Art is a word used to describe a creation, whether it be a painting, poem, song, film, sculpture, etc., that brings about an emotional response in both the creator and the viewer. One such piece of art is the Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down) by Jean Leon Gerome. In this famous oil painting, a battle-worn gladiator stands over his defeated opponent as he looks towards the numerous fans in the stands giving the dreaded thumbs down, as if to give the order, "KILL HIM!" Combined with the gritty, dark mood of the piece, the meaning of the thumbs down brought upon me an immediate feeling of dread and dispair the first time I layed me eyes on it; perhaps exactly what the illustrator was trying to display. That first encounter with this glorious work of art was back in seventh grade while scimming through my history textbook. Still to this day, whenever I feel as though I am having a bad day, I search for the Pollice Verso online to see how minor my problems are compared to those of the defeated gladiator whose fate lies in the hands (thumbs) of the crowd.
Like my definiton of art, de Duve states that, "Your dealings with art have the nature of a love relationship. And just as you need no theory of woman to love a woman, or of man to love a man, you need no theory of art to love art." In other words, de Duve, like myself, is saying that an unconscious emotional tie is created when one views a work of art; much like when one falls in love. Furthermore, de Duve goes on to say that, "If at this point someone asks you to define art, it is with your taste and your personal feelings that you will answer." This is due impart becuase if one does not experience that emotional tie with a certain piece of work, then that piece should not be considered art to the emotionally untied individual.
Like my definiton of art, de Duve states that, "Your dealings with art have the nature of a love relationship. And just as you need no theory of woman to love a woman, or of man to love a man, you need no theory of art to love art." In other words, de Duve, like myself, is saying that an unconscious emotional tie is created when one views a work of art; much like when one falls in love. Furthermore, de Duve goes on to say that, "If at this point someone asks you to define art, it is with your taste and your personal feelings that you will answer." This is due impart becuase if one does not experience that emotional tie with a certain piece of work, then that piece should not be considered art to the emotionally untied individual.
1 comment:
Matt,
This painting is a powerful one. Including an image for the reader is also very helpful. Could you talk about where and when you first saw it? What makes it a successful piece for you?
I'm glad you commented on the de Duve reading by using a direct quote from the author, this is definitely what I'm looking for in the journal entries. I wonder though: is de Duve really referring to the connection between art and emotion? Or is he talking about how it's not necessary to have a theory about what art is in order to enjoy art? In which case, does he mean that everyday people (not the sociologist or the art historian) are able to understand what are is? I'm not convinced that he discusses emotional connections to art, but I wonder if you could make a case for that yourself?
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