Van Beyeren's Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is an acrylic painting on a on canvas. This painting is huge with the dimensions 8 ft 9 in by 6 ft 9 in. The man’s face over powers the viewer with sheer scale as viewers are forced to step back or look up to see him. The canvas portrays a very detailed image of a man in black, various shades of gray, and white. It can be easily mistaken for a photograph. He has a lit cigarette in the left side of his mouth. The angle perspective is as if the viewer is looking up at him. He does not look at the viewer, rather he looks like he is staring into the distance. His nose is crooked, larger on the right side of his face. His mouth is slightly opened allowing the viewer to see his two front teeth. His glasses are reflecting multiple light
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Van Beyeren’s Still Life made in 1667 has the pocket watch sitting on the table among a lavish abundant of delicious fruit and beautiful dining wear. This watch was an icon of vanitas, the morality of all material goods. Just like how the watch reminds the viewer that all the luxuries set on the table is only temporary, the artist of Self-Portrait shows the smoking cigarette and possibly naked body as luxuries of youth and smoking that will not last forever. His wild hair and tired look gives the illusion that he is becoming older. Or perhaps the artist is using this to a darker view, that the luxury of living is only temporary. He doesn’t bother taking care of his hair or putting on some cloths because it’s meaningless to him. The cigarette slowly crumbles as the man stares off into the distance, his life is only as long as the fading …show more content…
Although Picasso made abstract representative figures and the man is completely realistic, both share personality. The way the man has his eyes half closed, his ears forward, his nose bent gives a relaxed yet tired look that gives him character. The viewer doesn’t see the photograph, they see a person. This same personality can be seen in Picasso’s Demoiselles d’Avignon made in 1707. Although very abstract and representative, personality shows with the abnormal facial features and pose. The viewer doesn’t see just a group of women, but also a potentially hostile group who has clearly been through a lot in their lifetimes. They have a story behind
Van Beyeren’s Still Life made in 1667 has the pocket watch sitting on the table among a lavish abundant of delicious fruit and beautiful dining wear. This watch was an icon of vanitas, the morality of all material goods. Just like how the watch reminds the viewer that all the luxuries set on the table is only temporary, the artist of Self-Portrait shows the smoking cigarette and possibly naked body as luxuries of youth and smoking that will not last forever. His wild hair and tired look gives the illusion that he is becoming older. Or perhaps the artist is using this to a darker view, that the luxury of living is only temporary. He doesn’t bother taking care of his hair or putting on some cloths because it’s meaningless to him. The cigarette slowly crumbles as the man stares off into the distance, his life is only as long as the fading …show more content…
Although Picasso made abstract representative figures and the man is completely realistic, both share personality. The way the man has his eyes half closed, his ears forward, his nose bent gives a relaxed yet tired look that gives him character. The viewer doesn’t see the photograph, they see a person. This same personality can be seen in Picasso’s Demoiselles d’Avignon made in 1707. Although very abstract and representative, personality shows with the abnormal facial features and pose. The viewer doesn’t see just a group of women, but also a potentially hostile group who has clearly been through a lot in their lifetimes. They have a story behind