Art History Term Paper - Essay Example

These two paintings i.e. Picasso`s ‘Woman with a Mandolin’ and Modigliani’s ‘Portrait of artist`s Wife’ there is an inherent theme which implies that each person is subject to their own perception and same is the case with the artists; i.e. they paint their subjects not as an objective reality rather as how they perceive them to be. For this reason, both these paintings diverge from the standard paintings of their times which focus more on the sitter and less on their own sense of perception on these paintings.

Thus, the paper will aim at exploring various dimensions to add depth to the thesis predicated here. Firstly, the point of concern with reference to these two paintings is the composition style which depicts their sense of perception. The painting by Picasso i.e. Girl with a Mandolin is composed in his classic cubist style which he was employing vehemently during the era. The paintings depict the subject via successive squares used as silhouette to give a distinctive touch to the painting. Though the composition style is simplistic, yet perspective is added by using minimalistic elements yet keeping a balance between the colors, shape and even the form of the painting.

Similarly, the painting of Modigliani`s wife expresses modernity in modern style which is different from that of Picasso`s cubist one. He gives a sense of his own perception to him painting which may be characterized by elongated face and figures, also simple composition of his wife`s persona with little details in posture or expression. Therefore, a distinct character of the painter may be felt in these painters, even more than the character of the sitters. Picasso`s painting shows depth and simplicity, while Modigliani`s painting shows devotion and bohemianism, both being divergent from the composition styles of the popular artists.

Both the paintings are similar in terms of composition when it comes to a thorough focus on shapes;