My Explorations in Art

  Resilience This painting in particular has a special place in my heart. My first copy of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley had the wounded Philoctetes painting as its cover. While at first, I simply thought that the cover was beautiful because of its value and form, years later I realized it had served a purpose. Both pieces talk about issues of suffering, loneliness, and rejection by society (Tremper, 2017). Philoctetes is left behind because of his agonizing wound, similar to Frankenstein’s monster who was rejected by his creator (Green, 2019). Both of the characters had no control over their situation, it was simply unfair. The presentation of Philoctetes's suffering resonated with the creature's emotional pain, which aligned with the novel's theme of empathy and humanity. Abildgaard, N. (1775) ‘ The Wounded Philoctetes ’. Copenhagen, Denmark: Nicolai The piece portrays the story of Philoctetes. The hero was bitten on the foot by a snake and his cries of agony led his comra...

The Rise of the Merchant Classes Caravaggio is mostly known for his eccentric behavior, criminal history, and beautiful works of art ( Schütze ). This is the second Caravaggio painting I will be covering, and if you can’t already tell, I absolutely adore how he captures these scenes within an image. It’s intimate and human, yet at the same time, beautiful and raw in its depiction. Caravaggio shows a group of youths playing musical instruments, a theme that represents the increasing fascination of the arts in the late 16th century ( Schütze ). The rise of the merchant class was instrumental in shaping the art world at this time. Merchants, bankers, and sponsors from the new middle class started ordering works, not only for religious use but also for personal enjoyment. The painting shows a band of musicians, a favorite among the new merchant class who enjoyed and patronized the arts as a way of cultural expression. This was a departure from more conventional religious paintings that h...

The Artist Michelangelo Buonarroti was the very embodiment of the Italian Renaissance, praised for his artistic and architectural achievements (Gilbert). His pieces, like the statues of " David " , "The Pietà," and the Sistine Chapel ceiling frescoes, were the very essence of the humanist values of the time, emphasizing human beauty and potential. Not only did they advance and encourage artistic innovations, but they also emphasized the Renaissance for personal accomplishment and self-expression (Gilbert). While Michelangelo's art was mostly Christian, his beautiful portrayal of the human body and emotion contributed to humanism philosophy and art (Vowles). His realistic renderings of biblical heroes and actions gave religious art a new feeling, making the stories more available to the public and emotionally appealing to the viewer. This shift in artistic representation came in the wake of the Reformation's demand for an individual and intimate relationship...

The Artist Violent but remarkable, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio had a distinct painting style that matched his controversial lifestyle. It was dramatic, realistic, and certainly ahead of its time. He was speculated to be born on September 29, 1571, on the feast day of Saint Michael the archangel . He lived a tragic life, from surviving the plague and witnessing the death of his family members, what he experienced would eventually shape a majority of his pieces (Schütze, pp. 25-26) . Despite being one of the greatest Baroque painters in history, he was known to have a negative reputation. He had been arrested and carried a list of crimes, one including murder and another for throwing a plate of artichokes at a waiter (The National Gallery, 2016) . However, this did not prevent him from winning over commissioners through his impactful and captivating works of art. The Painting Caravaggio has greatly influenced my view on art and values. One of the first paintings I saw from him wa...

Hello, My name is Rubienne Dagun. I was born in the Philippines and moved to the United States when I was eight years old. I've lived in Alaska for eleven years now, and throughout my time here, I have pursued an education and created meaningful relationships. In the Philippines, I love spending time with my family along with my cats. My two cats are named Katsu and Udon, I believe they're very sweet and polite despite what others have said about them. In my free time, I indulge in many of my hobbies. I enjoy playing video games, reading, writing, and creating art. I like to try new things that involve making something fun and beautiful. I have worked with colored pencils, watercolor, gouache, and acrylic paint. I look forward to trying oil painting since I could never recreate the unique look that they have when I'm using a different medium. I am not a confident artist, but I am hopeful that with enough patience and practice, I'll be able to create a piece that I'm...