1947 Brrace Boy Analysis

Artists hold strong power in their community. Thousands of people come to view their art, and from that art they gain a message. Throughout history artists have used imagery to communicate their beliefs to their audience. Sometimes it’s emotional, or there could be no message at all, and sometimes it’s about social, political or cultural issues. Two Australian artists that have conveyed this are Arthur Boyd and Noel Counihan. In this essay, an analysis of Boyd’s 1947 The expulsion and Counihan’s 1947 Brace boy… first step to the pits will be made. Boyd’s piece is a part of his biblical-themed collection and conveys a strong opinion on the story of Adam and Eve. Made in the same period, Counihan’s piece focuses on mining, as it belongs to The miners series.

The first piece, Arthur Boyd’s The expulsion, is an oil painting showing elements of the early renaissance style. The focus of the piece is three figures located in the Australian bush. The two figures, male and female, can be presumed as a couple. Whilst the third appears to be an angel if you look at the golden wings adorning it’s back. The artwork depicts the naked couple ashamed and horrified, and the angel as a menacing figure. This subject matter is then enhanced by the elements and principles Boyd used.
The bright yellow colour of the angel makes him an interesting contrast to the rest of the image. While the piece mainly focuses on dull, natural, muted tones to convey the negative emotions in the image, the yellow is a stark opposite. It draws attention to the angel and conveys that he is different from the rest of the world. The size of the angel compared to the couple also enforces that he is a menacing figure. The couple are in what could be considered the foreground, so the fact that the angel, who is in the middle ground, is still larger than them gives him a sense of power over the