Identification
The work of art selected for this report is the Biscayne Holiday (Figure 1 below) by Eugene Savage (1883-1978). The art is an oil on canvas adhered to aluminum and wood measuring 36 by 36 inches. Eugene Savage developed this artwork in 1936, but it is currently being exhibited at the National Academy of Design in New York, United States.
Eugene Savage (1883-1978) , Biscayne Holiday , 36 by 36 inches, oil/board. I have exhibited at the National Academy of Design, NY, NY, 1936.
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Description
By looking at this painting, what can be noted is a woman standing the very middle of the painting cradling a child, who can be described as either being asleep or dead. It can be argued that the child is dead by looking at the woman's face, which shows sadness to suggest some loss or grief. Emotion is one of the critical aspects to look out for when describing a painting, as this would help in highlighting even the most basic features of the painting ( Heuer, 2011 ).
The woman is dressed in traditional Indian clothing while the child is wrapped with a brownish shawl. Behind the woman, one can see a group of men, who seem like tourists, showing astonishment due to what they are seeing. The men are dressed in colored suits with some of them wearing hats, which would suggest that they are indeed tourists, who have come to the venue for some entertainment. Above the men is a box that contains different types of shoes, which would suggest that they are within an enclosed area from where they are enjoying some form of entertainment.
The group of men is watching a man, who is fighting an alligator in some circus. The painting also shows two women diving into a pool of water that is infested with alligators. The painting also shows a woman, who is half dressed seated on a stool beside the woman cradling the child. The painting also shows tall city buildings and palm trees, which would suggest that the setting of this painting is within a beach town.
The medium of the painting is oil on canvas with the canvas having being adhered to aluminum and wood. The base on the painting is canvas while the paint used to develop the images is oil-based, which has helped towards bringing out the pictures in a much clearer manner. The exact measurement of the painting, which is according to the measurements given at the exhibition, is 36 by 36 inches.
Analysis
The form of work that can be seen from the art selected is painting, which has been developed on a canvas surface as part of the strategic approach to ensuring that the painter can convey his intended message. Eugene Savage (1883-1978), who was an American painter, creating the painting, Biscayne Holiday , as one of the critical works of art that he had developed in his career ( Burnett, 2011 ). In the painting, one of the critical aspects that Savage uses to his advantage is color. The painting incorporates a wide array of colors, which are vital towards attracting the expected audience towards the work of art. Any individual viewing this painting for the first time may take note of the fact that the painter has been able to make use of different colors to bring out the intended message through this work of art.
Savage also makes use of the space within the canvas with the aim being towards incorporating as many images as possible, which does not only help in passing on the intended message but also allows for a more comfortable emphasis on the complex nature of the painting. The combination of the images is essential towards describing the general approaches that allow for a more natural shift concerning meeting the interests of the audience. Primarily, it can be argued that the painting is well balanced, as Savage can ensure that the tone arising from the work of art bends with the expectations from the audience. The picture can be considered as being symmetrical, as each of the aspects of art has been regarded as part of the strategic efforts towards presenting a work of art that is elegant.
Interpretation
A closer review of the Biscayne Holiday would indicate that it has been set within the context of an Edenic paradise within a beach town, which is most likely Florida within the United States. Florida is the most likely town, as the woman cradling the child is wearing clothing that is traditionally from the Seminoles. Seminoles are a native American community that had settled in the region that is currently occupied by Florida (Gray, 2001). Seminoles lived in this part of the continent holding on to their native cultural identities while seeking to create an avenue through which to avoid contamination from modern society. The painting is a clear representation of the overall levels of identity that the Seminoles had embraced as part of their lifestyle in modern Florida.
Savage is trying to communicate a clear message suggesting that Seminoles had been able to avoid the modernization of society by working hard to embrace the aspects that sought to define their cultural identity. The woman, cradling the child, can be seen as having adopted a somewhat traditional lifestyle when compared the happenings within the other parts of the painting. For example, the two women diving into a pool of water while wearing bikinis suggests that tourism had boomed within this region during that period. However, the woman is not affected by what is going on in her surrounding, instead, opting to remain steadfast in her ability to maintain her cultural identity. The presentation of a modern building on one corner of the painting suggests that Florida was going through a significant change towards achieving modernization.
Research
Eugene Francis Savage, who was born in Covington, Indiana, studied at different art institutions with one of them being the Chicago Art Institute during which he was able to win the Rome Prize based on his ability to paint. That paved the way for him to move to Rome where he studied at the American Academy in Rome after which he graduated with a degree in bachelor of arts. The individual that had the most significant influence on Savage was Thomas Hart Benton, who was among the notable American painters and muralists of his time (Sapin, 1979). Savage sought to ensure that he would be able to surpass the overall achievement that Benton had been able to achieve during his lifetime as both a painter and muralist. That acted as a critical avenue for motivation that would push him towards working hard to create works of art that can be considered as being an emulation of real-life scenarios.
Value Judgement
On the question of whether the work of art can be considered as having value, it must be noted that it is among some of the most valuable paintings at the exhibition, which suggests the importance that it holds to its audience. I liked the fact that Savage would be able to create a combination of both traditionalism and modernism within the same front as a way of trying to highlight the influence that one is having over the other. Any person viewing this image would be able to take note of both traditionalism and modernism, which are a central part of the message in the painting.
The painting made me feel that most of the people today have lost touch with their cultural identities, as they seek to emulate the modern society. The image of the woman suggests that although people may live within modernized societies, it is essential for them to work hard to maintain the cultural identities that define them. When developing the painting, Savage sought to bring out the fact that the world is changing as a result of modernism, which can be seen from the different images brought out from the painting. However, he suggested that it was important for people to understand the value that would arise from having to maintain that connection to one's cultural positioning. The painting has a high level of insight into the subject matter focusing on the message that Savage is seeking to present to his audience. In my view, the painting creates enough interest that would hold one's attention to the work of art.
References
Burnett, C. (2011). Soaring Skyward: A History of Aviation in and Around Long Beach, California . California, CA: AuthorHouse.
Gray, M. L. (2001). A Guide to Chicago's Murals . Chicago, CH: University of Chicago Press.
Heuer, E. B. (2011). Eugene Savage: The Seminole Paintings . New York, NY: Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens.
Sapin, J. C. (1979). Eugene Francis Savage: American muralist (Doctoral dissertation, California State University, Northridge).
