Antiquarum Lacrimae: The Tears Of Ancient Women
Visual Analysis
As a painter of long-held feminist convictions, whose work values Abstract Expressionism, Joan Snyder is recognized not only as a contemporary artist, but a confessional artist who believes that content is expressed through form. Joan Snyder’s painting Antiquarum Lacrimae (The Tears of Ancient Women) 2004, focuses on feminism and war. Snyder’s use of luscious color, textured surface materials and aggressive brushwork shown in Antiquarum Lacrimae, blend together to evoke women suffering during times of war.
Snyder’s use of color sets the mood for the message she is conveying. Various cloud-like forms of sky blue and forest green hues sit on the surface of the canvas and engulf the entire composition. Together these
two colors radiate a feeling of sorrow and depression, and yet there is a sensuousness and honest aspect as well. Aside from the calming blues and greens, Snyder incorporates multiple bursts of deep red and golden yellow accents that look to be gunshot wounds or wilted flowers. These two vibrant colors offer a bolt of excitement and striking contrast when placed in the foreground, above the blue and green background. Although, the deep reds and yellows threaten chaos, the earthy blue and green hues offer a meditative wholeness to the viewer.
While painting, Snyder works in bas-relief with collaged materials. The attachment of textured materials, contributes to the formal and pictorial aspects of the painting, as well as creates a feeling of excitement. In Antiquarum Lacrimae, dried flowers are stuck to the canvas and formally scattered throughout the composition. Snyder uses dried flowers to create a red paint “blob” that can be seen both as a savage flower and a bloody wound. The interplays of both color and texture in Snyder’s painting evoke natural processes as well as feelings of calmness and awe.
Snyder uses multiple variations of brushstrokes throughout the composition. Covering the entire canvas are lateral brushstrokes of acrylic paint that represent a field of flowers, indicating the unmarked graves of wartime survivors. Energetic markings and slashes in the foreground make up words that are handwritten in Latin and shown in white and green paint throughout the composition. Snyder gives different forms to her brushstrokes. Paint drips, runs and spills represent tears and blood and create a sense of sorrow and depression to the viewer. Snyder’s paint buildup along with her short lines of handwriting, erase the boundary between the verbal and the visual.
Aspects of feminist content and Abstract Expressionism may be detected in Snyder’s work, but the combination is uniquely her own. Joan Snyder’s Antiquarum Lacrimae (The Tears of Ancient Women) is an example of grief and love through the use of color, textured materials and aggressive brushstrokes. These elements prevent Snyder’s work from being categorized within any specific art movement. It is without a doubt that Joan Snyder is the most prominent individual of Women Art.
As a painter of long-held feminist convictions, whose work values Abstract Expressionism, Joan Snyder is recognized not only as a contemporary artist, but a confessional artist who believes that content is expressed through form. Joan Snyder’s painting Antiquarum Lacrimae (The Tears of Ancient Women) 2004, focuses on feminism and war. Snyder’s use of luscious color, textured surface materials and aggressive brushwork shown in Antiquarum Lacrimae, blend together to evoke women suffering during times of war.
Snyder’s use of color sets the mood for the message she is conveying. Various cloud-like forms of sky blue and forest green hues sit on the surface of the canvas and engulf the entire composition. Together these
two colors radiate a feeling of sorrow and depression, and yet there is a sensuousness and honest aspect as well. Aside from the calming blues and greens, Snyder incorporates multiple bursts of deep red and golden yellow accents that look to be gunshot wounds or wilted flowers. These two vibrant colors offer a bolt of excitement and striking contrast when placed in the foreground, above the blue and green background. Although, the deep reds and yellows threaten chaos, the earthy blue and green hues offer a meditative wholeness to the viewer.
While painting, Snyder works in bas-relief with collaged materials. The attachment of textured materials, contributes to the formal and pictorial aspects of the painting, as well as creates a feeling of excitement. In Antiquarum Lacrimae, dried flowers are stuck to the canvas and formally scattered throughout the composition. Snyder uses dried flowers to create a red paint “blob” that can be seen both as a savage flower and a bloody wound. The interplays of both color and texture in Snyder’s painting evoke natural processes as well as feelings of calmness and awe.
Snyder uses multiple variations of brushstrokes throughout the composition. Covering the entire canvas are lateral brushstrokes of acrylic paint that represent a field of flowers, indicating the unmarked graves of wartime survivors. Energetic markings and slashes in the foreground make up words that are handwritten in Latin and shown in white and green paint throughout the composition. Snyder gives different forms to her brushstrokes. Paint drips, runs and spills represent tears and blood and create a sense of sorrow and depression to the viewer. Snyder’s paint buildup along with her short lines of handwriting, erase the boundary between the verbal and the visual.
Aspects of feminist content and Abstract Expressionism may be detected in Snyder’s work, but the combination is uniquely her own. Joan Snyder’s Antiquarum Lacrimae (The Tears of Ancient Women) is an example of grief and love through the use of color, textured materials and aggressive brushstrokes. These elements prevent Snyder’s work from being categorized within any specific art movement. It is without a doubt that Joan Snyder is the most prominent individual of Women Art.