Art Explorer #3 - Art Critique

Gossip

George A. Reid



Looking through all the pieces of art at the Art Gallery of Ontario really made it difficult to pick ONE piece to focus on for this blog post.  Many of the pieces displayed stood out to me as I jotted down their title so I knew where to go back to for my art critique.  However, walking into a new room and having one painting on the wall pretty much jump out at you signifies a connection to that painting. 

Art work can be made into whatever the artist desires.  It is up to the artist to create a meaning behind their art work.  A trip to the art gallery will allow children to use their imagination to interpret pieces in their own way.  This can be taken back into the classroom to get children to create their own work and depict the meaning behind it.

First off, the painting I chose for my art critique was LARGE.  It was one of the biggest paintings in the room.  I love things that are big, that stand out in a cluster.  This painting did exactly that.  After noticing the size of the painting, I took a seat in front of it and admired it.  My initial story I matched with this painting was a mother and a daughter.  The lady standing with her hand on the spinning wheel appears to have shorter hair.  I interpreted this lady as the mother.  The lady sitting in the chair has longer hair that is pulled up and has yarn in her hand.  I saw this as the daughter, learning how to use the spinning wheel from her mother.  I really liked the image in this painting and the story that I connected with it because it looks very casual and relaxed and reminded me of times with my mother.  I am very close with my mother and we do many things together.  This painting reminded me of when I would sit around with my mother as she taught me new things.

After sitting back and making connections to this painting, I noted the title and other information about this painting.  When I discovered the title of this painting was “Gossip”, it sparked more thoughts in my head.  Yes, I still believe this could be a mother and daughter talking and sharing stories.  However, I believe it could also be two friends. 

ART WORD OF THE WEEK:            DESIGN or COMPOSITION

Design or composition is anything the artist aims to achieve.  I believe George A. Reid did accomplish what he was set out to do.  He captured peoples attention with this painting and used two women in a house setting with the title "Gossip" to emphasize the gender roles in society.  The focal point of this painting is the two women with the spinning wheel, and clearly showing a smile on the one woman's face.

Art work can be made into whatever the artist desires.  It is up to the artist to create a meaning behind their art work.  A trip to the art gallery will allow children to use their imagination to interpret pieces in their own way.  This can be taken back into the classroom to get children to create their own work and depict the meaning behind it.

This painting was created using oil on canvas.  I am not familiar with this style of painting, however, thinking about the word oil and comparing it to an oil paint I would think of the paint to be very smooth and thick.  The painting did look smooth and flowing together.  From the smile on the lady’s face that is standing I got a cheerful feeling from this painting.  When I look at this painting, I can imagine them sharing stories and laughing, having a good time.  It gives a cozy, home feeling.  Both ladies in this painting appear to be happy and relaxed. 

Art work can be made into whatever the artist desires.  It is up to the artist to create a meaning behind their art work.  A trip to the art gallery will allow children to use their imagination to interpret pieces in their own way.  This can be taken back into the classroom to get children to create their own work and depict the meaning behind it.

After bringing this painting to the attention of some friends, my original thoughts of this painting did not change.  Thoughts that first came from my friends about this painting were two friends talking, a mother and daughter, and housework.  This painting sparked similar stories in all our heads.

George A. Reid was a Canadian artist born in 1860 in Wingham, Canada West, now known as Ontario.  He died in Toronto, Ontario in 1947.  After he died, in 1964, this painting was a gift of the Academy of Medicine, Toronto.  A connection I made with this painting and the time the painting was made is gender roles.  Gender roles were a great focus in the 1800’s.  In this painting we see two women in the house with a spinning wheel, relating back to a woman’s expectation to carry on everyday house hold duties.  Men had more social connections out of the house, however, women’s only social contact was with neighbours and family.  One general connection I made throughout different paintings in the room was Canadian artists.  After looking through the painting guide, I noticed George A. Reid’s name reoccurring many times, as well as some other Canadian artists.  Many of the paintings were focused on children and flowers and all the paintings in that room were oil on canvas paintings.

Art work can be made into whatever the artist desires.  It is up to the artist to create a meaning behind their art work.  A trip to the art gallery will allow children to use their imagination to interpret pieces in their own way.  This can be taken back into the classroom to get children to create their own work and depict the meaning behind it.