Baroque Art
About Artemisia GentileschiDoes it look like she is painting her own portrait? I know you see it. That is because this is a type of oil painting, as explained by Dr. Letha Ch'ien, is an abstract type of art. She is supposed to look like she is thriving, colorful, but also somehow somewhat unrealistic. She actually is painting this self-portrait of herself, so iconic.
Behind the Canvas
She may look like she is living her best life in this century, however, she is going through types of abuse (specifically sexual Story of Her Abuse in Imagery) and the only way she could express it was through painting. She was viewed differently in this century for being a female painter, and let alone a female painter. During this era the most common successful painters were men.
FPP (Artemisia's POV)
Artemisia Gentileschi may have been viewed negatively for being a female painter, however, to her she was proud of her paintings. She painted this portrait to let others know who was behind the canvases of art that everyone found questionable at times but was fascinated by it. As she paints herself upon the canvas, back then there was no white canvas. It is said to get this extradorinaiy view of herself, she set up mirrors to view herself to create this image. Through oil in her board in her hand, lays a brown canvas in which she uses as her background and paints herself inside.
The power that this woman has created for other women is amazing. During a time where women were to choose a husband over a career she has chosen to stand out. As a successful painter she has opened doors for women to paint for well known rich men, scholars reaching out for her work, and others willing to pay for her work.
My Point of View
This is actually the first assignment I actually really enjoyed doing in this class. Aside from our first blog, this painting is not so hard to look at, it does not look like much at first, and at first glance it really looks like nothing religious is connected to the photo. However, I would actually own a piece like this because I loved the backstory of this story. It connects to the reason why I want to do social work and protect those who want to share their story and in a positive way.
References
“Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting (La Pittura) c.1638-9.” Edited by The Art of Italy in the Royal Collection: Renaissance and Baroque, London, Royal Collection Trust, 2007, www.rct.uk/collection/405551/self-portrait-as-the-allegory-of-painting-la-pittura.
Houle, Nina. “THE TEMPESTUOUS LIFE AND WORK OF ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI: AN ANALYSIS OF WOMEN AND ART IN THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE.” ., 2019, arcabc.ca/islandora/object/lc:4457/datastream/PDF/view.
Dr. Letha Ch'ien, "Artemisia Gentileschi, Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting or La Pittura," in Smarthistory, October 18, 2024, accessed February 27, 2025, https://smarthistory.org/artemisia-gentileschi-self-portrait-pittura/.
Garrard, Mary D. “Artemisia Gentileschi’s Self-Portraitas the Allegory of Painting.” CAA, College Art Association, 1980, art1010student.blog.brooklyn.edu/files/2018/08/W8-Garrard-Gentileschi.pdf.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI love the focus on a female painter, especially at a time where being a painter was predominantly men. It's interesting to hear a bit about the backstory to her artwork. This also reminds me that the Baroque period was a big time for artwork inspired by the personal lives of the painters or the world they saw around them. It was less about religion and more about lives that could be observed in present time for them. Although there was still some religious pieces being done as part of the churches' attempt to refocus the public on religion (counter-reformation), it was a new era of art that no longer required the support of the church to be successful.
I like that you shared her story and the fact that she's a female painter would bring more females to be inspired by this work. I think her view of painting herself is rather interesting and not like anything other artists would do.
ReplyDelete