Virgin Annunciate (Palermo) by Antonello Da Messina
What’s so special about Antonello Da Messina’s Virgin Annunciate (Palermo)?
– Who and where is the Annunciate angel?
– Oil paint’s glorious glow
– Mary transitions from human to saint
Patriotic Demonstration by Giacomo Balla
What’s going on in Giacomo Balla’s painting Patriotic Demonstration?
– Rome rallies to join World War I
– Disembodied limbs dance across canvas
– Italian flags aflutter
Judith With the Head of Holofernes – Cristofano Allori
What is happening in Cristofano Allori’s painting Judith With the Head of Holofernes?
– The Power of Women topos
– Heroism and subversion
– Two shiny droplets – jewels on a golden robe
Woman Combing Her Hair 1915 – Aleksander Archipenko
What’s so special about the sculpture Woman Combing Her Hair 1915 by Aleksander Archipenko?
– A moving figural map
– The void within
– Futurist fundamentals in 3D
Nude Descending a Staircase No 2 – Marcel Duchamp
How did Duchamp’s painting Nude Descending a Staircase No 2 set the art world ablaze?
– Abhorred and adored all at once
– Nudity without critical comprehension
– Changing a turn of the century outlook
Abu Ghraib 46 by Fernando Botero
What is Fernando Botero saying with his painting Abu Ghraib 46?
– Botero bodies: beaten, naked, and bloody
– The Geneva Convention is key
– Green blindfolds = hope