Arnolfini Marriage and American Gothic:the Art of Relationships Essay

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Artistic Expression in Van Eyk and Grant: A Comparison

There are few things that convey such intimate detail about any given period in history as its work of art. By incorporating certain principles of design and composition, the artist can visually represent or rebel against the artistic and social conventions of his or her time. As such, visual arts such as painting and sculpture become not only a representation of their creators, but also of the wider context within which they existed. This becomes all the more poignant and clear when works from different time periods are compared and contrasted, especially where these concern similar types of relationships among the elements being presented for scrutiny. IN Van Eyk's "The Arnolfini Marriage" and Wood's "American Gothic," the center stage is taken by a romantic couple in each case; in both cases the protagonists are most likely married or at least involved in a long-term relationship. By examining the composition and design principles of each, it becomes clear that, while the paintings are similar in the kind of human relationship they depict, they are wildly different in almost every other aspect, including the dominance, balance, and unity of each work.

The dominance in "American Gothic" by Grant Wood is almost exclusively taken up by the male and female figures in the foreground. The house is secondary, taking up most of the remaining space on the canvass. All other elements, including the sky and trees that represent nature have a position that is far inferior to the rest of the painting. If one takes this dominance in terms of balance to indicate a position of power or importance, the balance element in this painting indicates the importance of the human couple in terms of dominance over their environment. The pitchfork in the man's hand serves as a strong focal point, being even further in the foreground than the couple. Representing hard work, the pitchfork indicates the dominance of the man over the woman. The man is slightly towards the foreground, with the woman looking up to him and standing with her should behind his domineering figure. In order of importance, then, the main figures in this painting represent the male as strongest and most important force, the female as secondary, and all else as subordinate to them. This is in high contrast to the paining by Jan van Eyk, "The Arnolfini Marriage.

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" While there is a similarity in terms of romantic heterosexual relationship, this is where the similarity ends. The dominance element is far less pronounced in terms of the human figures and their environment. The two figures, in contrast to Wood's painting, are positioned in the middle of their surroundings and in the interior. An animal is in the foreground, with the rest of the room arranged around them to create only a slight emphasis on the human figures. Instead of dominance, the effect achieved by this is more complementary. Rich in religious and ceremonial symbolism, the room is arranged in such a way that the visual component of the non-human environment serves to enhance and complement the meaningful event taking place between the human participants. It is a mutual relationship between the human and the non-human, rather than one of contrasting dominance and subordination. A much greater harmony is indicated in this design component than for the painting by Wood.

When examining the visual balance each artist achieves, the contrast between the paintings is reiterated. In Wood's painting, the balance is almost as stark as the expressions on the couple's faces. The house in the background, for example, creates straight lines that connect the couple visually, with the pinnacle of the roof and the highest window positioned perfectly in the middle between them. Behind the left shoulder of the husband, the outbuilding and natural elements such as trees are lower than the top of his head, indicating his superior position as male. The wife, on the other hand is positioned lower than the background elements of the house and trees, indicating that, although as a human being she enjoys superiority, she is in a subordinate position to her husband. In contrast to the symmetrical balance of the house between them, then, there is a clear lack of equal balance between the partners. The wife's duties are inside the home, while the husband works in the outbuildings and the lands to support them. Rather than a partnership, there seems to be a clear delineation of duties that separates them rather than creating a sense of belonging and togetherness.

There is a contrast with this in Van Eyk's painting. Balance is….....

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