Common subjects but great art
The subject of an art work expresses a view of man’s existence, it is not the only attribute of art, but it is the fundamental one, it is the end to which all the others are the means.
According to the classic understanding, great artwrork needs great subjects, no matter the subject is a landscape, an impressive Monarch or a great Mansion, their beauty have to stand out and obvious to all. The pure splendor had to be readily apparent and noticeable to all. Because if the subject was common, the art would not be great.
However, with the coming of impressionism and post-impressionism, the common subjects became dominant in the art world. Artists became more focus on seeing the beauty in everything including the common, such as a few flowers, water lilies, fruits and more became the targets of the artists brush and were brought to life by the skills of the masters. The common was all of a certain made extraordinary and quite extraordinarily so.
Van Gogh Paintings are among the development, take the Irises painting for example, it was painted while Van Gogh was living at the asylum at Saint Paul-de-Mausole. It depicts a few Iris flowers which is very basic subjects, just some flowers in garden. However, it is also among the most captivating of images. The different shades of green, the different blue flowers, the harmony of the composition and colors – only true master could paint the beauty. This was recognized by Van Gogh and he set out to paint the flowers in all their magnificence. There is no gold and glory, no grand landscape, only the simple flowers themselves and the amazing beauty that they offer for the trained eye. Thus Van Gogh and his contemporaries had their eyes opened to the beauty that was right in front of them, and make the common subjects became extraordinary.
Not only the Irises painting Van Gogh created. From the Portrait of Dr. Gachet, Woman III, Garcon A La Pipe to Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers, the world’s most expensive paintings are dominated by those common subjects. The beauty in the ordinary is the new posh, therefore great art need no great subjects, but need great understanding and interpretation. Beauty is around us everywhere in our life. If you look for it, it will be there. And even the oil painting reproductions, although they can never reach the level of the original, with our talented artists’ interpretation, you may find some amazing beauty.
Processing your request, Please wait....
