1 The artist of this piece is Francis Bacon. The painting was done in the aftermath of World War 2, in 1946 (Davis, 2015). The artist claims this was not what he initially set out to paint, and that the painting went through a couple incarnations before settling on this subject matter (Davis, 2015). X-ray evidence indicates this is true (Davis, 2015). The subject is wearing a dark suit, which would have been what British politicians would have worn as a kind of uniform at the time (Davis, 2015). There is an umbrella overshadowing the face of this man. The author uses color to contrast the dark suit and shadowing provided by the umbrella. First, there is the light color on the face of the subject, emphasizing a toothy smile that indicticates the subjects menacing presence. The red walls and purple shades are in muted tones. The subject is surrounded by microphones, as if he is giving a speech or speaking to the media. In the background is the carcass of a cow hanging stretched out in a reflection of the crucifixion. After viewing some other paintings by the same artist, it seems that the hanging carcass is a part of the artist’s personal style. The painting is a statement of how the government was viewed at the time; hiding in the shadows and hanging the people out like a piece of meat.
2. Ana Mendieta addresses issues of feminism and people’s relationship with nature using the photography medium. The images are meant to show regeneration from the earth. This untitled image was the first one taken in a series called Siluetas ("Siluetas Series 1973-78 | Ana Mendieta", 2015). This series encompassed over 200 silhouettes taken between 1973-78 ("Siluetas Series 1973-78 | Ana Mendieta", 2015). In this image the artist is naked and lying in a shallow grave; her body is covered in white flowers obscuring her face and torso, and leaving jut the smallest bit of legs and arms peeking out. This image foreshadowed a personal style that include silhouettes in a variety of environments. While the image has a morbidity to it, it is a symbol of life coming from death. While the body may die, it will go back to the earth and help fertilize it for future plants. The image creates the feeling that the earth and the artist’s body are one; that the flowers are coming from the dirt and through her body.
3. Magdalena Abakanowicz is a Polish artist known for placing back sculptures in various places around the world. Abakanowicz uses a medium known as Abakans ("Magdalena Abakanowicz | Artist | Culture.pl", 2016). Abakans were sackcloth filled with various organic materials she mixed herself. Her later works, including this one, still uses sackcloth which she molds and sews into the shapes she wants, then using synthetic resin to hold everything together ("Magdalena Abakanowicz | Artist | Culture.pl", 2016). These forms are representative of her hands on approach to creating her work. Every wrinkle and blemish is one which she places purposefully. These forms are people sitting on the floor and with the backs hunched over. Every form is missing a head. The missing head is a symbol of anonymity within a crowd of people. The backs being arched, as if the figures are looking down, is a symbol of the confusion these people are feeling.
References
Davis, E. (2015). MoMA | Francis Bacon’s Painting (1946): Histories and Conservation, Part 1. Moma.org. Retrieved 11 April 2016, from https://moma.org/explore/inside_out/2015/11/19/francis-bacons-painting-1946-histories- and-conservation-part-1/
Magdalena Abakanowicz | Artist | Culture.pl. (2016). Culture.pl. Retrieved 11 April 2016, from http://culture.pl/en/artist/magdalena-abakanowicz
Siluetas Series 1973-78 | Ana Mendieta. (2015). Blogs.uoregon.edu. Retrieved 11 April 2016, from http://blogs.uoregon.edu/anamendieta/2015/02/20/siluetas-series-1973-78/
