Reclining Nude

Faith Kim Prof. Hight Introduction to Visual humanities 4 June 2012 Reclining naked The maneuverwork is c everyed Reclining Nude by Jean-Antoine Watteau and I be this artwork in the Norton Simon Museum. I was captivated by the sensuality and the powderiness in the painting. I first noticed in the painting was her squ ar-built ivory figure contrasting with the dark chocolate background because I felt up that these contrasting strains evoked a sense of award and light against the mysterious darkness. She bes to go turned around and noticed something. perchance someone just entered the room and surprised her or she could have been postponement for her lover.I also noticed that in this painting, that there are only tether objects the bed, the girl, and the dark background. This painting seemed so simple to me and yet I felt there was so much more(prenominal) than to it. What was it roughly her that was so additional? Why was she painted? These thoughts whirled in my hea d as I looked at this masterpiece. I studied this paintings importance by researching the substantial formal elements that composed this artwork such as color and light, the historic context in which the artwork was made, and Watteaus intent for this artwork.These factors have contributed in the Reclining Nudes significance not only for me, but in art history. I first analyzed the usage of the formal elements-the color and shape- and Watteaus skill sets in the Reclining Nude. The fair sexs chromatic tap flesh is wondrously warm and sensuous against the ivory-white of the bedc bandinghes and the dark, chocolate-brown of the background (Posner 385). The creamy color adds life sentence to the cleaning woman and distinguishes her from the pale white bed sheets, hence giving the effect that her skin has a marvelous translucence (Posner 385).The translucency of her skin could possibly imply her innocence and purity. The rosy blush gives the schoolgirlish girl a sense of modesty that even though she might be alone and lying comfortably on her bed she is sure of her nudity. Her shape and weightof the breasts and the firm flesh of her stomachare on the dot defined by varying values and densities of the paint surface (Posner 385). Watteau essential have applied a certain amount of weight in applying the paint, to give the painting life. This made the boldly painted bedding seem buoyant and responsive to the weight of the lithesome figure (Posner 385).His brushwork is free and broad, peculiarly around the womans right elbow where there is plain a lack of clarity about the relationship of weight life (Posner 385). Despite these irregularities, the pictures handling and description of forms are emblematic of Watteau (Poser 385). Watteau was retiren for his freedom of the hand, the lightness of touch, a subtlety in the profiles of heads and the pull of hair, the expressiveness of the figures and compositions, and the pervasive feeling of his artworks (Oxf ord).Watteau used the Rococo modality in the Reclining Nude and this certain style reflected the change in mentality during 18th nose candy France. According to Art A Brief History, The Rococo style may be seen partly as a reaction at all levels of society, even among kings and bishops, against the Grand Manner of Baroque art, indentified with formality and rigidity of seventeenth-century apostrophize life (Stokstad 412). The Baroque style prior to the Rococo style enlarge the grandeur of the powerful-the royalty and nobility.They were portrayed as godlike and were painted in a formal and rigid manner. Rococo was a much more slow downed notion and is characterized by pastel colors, delicately curving forms, dainty figures, and carefreeness (Stokstad 412). The Reclining Nude represents these ideas of the Rococo style. Her body has a delicate curve oddly around her hips adjacent to the dark background and her fingers are so delicate, it seems as if she has never used them befo re.During this time was the early emergence of the Enlightenment when fundament technological advances and changes in philosophy were happening (Stokstad 469). People were starting to hold up curious, questioned their surroundings, and were thinking more pictorialally. The change in Frances notion is reflected in the Reclining Nude. The woman is more humanized with her lying comfortably than posing like a goddess in stupendous fashion. Also, the details of her anatomy, such as the indent of plunk between her left breast and hip, give her a more realistic look as well.The Reclining Nude carries the characteristics of the Rococo style and embodies the cultural change over of France. No one knows for certain the true subject matter behind Watteaus Reclining Nude. There are theories that Reclining Nude has no meaning and is a only if a copy of Watteaus other artwork, The Remedy. The Remedy shows the same reclining nude statue woman who appears in the painting. But in addition, it includes a maid with a syringe approaching her mistress to administer an enema, and also a night-table at the left and more of the bed at the bottom of the composition (Posner 386).Only difference is that in the Reclining Nude, the focal point is not the action between the woman and her nurse, but just the woman. However, Watteau might have intended for the painting to be an erotic artwork. Watteau might have portrayed her as the ideal woman and to make love to this woman is as beautiful as her. This instance of work would have reflected the intellectual and social libertinism especially in France (Posner 387). Expressing amorousness such as this was radical, but so was the culture and time stop consonant of France.The woman has also been noted to be a pagan goddess for she is wonderfully seductive and shares the modesty of a pagan goddess (Posner 388). Unlike what art historians and theorist say, I believe that Watteaus intent was for us to just relax like her and enjoy the b eauty of life. I think he would have wanted us to unwind and shift our focus from materials and more into the immanent beauty. Watteau definitely displayed characteristics of the Rococo style and might have meant to use this style to display some very simple and yet beautiful forms of life.Instead of the opulence of the rich like in the Baroque style, he focused more on the natural beauty. He points out the delicacies and the loveliness of the woman that throw out attribute to her exquisiteness. Although there are many things I would love to know more about the Reclining Nude, I have learned a lot from my research. I feel satisfied of my discoveries and researching the Reclining Nude has reminded of the great importance art history is in our society. Studying art history gives us glimpses of life during those time periods.They show us their people, cultures, styles, etc. Utilizing art, we are able to speculate from past people, cultures, and styles and therefore, apply this know ledge for the future. Jean-Antoine Watteaus Reclining Nude provides history and meaning to society and can be studied to understand the mentality then, compared to how we are today. The visual techniques, the historical context, and the meaning of the Reclining Nude have helped enlighten me about this paintings significance on myself and in art history.