Luncheon on the Grass: A Work of Art Ahead of Its Time

Altidor, Samuel

Professor Lemeh

ARH 2000

Blog Entry 2

Word Count: 282

28 June 2013

Luncheon on the Grass: A Work of Art Ahead of Its Time

            After watching the movie “The Impressionists”, the painting “Luncheon on the Grass” by Édouard Manet caught my attention. After taking a closer look at the painting, I could understand why the Paris Academy Salon rejected it. I believe that the painting was rejected not because it wasn’t a beautiful work of art, but because it was way ahead of its time. The painting depicts two men in dark clothes juxtaposed by the warm, creamy, and nude body of a woman.  They were sitting outdoors, on the grass, in the woods somewhere, after what looks like a picnic. What was shocking in the painting was the fact that the woman was directly and brazenly looking at the viewers as if to invite them to take part of the debauchery that will soon ensue. Despite being in the midst of clothed men, she seemed well at ease, and unperturbed. This type of brazen behavior was in direct violation of every rule on decency and morality set forth by the Parisian society of the time. That’s why at the beginning of the movie, one of the viewers even attacked the painting with an umbrella. That’s how outrageous the painting was.  Even today, I believe the painting would offend the sensitivity of more conservative viewers. I can only imagine how much more offensive it must have been about 2 centuries ago. The Society of 1863 Paris was not ready to publicly display such raunchy works of art; it was not ready for the emotions the painting inspired in the viewers at the time.

About Interpretation: René Magritte

Altidor, Samuel

Professor Lemeh

ARH 2000

Blog Entry 1b
Word Count: 243

27 June 2013

About interpretation: René Magritte

            After reading the Chapter “About interpretation: René Magritte”, my definition of art hasn’t changed. Like I wrote in my previous blog post, everyone will have a different interpretation of what a piece of art is. It all depends on the person, his or her experiences, and whatever that person was feeling at the time. For instance, at the tender age of 14, the artist René-François Magritte found his mother drowned in a river with her nightgown covering her face (Barrett 3). Because of that traumatic experience, some of Magritte’s paintings depict subjects with their face covered. If I were not privy of that piece of personal information looking at one of his paintings “The Lovers”, I would find it odd that the kissing couple has their head covered by what looks like burlap sacs or pillowcases. Personally when I take photographs of couple kissing I love their faces to show. I would love to see the emotions inspired by that kiss show on their faces. To me it would make absolute no sense why they would have their faces covered. I would have a hard time defining that painting as art. Although, I know other viewers of that painting would beg to differ. But it would be my prerogative; it would be my personal preference.

Work Cited

Barrett, Terry. "About Interpretation: René Magritte." Interpreting Art: Reflecting, Wondering, and Responding. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2003. 1-37. Print.

What is art?

Samuel Altidor

Professor Lemeh

ARH 2000

27 June 2013

Word Count: 173

What Is Art?

Art is a very difficult term to define because it can have different meanings for different people. What is art for some might not necessarily be art for others. It all depends on taste and personal preferences. Personally, I believe that art is finding beauty in the rarest and most unusual places, and present it in a way that is unique to you and to your vision of the world around your. For instance, I love photography and I always have a camera with me when I go out. When I’m out with my girlfriend I’d stop at the most unusual places to take a picture. It can be a dirty alley, an old abandon building, or an old junk car. My girlfriend would always look at me with that are-you-out-of-your-mind look. However, the finish product would always amaze her. To me, that’s art. It’s giving something people would usually skip a different perspective, a different meaning.