Art Mirroring Society

The oil on canvas painting, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicholas Tulp was drawn by the talented Renaissance artist, Rembrandt, in the year 1632. It illustrates a group of scientist dissecting the body of a burglar who had recently been executed. This painting represents and reflects the culture of the Renaissance, because it shows the progression of scientific knowledge and artistic techniques. Scientific knowledge and discovery is shown through the dissection and study of the dead body. As the people of the Renaissance began to review prior discoveries of the Romans and Greeks, they started to inquire more about the world around them, and questioned the science behind the human body. When the Catholic Church began to loosen the restraints and restrictions of science, scientists were occasionally permitted to expand their research in field of medicine. This led to a better understanding of human anatomy, and instigated more research and development. Rembrandt’s painting not only displays scientific innovation, but it also shows the new methods and techniques of art that were being applied during the Renaissance. The focal point of the painting is the dead body, there is shading and detail on all the men’s’ clothing, and the corpse is anatomically accurate. These new techniques of art enhance the sense of realism and depth in the painting. In the Renaissance, people began to focus on making art look as life-like as possible, and the new styles and techniques led to more interest in patronizing and commissioning artwork. Talented and skilled artist brought attention to specific city-states and initiated rivalry and competition between the different societies. Art eventually became the center of civilization. Through this painting, you can begin to understand the influence the Renaissance’s thriving society had on Europe, and how it was reflected not only through improved artistic methods, but also through the subjects of the paintings.

Driving forces of the Renaissance

I believe that the system of guilds was the most crucial driving force of the Renaissance, because it established the civilizations' economy through the development of art and trade, thus stimulating the progression of knowledge and skill during the Renaissance. As the guilds flourished during the 15th century, newfound wealth of the city-states led to grand competitions for the most knowledge, and the rediscovery of lost wisdom. Because of its vital and influencial role in the revival of society, guilds were the foundation of the Renaissance.

image source: http://www.lessons-from-history.com/

“If you wait, people will forget your camera, and the soul will drift up into view.”

Legendary photographer, Steve McCurry, was born in Philadelphia in 1950. He first pursued documentary filming, but decided to take the road of a newspaper photographer. McCurry travelled the world as a free lance photojournalist, and photographed civil struggles in Pakistan. When he eventually re-entered Pakistan (years later), he had rolls of film sewn within his clothes. McCurry is known for being unrestrained with his photography, and going the extra mile to portray the strife of millions of people through his photos. McCurry gravitates towards people suffering and in pain, and shows the essence of their thoughts. He wants people to stare into the eyes and face of the people, to feel their agony. Through looking at one of his simple, yet magnificent photos, he takes you on an everlasting journey through a stranger’s eyes. McCurry’s vision cannot be withheld inside him. “Most of my photos are grounded in people, I look for the unguarded moment, the essential soul peeking out, experience etched on a person’s face.”

After exploring the many galleries of Steve McCurry, the photo that is always carved into my mind is of a boy running through a hall that is covered with red hand prints. The walls are bright blue, and the prints are a deep, burgundy red. The two colors collide, capturing peoples’ attention. Undoubtedly, the most intriguing aspect of this photo is the aura of mystery. It captures a fleeting moment in the boy’s life and freezes it. The scene is completely up for interpretation. The reader could create many reasons for why the boy was running. Could he be playing a game of tag, did his mother just call him to come over for lunch, or could a man with a gun be just behind the photographer? They could also wonder about the handprints. Were they little decorations for the street, or were they representing the blood of children that were shed in some kind of war? This sense of liberty McCurry set up for the viewer forms a connection, as if they were a part of the scene occurring within the frame. “A good picture makes us curious and makes us want to know more.”

When people first see the photo I think that they mainly focus on the boy running and the red hands. This is because the hands are in the front, and the boy is in the center of the photo, emphasizing the two main features. After staring at the captured moment for a few more seconds, the viewer looks deeper. After my eyes wandered around the page they kept flickering back to the orange wall on the right of the picture. This was put in keenly by McCurry because it subtly shows people the conditions that the boy lives in. The wall is cracking and slowly rotting away. The walls and floor are the background of the photo, and tell their own story of the poverty in the area. The foreground, the boy and hands, shows the intricate attributes and the background, the rotting walls, shows simplicity.

McCurry uses foreground and background, color contrast, size and position, and more in order to have world class photography. He pours peoples’ hearts out through the lens and allows their voices to be heard. Many of his photos show fear through the innocent eyes of children, or the strain on an old woman’s face and McCurry allows their sorrow to seep into peoples’ souls. He shows raw and tender moments in the lives of strangers. “Fishermen cleaning nets, families sharing meals and celebrations, artisans crafting their wares, nomads continually on the move; even the most seemingly mundane activities can be inspirational when you look beneath the surface." McCurry photos display the internal and physical pain of an average person placed in a tormenting, impossible situation. He challenges us to act. It is because of this that McCurry’s photos will endure forever. No matter how much time may pass, the distress on the peoples’ faces will never fade away, and it will stick with you long after you have shifted your eyes away from the photo. It is because of this that McCurry will forever and always be a legend.