Monday, March 18, 2013

Ancient Women, Modern Portraits


I Shall Be Whole - Original oil painting by Al Young
Click here (alyoung.com) to browse a contemporary studio's take on Biblical women...

What are your observations & thoughts about the overt styles? the implicit messages? Do any particular portraits especially capture you attention? Why so?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

These stylized paintings romantically portray women of a particular class. They appear well to do since many are finely dressed (lush fabrics, richly dyed hues) and some have ornate hairstyles.

Also we see acceptable domestic scenes of taking care of children, doing chores and reading. No hard manual labor or zonah activity in these portraits at least.

The dramatic gazing off into the distance deep in contemplation or piety gives the sense that these women are to be revered. Especially coupled with the usage of light which casts a glow that is almost angelic.

---Stephanie

Anonymous said...

The most intriguing portraits for me were the ones that depicted Eve (The Joy of our Redemption and the Mother of All Living.) Words such as shame, fallen, and evil are often associated with her but these paintings, and their titles, show a different woman; one who looks with hopefulness to her future.
-Julie

Anonymous said...

It kind of makes me think of women as nothing but passive if anything. Every one of the women have a distant look and seem to be waiting.....faithfully and with hope but little to no action is seen. No determination in their eyes....just passiveness. Very sterio-typical versions of the generalized woman. I never thought art would ever offend me till just now.
- Angela R.