Art Analysis of the New Woman
The Body in Art
Yvonne Chevalier, Nude,1929
While searching for an art piece that really spoke to me, I came across the website for the National Gallery of Art. One of their current exhibitions is called "The New Woman behind the Camera." According to the site, the exhibition is showcasing "diverse “new women” who embraced photography as a mode of professional and personal expression from the 1920s to the 1950s" ("The New Woman Behind the Camera, 2021"),
The black and white photograph above is of Yvonne Chevalier, born in France and lived from 1899 to 1982 ("The New Woman Behind the Camera, 2021"). It is not stated where the image was taken. In the image, Chevalier is posing nude in a grayscale shot. I love the choice in color for this photograph, the shades of black, with highlights of white and grey along the curves of the body give a great depth and insight into the emotions behind the piece. Black within the art can be used to show mystery and sophistication ("Psychology of Color: How Color Impacts Feelings About Art |"). White is also used to show innocence within art.
This piece of art really spoke to me just based on the depths of color across the body. Sometimes when photographing the body, it can be crude or risqué, but the way it is photographed here creates a raw and primitive feeling to the overall piece.
Chevalier, Yvonne. Nude. 1929, https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2021/new-woman-behind-camera.html. Accessed 20 Jan 2022.
"Psychology Of Color: How Color Impacts Feelings About Art |". Sybariscollection.Com, https://www.sybariscollection.com/psychology-color-color-impacts-feelings-art/.
"The New Woman Behind The Camera". Nga.Gov, 2022, https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2021/new-woman-behind-camera.html.
Diverse women behind the camera. What a great theme for an art exhibit. I love the NGA! So many good memories from my visits there. I hope to go again over spring break. I'll be in the area as a guest artist/clinician for a ukulele festival. When I think of diverse women behind the camera, I think of more recent times - Cindy Sherman, Diane Arbus, Eleanor Antin.
ReplyDeleteHi Madison. I love this piece you chose for this assignment, it's very beautiful and sophisticated. I took photography in high school and since then have an admiration for gray scale photography and black and white photography. I agree with your statement on the black in the photo giving it mystery and sophistication, it's the perfect description for the piece.
DeleteHi there, I love the photo you choose, and black and white in general. I feel like in this photo the black and white and gray tones speak to me louder than if was color. It feels honest and relatable. I also like the single image use better in black and white, I think it sometimes speaks louder than if was in color.
ReplyDeleteAfter going to the Dali Museum in Florida and seeing Lee Miller's photography, I've got a lot more appreciation for photographers, but mainly for the models of the photos. I had no idea until then how much acting and emotion the model must use. Although you can’t see her facial expression in the photo you chose, you can still see the intimate passion she’s holding in that pose.
ReplyDeleteI do not like this piece. It just doesn’t do anything for me. To me it’s just a picture of arms and legs that anyone could take. The shadowing and depth of the center doesn’t look like a good capture of anything. If that area is breasts they seem too far down. I’ve seen lots of nude art and think the human body is gorgeous. This piece isn’t something that would get my attention or draw me in. The color to me wasn’t back and white. I pulled up my iPhone and edited a picture and the tint is dramatic warm on the phone. I mean this comment with total kindness. I know art is subjective and that everyone has different tastes. Something I don’t like now could really appeal to me at a different period in my life. I went to the website for The Woman Behind the Camera and there was one piece that I am obsessed with that is under selected works. It is of a woman with a see through hat. The piece is called Translucent Hat. I am totally obsessed with this piece and wish I owned it. That hat is a piece of art in itself. The faded detail of the building behind her instantly dates the photo for me. I love her body, it looks so fit. She looks like a woman that is confident and worldly. I would make friends with this woman. The big rhinestone earring is like a an updated art piece that reminds me of the famous Girl With A Pearl Earring painting. A different period of time but another woman who’s image captures attention. Black and white photos have always interested me. It’s kinda cool how different shades of white to black can capture such a detailed image. I almost like black and white in some pieces because it helps one to focus in on certain things within the piece.
ReplyDeleteChevalier, Yvonne. Nude. 1929, https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2021/new-woman-behind-camera.html. Accessed 20 Jan 2022.m
"The New Woman Behind The Camera". Nga.Gov, 2022, https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2021/new-woman-behind-camera.html.
https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2021/new-woman-behind-camera.html
Bassma, Lillian. Translucent Hat. 1950
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/834334
This is a gorgeous photo. I once took a drawing class where we were given the opportunity to draw nude models. I gained such an appreciation for the realness of a human body with all of our lines and bumps and scars and parts of us that may not be conventionally beautiful. I agree that the shadows and highlights in black and white drawings and photos create a sense of mystery. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDelete