Visit to the Walker Art Gallery

Today I looked at a few images and made some notes on how the artists have explored a sense of place, identity, socio-political issues and how presentation affects meaning.

Bridget Riley

Study for Cataract Series, 1967

Structural and Tonal Movements in Opposition, 1966

Tracing of Revision le Evoe, 2006 (on tracing paper)

I enjoyed looking at the smaller studies showing how she was going to produce the large canvases. The graph paper and annotation gives it a mathematical edge. I also like how you can see pencil lines which shows how she was adjusting the image and making it more accurate. Feeling of disorientation - sense of place.

Room 1

Christ Nailed To the Cross, Netherlandish School

Looking in the background it looks almost like a fairy tale with the blue topped castle like buildings and the lush greenery yet in the fore ground its the opposite showing men nailing Christ to the cross. The stone which he was lay on and the skin of the people isn't very tonal but the clothes and objects the men were holding stand out which shows how they were more wealthy and important. This painting was part of a large altar piece made up of many paintings, this is shown in the frame which doesn’t stand out and over power the other paintings.

Kitchen Scene with Christ in the House of Martha and Mary - Joachin Beuckelaer, approx.1535 - 74

This piece of work looks out of place in this room it look to modern for its era compared to the other pieces parts of the clothing and facial features look have cartoony look about them.

Room 2

The Triumph of Fortitude, School of Brussels

One of a set of seven tapestries depicting success. Social issues of that time. Classical subject matter done in a gothic style. In it there is an image of a lady putting a spike through a mans head, not many images of this time show women doing acts like this. The scene should look like a blood bath but its almost like the blood has been sieved away leaving clean coloured clothes.

Door knocker in form of a mermaid - Venetian School

Scale and splendor of Italian Renaissance showing an impressive first look at a building.

Room 4

Country People Playing Ball Games, Jan Steen 1626 - 79

A demand for non religious paintings middles class artists took this to there advantage.