Winter (painting)

I searched and I found this painting called Winter 1 by Eva Ryn Johannissen (http://www.evaryn.com/gallery/winter1-l.jpg). As what was required, it is a non-representational painting so it didn’t look quite like reality. There are no snowman, no trees without leaves, and no human beings with thick fur coats. In short, there’s nothing in it that takes the exact form or should I say appearance of any object in reality.

All you can see is a series of brush strokes in different directions but the most noticeable is the side way strokes from left to right which I found to create that illusion of the chilly wind during winter. Since it is called Winter, the painting is almost all white with that frost effect, the artist also put the a little bit of the complementary color black and shades of grey.

I was thinking how to relate it to my learning on Plato’s idea of art, and I realized that during Plato’s time paintings always depict the real appearance of objects as the eyes see it. That’s why he sees art as an imitation which is three times removed from reality. Thus, it deceives us. Well, I find it quite true when I looked at the painting I have chosen but only because it was not representational yet still it makes me think of winter stuffs. The thing is, it is not the art that Plato is dealing with; it is not really the kind of imitation he is talking about. Even though the painting does not show any exact appearance of objects or sceneries in winter still it makes you think about the coldness of winter.

I do not totally agree with Plato saying that art takes us away from the truth. Looking at the painting makes me feel the coldness of winter. Since it stirs something within me, it makes me somehow feel as if I am in a cold place then I believe it brings me closer to reality. I never experience winter yet by looking at this painting and other images depicting winter I somehow get the idea of what winter is.

I also came to realize you need not to see the exact image of something to think about it. The painting is non-representational yet it managed to convey its message. Art for me is not just an imitation but more of an expression and a reflection.

these readings are giving me a headache

i am supposed to write something that i learned but well, all i can say is ever since i came across with all these stuff about beauty, it seems that my interest about the beauty that surrounds me have lessen... it amazes me though how these people wrote and thought about all these stuffs about beauty...
we, human really make things complicated... that's the zest of life!