northen Europe (post 2)

Jan van Eyck, Giovanni Arnolfini and His Wife, 1434. Late Medieval/Early Renaissance.

Initially, this painting by Jan van Eyck, this painting neither excited me or bored me; it was just a painting of a patron and his wife. After class, however, Giovanni Arnolfini and His Wife suddenly became one of my favorite paintings featured in this chapter. My sudden interest occurred after I learned of all of the symbolism and subliminal, secular and religious, over/undertones in the painting. That no item in the painting was rendered insignificant or just simply there for "decoration" was extremely creative on the part of the artist.

Chapter 20- Late Medieval and Early Renaissance Northern Europe (post 1)

Hubert and Jan van Eyck, Ghent Alterpiece (open), 1432. Late Medieval/Early Renaissance.

The scene positioning featured in the Ghent Alterpiece is quite neat. I especially appreciate the way that the far-left and far-right scenes correspond with one another, despite the central scenes that creates the distance. I also am intrigued by the representation of Jesus' sacrifice- or maybe the Last Supper's "wine"- with the bleeding heart of the lamb into the chalice.

Hubert and Jan van Eyck, Ghent Alterpiece (closed), 1432. Late Medieval/Early Renaissance.

The life-like statues in the "closed" (above) are very dynamic. I also appreciate the tiny view of the city's horizon in the painting. It truly looks like the layout of an actual room. 

Chapter 14-Late Medieval Italy

Giotto di Bondone, Lamentation, ca. 1305. Late Medieval Italy.

I absolutely love the display of emotion in the Lamentation painting by Giotto di Bondone. It stood out to me because the visages of the figures featured in the painting not only indicate the recognition of  human feeling, but I believe that it successfully involves its viewers, technically making them witnesses to the scene.

Introduction- What is Art History?

Reading through the first chapter of the textbook, I will honestly say that I did not become genuinely interested in the content until I saw Georgia O'Keeffe's painting. The painting’s deep, rich color scheme is, all at once, attention-grabbing and calming. The shades of blue and green in reminded me of the colors that appear on a “mood ring” which often indicate that a person is relaxed and tension-free.

Georgia O'Keeffe's Jack-in-the-Pulpit, 1930. Modern/Contemporary.