Hand With Reflecting Sphere, M. C. Escher (Dutch) b. 1898 , 1935, Lithograph, 31.8x21.3 cm

This artist was born on June 17th, 1898. He was a Dutch graphic artist. Many of his pieces are often mathematically inspired, such as his "Relativity" painted in 1953. His artwork took a different approach than many artists of his day. He beleived that art could also communicate innovational ideas, and much of his did. The piece above is an example of one of his more intrigueing works. he combines a self portrait with the elements of 3-demensionalism. You can see this in the porportions that he uses as his face and other features curve around the reflecting sphere. The line style that he uses is also very important because the small dots make the image appear more detailed and yet at the same time almost "sketchy".

This peice of artwork may have reflected his views on how he thought math could be placed into artwork, because of the porprtions he used. He also could have been trying to communicate a message on a more phsycilogical level such as, we really do live in a small world after all. Our world represented by the reflecting sphere, as if the artist is looking into it himself, contemplating the idea. This theory could also be supported by the fact that the drawing is in black and white, symbolizing symplicity. It also may have just been his artsy, unique way of creating a self portrait without without being like every other artist who has ever painted one.

Starry Starry Night

Vincent Van Gogh (dutch) b.1853, Starry Night, 1889, Oil on Canvas, 73 × 92 cm, Museum of Modern Art, New York City



Vincent Van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853. He was part of the post-impressionalism time period. This peice of artwork is an example of impressionism because of the texture that it shows. You would not normally see a night sky that looks like someone had put it in a blender. This is because in many of his pieces, Van Gough chooses to go with an abstract approach. The colors on this painting make the on-looker's eye jump from spot to spot and the texture makes you feel like you could just reach out and touch the coils of white, blue, and green.

There are many possible meanings that could be associated with this painting. Some people even thought that Van Gogh was not in a stable mental position (kinda crazy) when he painted this peice. But no one can really no for sure what he really saw as he created this master peice. Perhaps this is actually what the sky looked like on that particular night (although I highly doubt it). What I belive that it symbolizes is a peaceful night over a small town, with shining stars and beautiful swirling galaxies. Maybe Van Gogh was trying to show what he thought the great beyond might be like. I don't know about you, but those patterns in the sky could possibly look a bit "alienish" to me.

Igor Barhatkov (Russian) Blooming Garden, 2000, Oil on Canvas, 51 x 41 cm

Igor Barhatkov was born on January 5, 1958. He studied art in Germany in 1986. This gave him inspiration for many of his paintings, although most of them are set in Russia. The painting above is an example of one of his works of realism. It is the most commmon forn of art that he painted. This painting relates to my culture becaue he is Russian. That is also the reason that he is not very weel known. I choose this painting because it reminds me of a peaceful summer day. This may have been the feeling that he was trying to convey because at this time Russsia was not at war and he felt that his country was at peace. Many of Igor's paintings are of nature, things like trees, flowers, autumn leaves, and fields.

I must say, I love this peice of artwork. It brings back so many memories of gorgous, bright summer days when the light is shining through the leaves of the trees at just the right angle so that it makes the small flecks of sunshine dance on the grass. Looking at this painting you get a sense of peace and tranquility. The seeting seems almost laid back, carefree. You can almost feel a warm breeze blowing through your hair. The message here is simple; relax.

Mona Lisa

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), circa 1503–1506, Oil on poplar, 77 × 53 cm, 30 × 21, Musée du Louvre, Paris

This painting was created by Leonardo da Vinci, who was born April 15,1452 and died May 2,1519. He is often referred to as "The Renaissance Man" because he was extremely curious and inventive. Two of his paintings Mona Lisa and The Last Supper have the unique honor of being the most famous, most reproduced, and most parodied prtrait and religous painting of all time. Wow! I wonder if Leonardi da Vinci ever predicted that his works could be that popular. I choose this piece of artwork because just be looking at it I get a sense of mystery. What could this women be smiling so slyly about. Perhaps she has a secret, something we will never know because by now she is undoubtedly dead. Something interesting about this painting is that if you look closely, she does not have any eye brows. Belive it or not, during Renaissance it was the fashion for women to shave their eye brows completely off! Perhaps as time goes on, the mystery behind this painting will unfold...

This painting is well... lets just say an interesting one to analyze. So many theories are behind it. Mine however probably differs from that of many others. In my personal opinion, I think that the story behind this painting was a secret crush, as indicated by the woman's shy little smile. An idea I greatly doubt, but an intrigueing idea non the less, is that some people think that this is a self portrait of de Vinci himself as a woman! Maybe crazy, but it might even be true!

Faith Ringgold Credit Lines

Faith Ringgold (American) b. 1930, The Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles, 1991Acrylic on canvas, tie dyed, pieced fabric border, 74 x 80 inches, Private Collection

Faith Ringgold was born on October 8th, 1930 and raised in Harlem. She has won numerous awards and written and illustrated eleven childrens books. Today she is best known for her elebrate story quilts. The painting above is a good example of one of her famous story quilts. In this piece of artwork Faith's story is that of a strong African-American women. She has always tried to portray this image in her creations because she does not want the African-American artist to be overlooked in the world of contemporary art. To the right you see an on looking Vincent Van Gogh. Faith Ringgold may have chosen him to be put in this painting because Vincent Van Gogh made a series of sunflower paintings in Arles himself. She could have even looked up to him as an artist of what she was aspiring to become.

Dance at Bougival

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841 - 1919) Dance at Bougival 1883, Oil on canvas,181.8 x 98.1cm,Museum of Fine Arts (Boston)

The artist of this painting was born on February 25, 1841 in Limoges France. Interestingly, he got involved in the arts when he found out that he was a good singer but thought that music was not for him. At 13 he became an apprrentice for a porcelin painter and that is what he did for the next 5 years. He was fired from the porcelin factory wehn machines were brought in to do his job. Eventually he joined an art school and started his career as a painter once he had graduated. Throughout his 60 years as an active painter, Renoir created about 6,000 paintings. This piece of artwork is an example of impressionalism and almost even seems to come alive. It is as if these two serene dancers were to jump off the canvas and continue their waltz. Renior was one of the leaders in the Impressionalism movement and I think that this peice shows it. He has also made a few other paintings of people dancing in different settings.

The idea being expressed behind this painting is simple, fun and romance. You can see this by noticing the way the man is lovingly looking at the woman and by the way that they are both merrily dancing. The jig that they are doing adds an element of fun to the painting that makes you want to join in and dance along. Even the people smiling and talking in the back ground seem to be having a jolly good time. I mish that I could skip right into the painting? Wait a second... why wasn't I invited to the party?!