The Stories Hidden in Art

A few summers ago I made the typical maturing teenage decision to change my room. For years, I woke up to bright turquoise painted walls and the various Taylor Swift and Harry Potter posters pasted against this green-blue. Stripping my room bare of any sign of my obsession with Peeta Mellark from the Hunger Games was saddening, but I also saw it as character development. Don’t get me wrong--I am still in love with Peeta and every other dystopian-genre love interest--but I felt that a change was needed. Thus, I covered the vibrant walls with a crisp white, changed my purple comforter to a floral one, and removed any extra furniture that did not match these new white walls. As I looked around the room, a weight lifted off of my shoulders. In the wake of not knowing who I really was, these white walls began to represent a blank canvas, and I could fill this canvas with whoever I wanted to be. 

I knew that I wanted to cover my walls with paintings that each could tell a different story. In most of my writing, I love to focus on the female perspective and I knew that I wanted to mirror this in the paintings that I chose. I was additionally inspired by the artwork that was sprinkled around my house. My grandmother was an artist, and I knew that I also wanted to honor her vision of the world blended with my perspective of a young girl. 

The Dancer 

When I first purchased this artwork, I noticed that it did not have any particular name or artist. The medium of the work is not paint, but I assume that it is some sort of ink. Truthfully, I found this piece in the clearance section of Home Goods. I initially intended to purchase new bedding, but I saw this piece from across the store and I knew that its simplicity was essential on the main wall in my bedroom. The dancer is elegant and poised all while seeming friendly. That is what I love about her. The delicate stoke lines and her gaze off into the distance captured my imagination. The way the inconspicuous fabric falls over her is graceful. The low and monochrome tones let the image match everything else in my room, and therefore, it was a perfect fit.

The Woman

When I first looked at this artwork, its simplicity captivated me. The black curved lines joined perfectly together to depict this imaginary woman draped in cloth and facing away from the onlooker. I hung this art next to my window, and the light during golden hour falls over her back perfectly. I imagine this woman to not merely be a muse, but rather an intriguing personality that naturally pulls others like gravity. I aspire to be her. Because we cannot see her expression, we really do not know what she is thinking, but I believe that is what brought me to this picture in the first place. The bareness of her back holds a sense of mystery and beckons us in, but her back tells us the complete opposite. Her gathered hair only adds to this sense of mystery. Even though this woman is merely lines on a piece of paper, I feel as though I know her character--I can see myself in her. It is one of those pieces, at least for me, that one can base an entire novel on.

Two Young Girls at The Piano (Auguste Renoir)

Over the course of this year, I have been taking a European history course. Quickly, I became enthralled not only in the political development of Europe, but also in the social culture. My favorite lessons of this course centered around European artwork and its various phases—Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassicism, and Impressionism. I found this print at a local flea market and knew that I had to take it home and frame it. Although Impressionism quickly began to take over the European art world in the latter half of the 19th century, this painting remains true to realism classicism that dominated the European art world for many years. I found the push away from realist art quite fascinating as artists began to express society around them, not just the expressions and mannerisms of a few subjects. These impressionists painted reflected the artist’s view of the world, which of course is relative, so it is interesting to see different perspectives of society. I also found the push to keep realist art fascinating as well. This conflict-less art battle reflected the changing times in society during the 19th century and how modernization was quickly approaching. Aside from my interest in European History, this print reminded me of both Little Women and Pride and Prejudice—two of my favorite books. I knew that I wanted to have some reminiscent of these novels, and this print provided that perfect opportunity. Additionally, the mix of pink and green tones in the painting gives it a soft and natural glow that reflects the two girls in the picture well. When a painting like this has a cohesive color palette, I find myself feeling more connected to it.

The Budding Flower

This artwork was actually gifted to me, which I am eternally grateful for as it perfectly matches the cohesive style of my room. I adore the cracked frame because I believe that it adds character to the piece. The blooming flowers and giant bulb, to me, represent a sort of rebirth in oneself that is reminiscent of spring. These flowers are all in different cycles of bloom---some fully open and some still buds—which alludes to the idea that everyone grows at different points in life, and there is nothing wrong with that. We all end up together, right where we should be. I also believe that the leaves on this stem show the support system that is all around us, guiding us towards growth and beauty. I found that this painting is a perfect addition to my room as it compliments the portraits of the various women well while still representing something more meaningful pertaining to nature.