James Stuart by Anthony Van Dyck
Why is James Stuart wearing such fanciful duds in his Anthony Van Dyck portrait?
– The Order of the Garter
– Man’s best friend steals the show
– Performative emptiness
Trolley New Orleans by Robert Frank, 1955
Why is the Robert Frank photograph Trolley New Orleans so important?
– Segregated seating in black and white
– A complex framework of composition
– Truth, hard work, and hope
Mademoiselle V. in the Costume of an Espada by Édouard Manet
What’s the story behind Manet’s painting Mademoiselle V. in the Costume of an Espada?
– Manet’s favorite model dresses the part
– Realness and violence in a blurred background
– A lurking unconscious portrayed in paint
Haystacks Autumn (1874) by Jean Francois Millet
Why is Haystacks Autumn an important painting?
– The cycle of man’s connection with nature
– Green grass, haystacks and sheep backs
– Farmer as wizard of all he surveys
The Hunter (Catalan Landscape) – 1923-24 by Joan Miró
What does The Hunter (Catalan Landscape) Joan Miró painting mean?
– An unconscious pastel landscape of earth, sea and sky
– Earthy manliness on the left
– Sardine seascape on the right
Self Portrait 1 by Joan Miró (1937-1938)
Podcast Version of this Post A Constellation of Imagery A pastel confection, Self Portrait 1 by Joan Miró gives us a glimpse into the master’s psyche. Miró created a semblance of himself with pencil, pastel, and a bit of oil paint. But it stands out among other self portraits thanks to Miró’s constellation imagery, symbolism, …