The Painting 'Death of Elaine' - Essay Example

The painting ‘Death of Elaine’ Analysts argue that painting is a form of expression that s back in the pre-history of human. As a continuous and ever-evolving activity, it has changed from generation to the other. Home Watson painted the picture of Elaine in 1877. Watson, a Canadian had a talent in landscape painting. Elaine is a legendary maiden who died because of unreturned love. She loved Lancelot so much but he was in love with another woman. Elaine could not handle the disappointment that unreturned love brings (England 21). She died on a boat with a letter in her hands addressed to the man she loved enough to die for. She remains a true idol of love and the decisions that surround love. Her story inspired the artist Homer Watson to make a painting of her body lying in the boat and holding a goodbye love letter in her hands. Like any other piece of art, the painting tells its story. In interpretation of this piece of art, Thompson’s ideas on the connection of art with history are important. The painting death of Elaine is a unique piece, carrying ideological of history and the social group it belongs to, and expressed in a unique style. Many painting that were done in the ancient times are no more relevant. However, death of Elaine painting, done along time ago, is still a meaningful painting today. In fact, present day painters still borrow much o their work from this painting. Homer did a painting of oil on canvas. The painting carries a heavy message. Thompson argues that every piece of work links closely with the history. Each piece of artwork is unique and carries its message. He starts from explaining what the purpose of art in society is. He describes art as a form of ideological expression that seeks to answer the same question that scientists seek answers for. He explains that although art may not present scientific ideas that need practical approval, it serves to express the consciousness with which man reasons with at different times. Science seeks to provide a direction on how to live life. Art in its own unique way seeks to give the same direction (Thompson 217). Thompson illustrates that art can address two different aspects of social themes. It can address the beliefs, doctrines, or seek to handle propaganda that exists in society. In some cases, people think that some pieces of art lack social reference. Art can carry social ideologies that society does not yet acknowledge. Some forms of art directly address the ideologies that society appreciates. Thompson asserts that the indirect way of addressing ideologies serves better when an individual views art historically. He acknowledges that there are different styles applied in art. There are various forms each of them is predominant during a specific time in history. However, he realizes that societies advance at different rates. Therefore, each of the various forms of art belongs to a certain time in the history of that society. The ideologies expressed in art belong to a certain social group (Thompson 222). Different social groups have different ideologies (Thompson 220). Thompson argues that each form of art must receive an interpretation of the sociological and historical ideologies it carries. Lack of suck kind of interpretation separates the piece of art from the world of the artist. He adds that any form of art must reflect some cultural and economic aspects of its time. From such an analysis, Thompson then asserts that any piece of artwork carries its unique message. According to him, generalizations in art or continuation do not exist. Each artist does a unique thing relevant to his or her time. Each piece of art is important. With such an understanding, nobody should discredit any form of art or compare different pieces of work. In addition, there are no aspects of progress in art. Traditional artists did their unique forms of art at that time. Modern artists on the other hand, are doing something different and unique to their time. It is wise to appreciate each of work and its close attachment to the historical elements of its time (Thompson 225). He elaborates that each artist seeks to address a different theme in art. From an understanding of Thompson’s ideas, the appreciation of the painting death of Elaine has a basis. An analyst of the painting must appreciate that it is unique. Homer Watson a unique theme he sought to address. Different artists react differently to the subject they address. They may dislike the social ideology and seek to express it. They may admire a social aspect and appreciate it in their piece of art. One thing is so certain that the story of Elaine touched Watson. The painting shows a man burrowing the boat in which Elaine’s body lie. Watson applies his unique like any other artist. The dark color pattern brings out the sad emotions that death brings. Understanding the cause of Elaine’s death makes one realize that the society of that time viewed love as a noble thing to die for. Elaine, a member of the society is an evidence of the value the people attached to love. The painting expresses the pity and sadness with which people viewed death. The painting portrays a social group that was in rich in values. He brings out the Canadian expression towards Elaine’s fate. It is clear that the painter sought to communicate to the people the importance of love. The lack of love in a person’s life affects their thoughts. The painting has a castle appearing at the background. This brings about the royalty of that time. It makes it clear that royal families exited and brings out a connection of the royal family to the death of Elaine. Lancelot, whom Elaine died for was in love with a queen and that is the reason why he never returned her love (England 21). The painter must have painted the castle to bring out the connection of the royal family to the death of the maiden. This painting has a strong linkage with the history of its time. To highlight the history of its time effectively, it tells the story of an event that transpired. In addition, the painting effectively addresses a social aspect. It brings out the love ideologies existing in the society at that time. In making this painting, the painter sought to address this ideology. Any form of art seeks to provide a direction of how to lead life. In his imagination, he presents one of the ways in which people handle emotions in society. Since the painting has a lot of relevance to its time, the painter sought to tell the story of how some people handled disappointment. One cannot compare the painting of death of Elaine to any other piece of work. What present painters can do is borrow ideas from the painting. This is because it is unique and the painter had his common aim. It is important in its own way and relevant to its time. It definitely evoked emotions to the people of that time because they knew the story Watson was telling. It was a reflection of their thoughts and feelings. An individual belonging to a different time and society will not connect to the painting, the way people in this social group did. According to Thompson, separating the ideologies expressed from the artwork cuts off the connection between the artist and the work. From the analysis of time, was the rampant form of art of the time. He uses his style of light and dark shades in his exploration of nature. Watson did this painting in 1877, a time in which he indulged in the appreciation of nature. The use of light and dark shades brings a completely new meaning to the painting. The emergence of light from the horizon brings a new hope beyond death. The dark shades imply the sadness death brings but Watson implies that the society believed that a new form of hope existed beyond death. Different people perceive art in different ways. Thompson argues that each piece of art should receive a unique attention and judged on its own. According to him, every piece of art carries a message that cannot receive complement or completion from another. Each piece of art has a close attachment to history (Thompson 225). Art seeks to express the appreciated and unappreciated ideologies in society. It may no show any consistency of ideologies like science but it also seeks to give a direction on living life. An artist seeks to express ideologies of a certain social using his unique style. The form of art and style may be unique to a social group and time. The death of Elaine is a painting that expresses the grief and sadness after Elaine’s death, a fate she suffered due to unreturned love. It addresses the value of love as necessity to that society and indicates the emptiness resulting from its lack. Work Cited England, Jennifer. KING ARTHUR and THE ROUND TABLE. Web 26, Feb. 2012. Thompson, James. Twentieth Century theories of art. New York: McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP, 1990. Print. Watson, Homer. Death of Elaine, 1877. Web 26, Feb. 2012. http://www.1st-art-gallery.com/Homer-Watson/The-Death-Of-Elaine,-1877.html Read More