art is an interest I think I will always find myself pursuing, here are some of my favorite paintings:

poppies usually sprout as a result of heavy concentration of gunpowder in a certain area, which implies that this woman and her child are walking through a battlefield. the fact that something so gruesome and purely evil like war can transform into something so absolutely beautiful (the field of flowers) amazes me and is one of the main reasons I love this painting. additionally, the color composition and the way that each of Monet’s strokes has a sort of blur to them adds to the overall aesthetic.

this painting, for me, produces an incredibly strong sense of nostalgia. as someone who grew up in a dance environment, I particularly enjoy how it depicts the rehearsal setting and those standing on the side as a handful of girls perform the combination. as I look at this painting I recall my days as a young dancer, remembering the feelings of both boredom and attentiveness that took hold of my during my second or third hour of classes. the soft color palette portrays a mid-day atmosphere and a mood of casualty. this in combination with the way the class is depicted shows a true representation of dance and, as a result, gives this painting a very feminine feeling. I can’t quite place exactly why, but I do know that is why I appreciate this painting so much.

this painting, albeit tragic, is one that I find absolutely moving. there’s not much else that I can say other than the feeling portrayed in the sheep’s face is so powerful. the way that Schneck can show such human emotion within an animal shows that the difference between us isn’t as large as one might think. the way he connects you to the sheep through this raw emotion is very impressive and is what makes this painting a favorite of mine.

this painting is less of a favorite but more so one that completely fascinates me. Malevich believed that art did not necessarily have to imitate life but rather it can simply be. with this painting, he is not making some grand political or societal statement, but rather painting a black square. this painting means completely nothing yet so very much at the exact same time, and that is what fascinates me. the fact that the painting was created to show that art does not always have to portray a message, but within that piece of artwork he is portraying that exact message. as someone who loves to analyze media down to the most minuscule details, that loophole is one that I will always find interesting.

ending on a more positive note, this painting is a favorite of mine purely for nostalgia purposes (similar to The Dance Class). a replica of this painting was posted at the end of a hallway at my middle school, specifically near the entrance to the third grade wing, and by seeing it it immediately takes me back to that time in my life. coupled with the fact that it is a very memorable and scenic piece, the feeling this painting gives me is one of serenity and comfort, making it the last of my favorite paintings.

---

anyway I hope you all enjoyed reading about some of my favorite art pieces.

<3,

blaire