THE LAST 3 WORKS OF ART

BY CINTHYA RODRIGUEZ.

James Abbott McNeill Whistler.

Purple and Rose: The Lange Lijzen of the Six Marks.

1864.

Oil on canvas.

Small painting.

In Philly musuem.

Female figure (model: Joanna Hiffernan, aka 1860’s mistress... Also did any paintings that said Coubert, white, girl and/or symphony) w/ hair pulled back tightly (imitate Chinese court fashion)

Make-up accentuates her dramatic features

CENTRAL FIGUREPose: seated, relaxed, casual

DRESSED IN Chinese brocade robe decorated w/ floral motif (peach and rose) and an underlayer/trim of a dark purple (think title given by Philly!!)

Her body marks a diagonal line from lower left to upper right corner (fills the frame!)

”beautiful” Chinese objects, ~ Whistler’s own collection

She holds brush as if imagining herself as a painter (the finishing touches) = RIGHT HAND

BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN OBJECT TO THE LEFT HAND…

The Lange Leizen refers to pattern of delicate, willowy Chinese ladies.(lange = dutch, long and eliza…)

LIKE PIECE ON HER LAP!!

6 MARKS!Refers to particular Chinese character on some pieces(important to protect from fake goods)

ALLABOUTCHINA!

SURROUNDED BY A NUMBER OF Chinese objects laid out (like a shop display)

Blue and white

Tea cupLarge ginger jar

Painted fan and tray

Table with brushes

Few objects that detract attention from lady

Dominant colors:Beige and brown to accentuate the more vivid tones of the robe and porcelain (b &w)

The porcelain:Whistler loveddd the Oxford and Sloan St shops owned by Murray Marks, patron.

@ this time:Chinese objects available in dept. stores and highly prized by upper/middle class clients… “obsession” coupled with rise in consumption of Chinese tea, 90% total!!!!!! (argued by Ronita Ray)

Blue and white wares started @ 14th century… exported to Euro. By the 17th.

WHISTLER• N.AMERICAN BORN, WENT TO EUROPE TO MAKE HIS CAREER• BORN, MASS. IN 1834 – WAS A KIDDY ABROAD• BRIEFLY @ WEST POINT ACADEMY…• ENGLAND ATRTACTED HIMM TO ART WORLD• 1855 CARTOGRAPHER, LEFT U.S.• ART CLASS @ ST. PETERSBURG• MOVED TO PARIS AS BOHEMIAN PARISIAN ARTIST• TOOK COURSES BY CHARLES GLEYRE (FRENCH IMPRESSIONIST) AND FRIEND OF

REALTIST COUBERT AND COPIED REMBRANDT… • HIGHLY EMOTIONAL WORK! • (SMALL AMOUNT OF COLOR) !!CREATINGGGGGGGGGGGG BEAUTYYYYYYYYYYY!!

• ART DIDN’T HAVE TO BE ENLIGHTENTING! “ART FOR ART’S SAKE”• TITLES RECALLED MUSIC.. EMPHAZING SENSUAL ASPECTS, NO NARRATIVE• NOCTURNE IN BLACK & GOLD MADE HIM FAMOUS (CRITICIZED BY TURNER &

SUED FOR LIBEL)• 1870S – FRENCH IMPRESSIONISTS FASCINATED BY JAPANESE ART (WOODBLOCKS)

(MONET &VAN GOGH)… • BUT YEARS BEFORE! WHISTLER INCORPORATED FAR EAST INFLUENCE

A Lady Receiving Visitors (The Reception)

James Frederick Lewis.

1873.(before British control during Suez Canal)

OIL ON PANEL

Painted in Egypt!(a region fraught w/ meaning in the context of imperialist expansion)

Highly detailed view of a complex interior space with a high ceiling.

Focus: main chamber of room where “lad of the house” sits

2 separate recessed bays (one to each side of main chamber)

Sunlight filters through the wooden screens and glass windows… shadows seem to flicker across the scene…

Elegant sunken pool with tile pattern in gold, red, and blue stones. IT REFLECTS THE LADY AND HER SERVANT!

LADY IS NEAR THE CENTERReclining on upholstered divan, clothed in elegant display of vivid fabrics… she doesn’t react to the arrival of visitors, just gazes off into space.

Her female servant holds a huge fan and looks at the viewer, as if distracted

Servants (even the gazelle) by the pool, turn to the Lady

Lewis known for use of meticulous details.Highly detailed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brushstrokes = invisible, like a PHOTOGRAPHColors = bright and vivid… ONE POINT PERSPECTIVE

Emily Weeks! Discusses the work through accurate ethnographic details…

- clothing, furnishings, and arrangements are keeping w/ Egypt in the 1840s

- Captures appropriate relationship b/w upper-class lady and servants

- Gazelle = exotic (domestic pets in ^Egyptian homes.. Symbols of female beauty)

- Lady placed in the MANDARAH (“men’s place”)- Lewis moved social order on PURPOSE (witty)- ~statement of treatment of women in Ottoman Empire- Egypt = crucial pathway to eastern trade routes- (important to the British whose interests increased) - Napolean came -> Britdefenses -> M.Ali wins -> Brits byebye- By 1840s this situation improved- France wanted more influence (Suez Canal)- By 1882, high debts and bankrupty british control!

LEWIS• Painted watercolors and oil paintings• Royal academy member• well-known, critics saw depictions as accurate• Long experience living in the Mid. East• Born in London, son of artist• Adult, spent years traveling and work abroad• His attention was east (not in Euro like WHISLTER)• Spain, Greece, Turkey, Cairo… assuming life of rich man• These experiences were his INSPRATION• His life documented by Will. Makepeace Thackery (Notes of a Journey…)

describing the exotic attire and lifestyle of Lewis… “Gone Native” (stories fascinated Brit. Readers)

• This gave him legitimacy… over 600 watercolors and drawing in Cairo• Back to LONDON! Images used to create LARGE paintings showing

^scenes• HAREMS AND MOSQUES• WESTERN ORIENTALIST CONSTRUCTION OF THE EAST

The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (Asia)

is part of Yinka Shonibare's photographic series

2008

C-print mounted on aluminum

In London

References famous print from Francisco Goya, a set of 80 sketches showing a man as symbol of the creative mind… asleep @ work, head resting on arms…

Simple desk reads:“the sleep of reason produces monsters.”

Man surrounded by owls and bats (ignorance and superstition)

Owl seated at table… holds out a pen to rouse him?Lynx behind his chair is alert

Does Goya criticize the Enlightenment and path of society? Nightmares root of inspiration? Promotion of reason is…?

SOCIAL CRITICISMAfrican man withhead shaved

(series of 5 photographs)

Shonibare created nearly precise replica, 3d setting.. Male figure mimics the other’s clothing

Assume: differences are meaningful -Replicated through series of images representing Brit. Empire interests all over the world-Subtle change to text on desk… in French, “monsters in ASIA…” (changes w/ each image)-Ends in question mark….

Model changes in age, vary by ethnicity… represent complex networks fueling the Empire

Rather than providing the interpretation, Shonibare makes it the viewers job o question history and seek ANSWERS…

DUTCH WAX CLOTH!

Shonibare• Contemporary, work crosses borders of Brit. Imperialism• Questions the history of Brit. Empire and construction of identity• Born London, Nigerian… childhood in Lagos• His formative experiences of world = cosmopolitan• English boarding school, Wimbledon college• Suffered paralysis, spine, remarkable recovery• Work addresses challenges of impairment• Brym Shaw school of art• Teacher: “Why don’t you create authentic African art?”• BOOM! So… who defines identity? (mature work)• “Young British Artists” (Goldsmiths college)• Exhibited in controversial “Sensation” brought his work to larger audience• Turner prize… honorific title, MBE (ironic!!!)• Lives in London, as British and Nigerian• Works with a variety of media…. Signature brightly colored textiles• (Dutch wax cloth, symbol of African identity, elaborate patterns, meaning = location

specific, origins in Indonesian market… Gold Coast)• D.w.x bought @ London’s Brixtion market… hybridity!!!!• The Swing! Piece restages figure of Jean Fragonard…• His headless figures create timelessness and control over subject