I think one of Goya's more interesting works is The Nude Maja. For its time, it is highly controversial, being the first non-religious, life-size female nude work in Western art. It was made by using oil based paint on a canvas. The first thing my eye is drawn to is the expression on the woman's face. The suggestive, seductive look is intriguing. For the time period, I feel that it would be considered improper for a women to act in such a way. This leads me to believe that Goya was a very bold artist for his time. The second thing my eye is drawn to is background. He uses shadows and dark furniture to give the woman a glowing or angelic look, which I feel is an interesting contrast to the expression on the woman's face.
Hughes approached this documentary with a no nonsense attitude. Unlike the other storytellers, he did not relay on reenactments or interviews, but he stated the facts of Goya's life and included only the most important paintings. I think that each narrator that we have seen has positive qualities, for example, Greenaway keeps his audiences entertained with dramatic elements, Bruce's use of language and interviews allows a sense of authenticity, and Hughes shows a real passion for his work.
Discussion Question:
Do you think it is possible to study Goya's artwork without studying and trying to understand Goya's personality and his personal history?
Meg, where do you find your photos? They seem so vivid and have very good quality. I also find the Nude Maja to be interesting. Hr expression and the fact that she is nude makes the painting itself interesting to me. Goya really controlled our eyes to focus on her only.
ReplyDeleteNo, because to understand the works of an artist you need to understand their life. By doing this, you're able to grasp the meaning and times of their work. By studying Goya's personal histroy, we are better equipped to study his paintings. If we did not, it would be like going in their blindfolded.