Month: April 2021

What Are The Five Greatest Paintings In The History Of Western Art?

Introduction

The art of painting is said to have been around for the last 20,000 years. Paintings therefore outlive artists. They form part of your legacy whether you are a legendary painter like Leonardo da Vinci or an upcoming painter like Maximilian Lang-Orsini.

You will notice that some of these paintings that we will discuss have always conveyed deep messages. Below are the historical paintings and the impacts they have made on society.

Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci (1503-1519)

This list would feel incomplete without this entry in the list since it is infamous. It was painted on white poplar paper using oil paint. Critics have always been fascinated by her smile. Depending on how one may look at it, she may either be happy or indifferent.

This art piece has influenced modern art today. Some paintings are made in an ambiguous manner leaving room for varying interpretations. Others however feel art should only convey one meaning.

The Sistine Chapel Ceiling by Michelangelo (1508-1512)

From its name, the work of art was done on the chapel’s ceiling. Pope Julius II commissioned the painting. The painting depicts God and Adam reaching out for each other by stretching their arms. Angels are also in the picture helping God reach out for the man.

The artwork represents God reaching out to us despite humankind’s fallen nature. Critics also interpret it to mean that man only needs to apply a little effort to reach out to God.

The Scream by Edvard Munch (1893)

If you have watched a film called Home Alone (1990), you may know of the famous scream face done by the child actor. The actor’s scream face seems to pay homage to this painting. According to the painter, the artwork represents his anxious soul. The person in the picture is shown screaming while two people walk past him.

The two people represent his friends who ignore him and continue walking. It is no wonder the man screams in anxiety. The picture goes to show how the actions of others may induce panic attacks in others. The message conveyed by the art piece is never to ignore your friends or anyone in need of assistance.

Girl with a pearl earring by Johannes Vermeer (1665)

It is an oil painting that depicts a woman wearing an exotic dress and a pearl earring on her left ear. The background is painted black with no other drawing in the background. Perhaps, the artist intended for the critic to focus only on the woman.

She leans over as though she wants to speak to you. You will also notice the light on her face despite the dark background. Perhaps, she is facing the direction of light towards us. It is common to seek knowledge (light) to drive away ignorance (darkness).

The birth of Venus by Sandro Botticeli (1486)

This painting depicts a beautiful woman being born out of a seashell. She is surrounded by four people. She is the goddess of love and she intends to spread love in the region she is born in.

Conclusion

These pieces of art have compelled modern artists to speak out on social issues via art. Art is not just for beauty but for communicating a message.

Art History: What Can Paintings Teach Us?

As Pablo Picasso once said that a painting is just another way of keeping a diary; these words are true in every aspect. Painting is not just an expression of art, and it is a journey all on its own. Through a painting, you can see an artist’s perspective on life and other elements of the universe.

What Painting Does To Us

Also, a work of art that does not begin in emotion is not art. To paint a picture that speaks to the people, one must first find inspiration. The inspiration will enable the painter to communicate better through the painting.

Therefore, after achieving good communication with the audience, each painting is taught. Here are some lessons some great paintings have taught over time:

  • Art teaches us to go into life with the ability to capture the beauty of everything in the natural world. Some great paintings about nature instill a sense of appreciation in each of us. That means you should appreciate the beauty of everything you come across.
  • Art can teach you to be yourself and happy about it- some paintings speak about self-acceptance and how they should raise their self-esteem regardless of the situation.
  • Art teaches one to express their emotions and feelings creatively- many painters have expressed their perspective on various matters, including politics, health, and religion, through paintings.
  • Paintings teach us to accept those who are different- the world has well over 7 billion people. Each of us cannot be the same. Therefore, through art, one learns to accept and appreciate human diversity.
  • Paintings teach us to speak without using words- the sages were accurate when they said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Paintings speak volumes when curved out correctly, and they relay the message just as well as words would.
  • Art equips one with the ability to interpret the world around us- most paintings often have hidden meanings that only a few people can decipher. Therefore, not all paintings are taken at face value.

If you learn how to interpret each painting’s true meaning, then life would be that much simpler.

  • Paintings can teach history, beliefs, and convictions- some paintings offer educational value to scholars. They may teach them about the history of certain people or even their beliefs and practices.

After that insight, the second section of this post will look at the life of one painter called Maximillian Lang-Orsini. He is an artist from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and he has quite some interesting works of art in his collection.

He is only 25 years of age and has taken the world by storm through his work. Further, he is a citizen of three countries, namely; Canada, Britain, and Germany.

In his life, Maximilian Lang-Orsini has worked as a server in a catering company and was responsible for setting up and training new staff members for various events. Also, he was an assistant in a retail store, and he was responsible for stocking shelves, serving clients, and managing the cash.

In addition to being a painter, Maximillian is also the owner of a blog site that talks about Amsterdam and its various attractions. His paintings are unique and easy on the eyes.

Everyone should take a look at his art.

Wrapping up

Art is often a way of expressing emotions, beauty, and feelings. It helps people make better sense of the world and various aspects of life. For some, art is also a means of consolation during a difficult time in their life.

Aristotle once thought that art was important in providing emotional relief when facing devastating emotions.