I’m going to start off being honest; this class has been different than most I have taken here at BYU. I have taken more science classes than any type of humanity class in the past and so I don’t lie when I say this class has been a struggle for me. I also will not lie when before this class I could recognize famous pieces of art but I couldn’t really analyze them. That is why I am surprised when I look at some pieces of modern art and I enjoy them. At one time I would have just said that is garbage but understanding the background and how one movement affected the next movement makes things interesting. Jackson Pollock might be one of the most abstract artists of the 20th century and his painting Number 1 shows it.
At first glance Number 1 just looks like a canvas with a bunch of paint splattering and dripping all over it. That might be because that is exactly what it is. As one looks at it though there is something aesthetically pleasing about it. The colors really do seem to flow and blend with one another in a random yet orderly manner. When I look at it the black seems to make so many random shapes that leave the imagination to go to town. Almost all of the lines in the painting are rounded in some way but to me they seem to be pointed up as well telling our imagination to stretch.
It seems interesting to me that although when I look at the painting there is no central focus point. The painting is about motion and it is up to the observer to like or dislike it. The entire canvas is filled with paint except for a small area at the top. By doing this whether on accident or on purpose Pollock seems to keep our eyes moving from side to side rather than up or down or in circles. Even though the darkest lines are pointing up Pollock keeps us expanding the painting horizontally with this technique.
I also kind of struggle with this class because of the interpretation part. I can sort of memorize the history, but it's hard for me to look at something and say what it means. I also looked a modern art without real enthusiasm, but I think that this class is helping me to change my point of view little. I still prefer art that is solidly real, but I appreciate other types more. That's a nifty analysis of Jackson Pollock's painting.
ReplyDeleteAnalyzing paintings has always been more difficult for me as well. I can analyze a book, but sometimes it's so hard to do the same thing to a painting. I agree that it is a nice feeling when you can finally look at a painting and see something there where before you only felt confusion and frustration. It's a reaping of the rewards of hours of study and practice.
ReplyDeleteI find his paintings interesting. I really liked your explanation of number 1. I can see what you were describing.
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