Blog Assignment #3, ch 4

"Vision is a process."
Through reading the chapter, what interested me the most (surprisingly) was the concept of Claude Monet's impressionism. Also, from impressionism stems a variety of different theories and point of views. The basis behind impressionism is to present an image that represents the ongoing movement of light and color. This type of art introduces the idea that art doesn't have to capture a moment in time, like a photograph would. Instead of portraying a specific instance, an impressionist piece focuses on the action of sight. This type of art makes a statement about the process of looking. Claude Monet, in particular, created several paintings of one specific scene, only in each painting he portrayed the scene in a different context. He would paint one scene at different times of the day, or at different times entirely. Examples of these paintings included his scenes of water lillies at the Rouen Cathedral, scenes of the Gare St. Lazare train station, and scenes of the garden in Giverny. By painting the same scene at different times, Monet shows how a scene can be affected by light and weather. Also, specifically in his paintings of the Gare St. Lazare train station, Monet captures the frantic pace of a newly-industrialized town. From his pieces a viewer can gain insight to how complex human vision can be. This concept is closely related with that of Cubism. By presenting different vantage points in one painting, Cubists were sending the message that the human eye is always in motion; the eye never rests.
During Monday's class we were discussing different influential artists. One of the artists we discussed was Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh had a very specific, yet unique style of painting. His signature style consisted of heavy layers, distinct swirls and brush strokes, and vivid color. What is unknown is the motivation behind his works. One theory suggests that he was trying to capture light and movement in his pieces. That theory definately makes sense, but it seems almost too simple. As everyone knows, there are several myths regarding Van Gogh's mental state. From those myths, another theory was introduced. If his mental health was as bad as some myths suggest, it seems possible to suggest that maybe Van Gogh pianted his portraits according to how he percieved them. Though we only discussed this theory briefly, this idea really stuck in my head. Some could say that Van Gogh's pieces are products of hallucination. Personally, I'd like to think that his unique perspective was a result of an over-active imagination. When we talk about influential artists we often discuss how they were the first to introduce a certain style of art: artists such as Picasso and Braque, Warhol and Pollock, Da Vinci and Michelangelo. We admire these artists not only for their artwork, but also for providing us with anternative ways to look at the world around us. In this sense, we refer to these artists as advanced. In some cases the artwork itself doesn't seem advanced; this arguement is often used against Warhol and Pollock. However, sometimes an artist creates a "simple" piece in order to convey a specific message without any distractions. So, in regards to an artist's thought process, isn't it possible to see Van Gogh in the same light? While I personally feel that the work of Van Gogh is more complex than that of Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol, Van Gogh still has a bad reputation amongst some critics. Maybe Van Gogh was insane. Maybe he was brilliant. It is just an interesting way to look at things. Maybe the works of some artists serve as representations of how they view the world. This idea definately questions the concept of realism. The imagery in "Starry Night" may not be how we see the world, but maybe that is how Van Gogh saw it. It's a stretch, but maybe Van Gogh painted according to his other senses, not just according to what he actually saw.
As both Cubism and Impressionism illustrated, vision is a process. In a way, Van Gogh is making a similar statement. By using such heavy texture Van Gogh brings life to his portraits. In "Starry Night" he gives the illusion of movement. It is so vivid that one could easily imagine the scene changing right in front of them; this is the same idea behind Monet's paintings. Scenery is subject to change. Real life images can't stay the same forever. It first glance, the works of these artists seem simple. Picasso and Braque's artwork may just seem weird at first. The work of Monet and Van Gogh may be simple described as "pretty". However, the complexity of piece lies beneath. Underneath the piece lie the hard questions. What is the message behind this? What does the artist want us to focus on? What do we see in the picture?
And maybe, most importantly, "Is this what our world really looks like?"