The spotlight on Jacques-Louis David, the french painter, provided several examples of a portrayal of resentment against authorities. David was one of the first painters to take a very public political stand. After all, he was the official artist of the French Revolution (on a side note, how does one actually become the official artist of such an event? Is this decided ahead of time? Is he/she merely appointed, or is there an application process? Why don't we hear about other artists being the "official artist" of a certain event? Was there an official artist for Watergate? What about Desert Storm?).
The painting entitled "Oath of the Horatii" portrayed nobility vs. the mind of the revolution. Not only did the people convey a message to the people during this time period, but the empty spaces and the darkness of the painting made people feel that this was truly something worth fighting for.
However, David's "The Death of Marat" was the work that really caught my attention. This piece was said to be the very first political propaganda painting, urging citizens to take a stand. In the painting, Marat is portrayed as a saint, and his murder, a cruel injustice. Again, the dark shapes and empty space in parts of the painting create despair and emptiness, making the viewer feel the societal weight. "The Death of Marat" certainly got a lot of attention, as it was unveiled on the same day of the Queen's Execution in France. Soon after, Napoleon quickly appointed David is his official artist. I feel the painting was definitely making a statement.
David's work certainly represented civilization during this period in history, where knowledge was becoming power. But in Spain, Francis de Goya had his own take.
"The Third of May 1808", a painting by Goya, showed the people the macabre side of civilization. I was moved by Goya's ability to actually paint 'fear' and 'horror'. And he also conveyed that freedom was a dark transformation. One of the subjects is painted as if being crucified, just as Jesus was, offering the fact that the absence of reason will always be an underlying issue in civilization.
Perhaps the most disturbing example was that of Goya's "Saturn Devouring his Young". I sincerely didn't know this type of art even existed in the late 18th century and can only imagine the reaction that it got from the people of Spain. It is a display of feelings gone wrong, and may even represent Napoleon's invasion of Goya's country. This certainly frightened me, but then again, art is supposed to move people - right?
I have my own reasons for my religious viewpoints, and I respect those who value their own beliefs. I am grateful to live in an era where I can express my opinions, as in this blog, without the fear of prosecution. I am also grateful to live in a time where artistic freedoms exist so that others may give their own voice as well.
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