Self Portrait
Indifference.
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Meaning
In my culture, women and men have their roles. A woman's job is to stay at home, cook and raise children. The basic women stereotypes. Men, on the other hand, are the head of the house and the main source of income. In Mexico, men tend to be very 'machista' or in english 'chauvninist pigs'. This means that they believe that the only place for women is home, specifically the kitchen. This is something I greatly disagree with.
When I was younger, I can say that my dad a tad 'machista.' Then again, I was his 'little girl' as many other fathers are to their daughters but being treated like a fagile object and the feeling of restrictivness, was somehing I hated. My parents used to be very strict when it came to even the simplest things like doing a project at a friends house. This cause me to restrict my wants and honestly I was afraid to ask for things thinking that they would say 'no.' As I got older, my mentality matured, not fully but enough for me to understand that it's okay to ask for things. My parents, I would say, also had a change of mentality because they're aren't as strict and they give me more freedom. I don't like going places and they know that but when I need something or there's an event like a convention, they are most likely to let me go compared to when I was younger. I understand the fact that I was their first child and they didn't want me to be badly influenced but I think they did a good job teaching me not to do stupid things. Stupid is a strong word but it's true. My parents are still caustions but they are more open minded and I appreciate that.
I wouldn't call myself a feminist per say but I do believe that everyone should be equally respected in all aspects. There are still 'machistas' in my culture and there are still women who let themselves be treated in such way but it something people grow up with. I still have debates with my dad about subjects like these but we always end up stopping the conversation because we're both stubborn. 'Agree to disagree' might just be my life quote.
When I was younger, I can say that my dad a tad 'machista.' Then again, I was his 'little girl' as many other fathers are to their daughters but being treated like a fagile object and the feeling of restrictivness, was somehing I hated. My parents used to be very strict when it came to even the simplest things like doing a project at a friends house. This cause me to restrict my wants and honestly I was afraid to ask for things thinking that they would say 'no.' As I got older, my mentality matured, not fully but enough for me to understand that it's okay to ask for things. My parents, I would say, also had a change of mentality because they're aren't as strict and they give me more freedom. I don't like going places and they know that but when I need something or there's an event like a convention, they are most likely to let me go compared to when I was younger. I understand the fact that I was their first child and they didn't want me to be badly influenced but I think they did a good job teaching me not to do stupid things. Stupid is a strong word but it's true. My parents are still caustions but they are more open minded and I appreciate that.
I wouldn't call myself a feminist per say but I do believe that everyone should be equally respected in all aspects. There are still 'machistas' in my culture and there are still women who let themselves be treated in such way but it something people grow up with. I still have debates with my dad about subjects like these but we always end up stopping the conversation because we're both stubborn. 'Agree to disagree' might just be my life quote.
Artist and Culture
My main inspiration for this piece was Max Beckamann, a German Expressionist artist who rejected the movement people associated him with. He is known for his art pieces because of the expression of indifference with casual posing he portrayed. I chose his Self Portrait where he's wearing a tuxedo because I felt that it was the best painting to express the message I am trying to express. Beckmann used a technique where it his deadpan mood challenges the viewer because of his use of contrast between shadow and light. This tension he created was like a way for to oppose the expressionist movement.
This felt appropriate to connect to the Woman's Right Movement's of 1848-1920's. During this time, woman challenged social norms in order to get treated equally to men. This inspired me to create this painting because I wanted to appreciate the rights that the activist achieved. I also found it interesting that one of the methods women went against social norms is dressing more masculine. For instance, they would were shoulder pads and dress coats more often in order to look more professional. This reminded me of they way I dress. I don't tend to dress in a very feminine way, alot of t-shirts and jeans is what I wear alot of the time. Anyway, the very militarised fashion was not only for the women's rights movement but also during WWII. This way of fashion and women's attitudes toward WWII was triggered by Hitler himself. He made it clear that women should stay at home raising children while the men go work. This create an erupt of women who decided to participate in the war by volenteering on defense stations and working in army forces. This was quite impressive in my opinion. Even though I am not a feminist, I respect myself as well as other women for what they have done. |
Beckman, Max. Self -Portrait in Front of a Red Curtain. Digital image. The Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal, 04 Dec. 2010. Web. 6 Nov. 2016.
Hussain, Sam. "Redressing Feminism: Why Fashion Must Do More To Advance Women's Rights." Yahoo! News. Yahoo!, 2015. Web. 12 Dec. 2016.
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PlanningAt first, I started thinking of famous artist that I knew about like Van Gogh. So studied his painting to get an idea of his stokes and color choices. I started sketching, but then I realized with the time I had, I decided to look for a differnt artist. I simply searched up self portraits and came across Max Beckmann. I found his self portraits interesting so I investigated more into the type of paintingd he created. I found his portrait called 'Self-Portrait in Front of a Red Curtain' and I ended up really liking it. It was actually what inspired me to basr my painting on the Women's Right Movement. I started sketching what I thought I would look like if I was the one in his painting. I took a picture of myself with my 8th grade graduation shirt and photoshopped an image of a vest onto my self. Which was somewhat difficult because men tend to be broader than women but I worked my way around using different photoshop tools.
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Experimentation
Throughout this process, there wasn't alot of room to experiment in my experience. I can say that the step I experimented alot in was colors and light placement. Meanig that I would test color in my canvas to see if it matched or not. This happened especially when I was doing the face and when I had to go back and correct some areas. This caused the majority of my swatches to be red, orange or brown all in different shades. As for the lighting, I had to imagine where the light would be in my image because the shading was backwards to the shading in Beckmann's painting. In order to save myself some trouble, I took a quick image of myself in the dark, holding a lamp, to take a picture that was close enough to the shading in Beckmann's painting. It didn't need to be exact so I took it quickly and it was enough to help me get an idea on wear I should add white.
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Reflection
I am somewhat pleased with this painting but it was the first time painting in almost a year so I knew it wasn't going to be the best. Painting has never been something I had much patients for because I never really had much experience with it. In my, opinion there are certain things I would change abiout how I went about the process, especially when it came to how to place the light. When I was taking pictures of myself, I didn't pay much attention to where I should stand, from where should light me and how it should be placed. This was a mistake on my part so the next time I have to do a painting I will use more references that way it wouldn't take so long to finish. Looking back, I also notice that the colors I used weren't exactly as dull as Beckmann's painting. For me, color is just on the spur of the moment meaning that is wasn't something I thought about much when I was concentraited on a certain section. I did like the colors I choose but I just need to learn how to apply them so they can better resemble the placement of Beckmann's self portrait.
Max Beckmann, my main artist inspiration, was a very headstong and stubborn artist in my opinion. I think this because even though he was part of the expressionism movement, he didn't consider himself one because he disliked the movement. This explains the reason why he has a straight face in many of his paintings. I incorporated this into my painting because I felt that it was appropriate to connect with the women's rights movement. A rebellious sort of sense I would say. By implementing these factors, the vest, the straight face, and colors, I was able to express the mood of nonchalance and indifference.
Max Beckmann, my main artist inspiration, was a very headstong and stubborn artist in my opinion. I think this because even though he was part of the expressionism movement, he didn't consider himself one because he disliked the movement. This explains the reason why he has a straight face in many of his paintings. I incorporated this into my painting because I felt that it was appropriate to connect with the women's rights movement. A rebellious sort of sense I would say. By implementing these factors, the vest, the straight face, and colors, I was able to express the mood of nonchalance and indifference.
ACT Questions
1) How are you able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork?
Beckmann's piece and the women's rights movement was a way for both to 'rebel' against an idea. I applied to to my piece to do the same with my culture.
2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The main point of view that I found during my research is that Beckmann was an artist who disliked the expressionist movement. This lead to him using straight faces in his art pieces.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I came to the conclusion that that women during the WWII sparked the Feminist movement because women during the time took many jobs in order to support the war. Then many women came to the realization that they can be more than just housewives.
4) What was the central idea for theme around your inspirational research?
The main theme and central idea was revolving around rebellion and uprising. This is shown through the research from Beckmann's rejecting the expessionist movement and women going against stereotypes.
5) What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I can infer that Beckmann disaproved of the expressionist moment. He preferred to be seen as his own artist and because he is confident in his own work.
Beckmann's piece and the women's rights movement was a way for both to 'rebel' against an idea. I applied to to my piece to do the same with my culture.
2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The main point of view that I found during my research is that Beckmann was an artist who disliked the expressionist movement. This lead to him using straight faces in his art pieces.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I came to the conclusion that that women during the WWII sparked the Feminist movement because women during the time took many jobs in order to support the war. Then many women came to the realization that they can be more than just housewives.
4) What was the central idea for theme around your inspirational research?
The main theme and central idea was revolving around rebellion and uprising. This is shown through the research from Beckmann's rejecting the expessionist movement and women going against stereotypes.
5) What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I can infer that Beckmann disaproved of the expressionist moment. He preferred to be seen as his own artist and because he is confident in his own work.
Bibliography
- The National WWII Museum. American Women in World War II. New Orleans: The National WWII Museum, n.d. PDF.
- Dobrzynski, Judith H. "An Artist at the Height of His Powers." The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 04 Dec. 2010. Web. 06 Nov. 2016.
- "Max Beckmann Biography, Art, and Analysis of Works." The Art Story. The Art Story, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2016.
- Hussain, Sam. "Redressing Feminism: Why Fashion Must Do More To Advance Women's Rights." Yahoo! News. Yahoo!, 2015. Web. 12 Dec. 2016
- Dobrzynski, Judith H. "An Artist at the Height of His Powers." The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 04 Dec. 2010. Web. 06 Nov. 2016.
- "Max Beckmann Biography, Art, and Analysis of Works." The Art Story. The Art Story, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2016.
- Hussain, Sam. "Redressing Feminism: Why Fashion Must Do More To Advance Women's Rights." Yahoo! News. Yahoo!, 2015. Web. 12 Dec. 2016