Art History and Appreciation - Essay Example

Art History and Appreciation Inserts His/Her ' ' ' ' ' ' Inserts Grade Inserts 13 August 2009 This paper is an analysis of three different paintings, namely, "The heart of Andes" by, Frederic, "The Volga Boatmen" by Edwin Efimovich Repin and "Battle of the Amazons" by Peter Paul Rubens which reveal the horror and cruelty of a battle. These paintings belong to three different painters that vary in presentation and content. Even though they captured a different image or form in their paintings, three of them share some similarities in their themes and moods.

When evaluating these paintings, one can see that they reflect the very theme of human sufferings and struggle. Peter Paul Ruben's "the Battle of Amazons" portrays the atrocious battle of the Amazons. The whims and fancies of the mysterious race of women fighters have been well depicted through the painting "The Battle of Amazons". Excellent use of color combination and images can capture the mind of an onlooker. The submissiveness and resistance of the women folk reveal more clearly and artistically in the given painting.

The journal article entitled: "Comparison of The Heart of the Andes, The Volga Boatmen and the Battle of the Amazons Paintings" by Steven Nickerson shares his view about the painting. The author remarks; "Amazons were a mysterious race of women - warriors who hated men and kept them as slaves for hard works." Content HomeArts & Entertainment (Nickerson, Steven, 2008). Fredrick Edwin Church's "The Heart of the Andes" depicts an excellent combination of dark colors which express a dark and sorrowful mood.

The beautiful picture of the landscape constitutes effective examples of symbolism. The flowing river, falling trees, and the mourning people are symbolizing the inevitable struggle between life and death. The online article entitled: "The Heart of the Andes" states: "The picture caused such a sensation that people waited for hours in line to approach it on the last day of the exhibit" (Church, E. Frederic., n. d.). Like, "The Battle of Amazons" it also explores several inner meanings. Comparing "The Battle of Amazons" and "The Heart of the Andes," one can cite Edwin Efimovich Repine's, "The Volga Boatmen" also draws the sign of human struggle and unending sufferings.

Contrasting other two Repine's "The Volga Boatmen" prepared with the use of bright color combination. Like the slave women in "The Battle of Amazons," here one sees the boatmen pulling a heavy boat. The image of the heavy boat is symbolic of earthly life and earthly existence. The painter portrayed it with an absolute devotion and one can notice the minute feelings of fear, angry, disappointment and hope on boatmen's face. Taylor and Francis comments; "This was a barge with a deckhouse for passengers, which was pulled by horses or by people walking alone a towpath on the bank" (Taylor & Francis, 2005).

After the analysis of the three paintings one can show his willingness to express his view about the comparisons as well as differences of each painting. The theme of suffering and survival is very common in all the three paintings. Fearful concept of death and the helplessness of human being can be expressed through the paintings in an outstanding way. Three of them represent various conditions of human life. In spite of these similarities one can see some discernible differences also. The difference is that the image of man in "The Battle of Amazon" is very strong and destructive but the boatmen in "The Volga Boatmen" reveal utter disappointment and helplessness.

ReferencesNickerson, Steven. (2008) Comparison of The Heart of the Andes, The Volga Boatmen and the Battle of the Amazons Paintings. Retrieved August 14, 2009, fromhttp://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1107179/comparison_of_the_heart_of_the_andes.html'cat=38Church, E., Frederic. (n. d.). The Heart of the Andes Retrieved August 14, 2009, from http://www.timegallery.org/HA/Taylor & Francis (2005). Handbook quay walls. Taylor & Francis