Painting Stories
American Gothic (Grant Wood)
The painting is inspired by Grant Wood’s (Painter) visit to Eldon, Iowa, USA. It depicts the American Rural life, and became a masterpiece with its renaissance style of painting in the 1930’s. He painted this art piece to instill rural American Values and willed people with an image of reassurance on the onset of the great depression.
Girl with a Pearl Earing
Is she turning towards you, or away from you? This have been a question of decades from the painting of Johannes Vermeer “Girl with a Pearl Earring.” This painting is often referred to as the “Mona Lisa” of the North. Het eye contact and parted lips looks like she wants to tell us something; making us draw into her gaze.
The Birth of Venus
Boticelli’s Birth of Venus shows the triumphant Goddess of Love and Beauty. Venus (Aphrodite in Greek Mythology) is the goddess of Love and Beauty. She shows ethereal and luminosity as she stands tall and naked at the center. All attention draws to her as she is the epitome of beauty; physically, and spiritually.
Mona Lisa
This world-famous painting by Leonardo Da Vinci is a portrait of La Gioconda, a.k.a. Mona Lisa. The painting executes serenity, enriched with a definite air of mystery. All of her details radiate a sense of mystery but in a calm tone; Her slight smile and gaze to the right side of the viewer, and her relaxed hands.
Impression, Sunrise
This renowned work of Claude Monet illustrates a view of the port of Le Havre in north-western France. It was considered as his “most poetic expressions” of his engagement with France’s revitalization efforts after the Franco-Prussian War. The imagery of this work of art presents a focus on the calm feeling of a misty maritime scene. Slightly below the center of the painting, a small rowboat with two indistinct figures floats in the bay. The early morning sun is depicted rising over the foggy harbor with ships and other various boats at port. The shadows of the boats and figures and the reflection of the sun’s rays can be seen on the water’s surface.
The Scream
This painting of a hairless man with his eyes wide with shock unleashing a bloodcurdling shriek is the world-famous painting “The Scream.” Edvard Munch painted this to represent his soul at a moment of existential crisis. The scenery was from when he was walking down a road while the sun is setting. This painting is a mirror of his Anxiety in his point in life.
Starry Night
The famous paintings of Vincent Van Gogh are a means of expression and used to convey emotion. Many feel that this symbolizes his will to overcome his illness, which is reflected in the dimness of the night sky. The village is painted with dark colors but the brightly lit windows create a sense of comfort.
The Creation of Adam
Michelangelo’s painting is based on the biblical story of the creation when God breathed life to Adam. God's imminent touch to Adam would breathe life into him and ultimately will give life to all mankind. Some say that it can be interpreted another way around wherein man is the creator of God, but what we know is that the delicate connection between the creator and the creation only comes upon the understanding of an individual.
The Last Supper
The Last Supper of Leonardo Da Vinci captures a climactic moment when Jesus is eating his last meal with his disciples before he was captured and crucified. It is also a moment after he revealed that one of his friends will betray him, explaining the different reaction of the disciples on the painting. This symbolizes not only a precious moment before his sacrifice, but also his love for his disciples despite knowing one of them will betray him.
Tower of Babel
The Tower of Babel is based on the Biblical story in Genesis wherein Babylonians wanted to make a Tower so High, that it will reach God. They wanted to make a name for themselves by building a city and a tower. God disrupted the work by making the language of the workers different from one another, making it hard for them to understand one another. This caused the people to disperse into different parts of the word, creating what we know now as “language.”
