This study on different artists and their artworks mainly put into consideration the analysis of the material, and what this does is that it ensures that the proper techniques are used which then leads to an appropriate description of the piece of work. Some of the artworks put into consideration in this method analysis is Les Demoiselles de Avignon by Pablo Picasso and Birth of Venus by Sandra Botticelli. The first consideration is on Les Demoiselles de Avignon, which was at first referred to as the Brothel of Avignon, the painting which was created by Pablo Picasso who was an artist based in Spain, looked into the work that portrayed a number of nude female prostitutes, and they were five to be exact, who were from a brothel on the Avignon street in Barcelona (Seckel, & Picasso, "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon").
The birth of Venus, on the other hand, is a painting that was made in the during the 14th century period. Through the art, there was a clear depiction of the goddess of Venus who was seen arriving at the shore, and this was after her birth when she had notably emerged from the sea as a fully grown person (Boime, “Art in the age”).
1. Content Analysis
Les Demoiselles de Avignon
The central subject matter on this painting by Picasso looked into a narrative that explores the brothel scene, which mainly holds five prostitutes with two men, one who was a sailor and the other represented a medical student. Through this painting, it was seen that the women's face was left out as being both bold and solicitous, with the sharp underlying subject of sexual anxiety. The particular iconography with this painting looks into the features of the first three women, which were inspirations from the prehistoric structure of interest during the summer, the other two were mainly on the basis of the masks that Picasso had observed in both the Oceanic and the African collections, these collections were what influenced Picasso in his particular work on the painting.
The birth of Venus
The main subject for this painting was based on the theme of the birth of Venus, which was taken from the writings that were based on the old poet known as Homer. According to this distinct account, just after Venus was born, she was seen to ride on both the seashells and the sea forms, and this was to the island of Cythera. Through the painting we see of how Venus is placed in the center and also born out of foam, this is as she continues to ride to the shore. The primary iconography represented through the painting looks into the medium, which demonstrates the work on a canvas, during this exact time wood panels were seen to denote the ideal surfaces for the picture, and this is because it worked pretty well with humid areas. One other important aspect about it is that it was considered less formal, and this is what made it appropriate for some paintings.
2. Historical Context
Les Demoiselles de Avignon
The context for the creation of this piece of work by Picasso was on his recognition of the Blue period paintings, which mainly put its focus on both poverty and desperation, and this was by the type of scenes that he experienced in both Spain and Paris during the actual turn of the century. The subjects mainly looked into the blind figures, personal encounters and also a reflection of a sense of despair that he experienced. Despite the fact that this painting had a significant influence on the representation of modern art, its method of an encounter was not as immediate as it had been predicted, and this is part of the reason why the painting remained on the hold of Picasso for the longest time.
The Birth of Venus
The primary context for the creation of this painting lay with the closest precedent at the scene, which agreed on the early Greek Hymns that were in publication in Florence through the Greek Refugee, this poem in question was even referred to as the Botticelli Florentine Contemporary. The subjects primarily looked into different aspects of Venus, one who looked at her as an earthly goddess, and by this, it was meant to describe her arousal to humans to physical love, and another different one which was typically an inspiration of intellectual passion.
3. Writings about Art
Les Demoiselles de Avignon
As explained through the current world there is a lot of growth on both objectification and commodification, whose primary drive is in Capitalism. From this fact, it is then seen how women are forced to conform to specific media expectations of them. Through the use of Picasso's painting there is a lot of explanation on this Picasso then challenged the general expectation of how pictures were supposed to be, all the while offering some idealized representations of the female body. The painting is what as many critics put it marks the birth of what modern art represents, and this is because it portrayed realism.
The Birth of Venus
This painting is the actual representation of the meaning of iconic, and this is because it remains one of the most priceless masterpieces in the world, due to this aspect than the growing need of intellectual speculation, with different interpretations to the meaning. Some individuals have since offered their different views over the years, with some scholars even questioning the predominance of what is seen as a Neoplatonic though, and this was what was particularly influential during the late 1400s. This is what has caused many of these individuals to suggest that this painting is about Lorenzo de' Medici, this is the man who had commissioned the portrait. Further, from this, the images from the painting are seen to be a representation of the symbolic reflection of the virtues of Medici, who was both powerful and wealthy, and due to this effect, he was seen to be the ruler of the Florentine Republic.
Works Cited
Boime, Albert. Art in an Age of Civil Struggle, 1848-1871. Chicago, Ill: University of Chicago Press, 2008. Print.
Picasso, Pablo, and Brigitte Leal. Picasso: Les Demoiselles D’avignon: a Sketchbook. London: Thames and Hudson, 1988. Print.
