Juan de Pareja by Diego Velázquez
What makes the Juan de Pareja by Diego Velázquez an important painting?
– The enslaved artist follows us with his eyes
– A lace collar tops a soldier’s ensemble
– Preparation for the Pope’s portrait
Portrait
Manuel Osorio Manrique de Zuñiga by Francisco de Goya
Why is the portrait Manuel Osorio Manrique de Zuñiga such a notable child painting?
– Birds, cats, and a lurking doom
– The saint – an involuntary dandy
– A string? … or the line between life and death
Max Beckmann’s The Beginning
What’s the story behind Max Beckmann’s The Beginning?
– Chaos and control in the living room
– Puss in Boots takes one for the team
– Future fantasies behind a window
Black and Brown Blouse by Alex Katz
Why does the simple portrait Black and Brown Blouse by Alex Katz make me want to cry?
– Flat canvas full of feelings
– The unconscious pull of deep relationships
– A proprietary technique stays relevant
Joan of Arc (1879) by Jules Bastien-Lepage
Why did Jules Bastien-Lepage paint Joan of Arc in 1879?
– 400 years later – Joan of Arc became a hero
– The 100 years war parallels the Franco-Prussian war
– A saint in the backyard … surrounded by angel messengers
Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1. – James Whistler
Why does James Whistler not even mention his mother in the painting title Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1. ?
– Rebellion in grey and black planes
– Whistler inherited her cold manner
– He only cared for form and composition