Max Ernst- Born on April 2, 1891 in Cologne. He was a painter and a sculpture. He began studying classical philology but then became interested in art and literature through the 1912. He fought in World War I in France and Poland, and recovered from clinical death, an experience which was to deepen his decision to take up art. In 1922 Ernst moved to Paris and helped found Surrealism. He died April 1, 1976, Paris, France.
Artist Name- Max Ernst
Title- The Temptation of St. Anthony
Date- 1945
Description- Creatures with sharp teeth crawling from under plants and coming out of ways. They are darker than the colourful environment around them. There are bright coloured plants in the foreground as well as the creatures. I can see a statue, a lake and a cliff in the background.
Analysis- The way the artist lined the dark creatures against the bright plants makes the picture eye catching. The fact that I can’t really see the statue clinging to the stoner pillar in the backgrounds makes me wonder “what is that?” and I want to know what it is.
Interpretation- The art work seems to show some form of pollution. Here you have what could be a beautiful, peaceful scene but it is plagued by these undesirable creatures. There are crawling out of the landscape. Some of the creatures are a part of the landscape. It’s like the environment is coming to life.
Judgment- I like the painting. It’s very creative and colorful but not to the point of being blinding.
Hans Bellmer- Born in Kattowitz in 1902. He worked in steel factory and a coal mine after finishing the examinations qualifying for university admittance. In 1922-1923, Bellmer managed to some art work and exhibit it in Poland. He studies engineering at Berlin Polytechnic and dropped out of engineering in 1924. At this time he worked as a book printer and then an illustrator for Malik Verlag. Bellmer died in 1975 in Paris.
Artist Name- Hans Bellmer
Title- La Poupée
Date- 1936
Description- A black and white scene of a doll that is only composed of two torsos. I see the doll’s reflection in the mirror.
Analysis- The way the photographer caught the lighting from the window highlights the subject or doll. The dark background really draws attention to the doll.
Interpretation- this pictures meaning seems kind of abstract, it could mean anything. I think in some strange way it could show ignorance. It shows a body that structured in an incorrect manner. It’s lying on the floor because it doesn’t have a brain to move and to add insult to injury, it doesn’t have a face to see how incorrect of a being it is in the reflection of the mirror.
Judgment- I like the photo. It’s very creepy and I can appreciate creepy art. It’s also simple unlike most paintings; it says “here is a doll in a room and in front of a mirror.” It also reminds me of some of the monsters from the Silent Hill movie, which is pretty cool.
Compare & Contrast- these two artists have different styles of art work. Ernst’s work is very complex and requires numerous and close glances to see all the detail. While Bellmer’s is style seems simpler yet still complex in meaning like Ernst’s. They both have well used techniques and used them in different ways. For Ernst, his technique was the use of different color contrast and Bellmer’s technique is his ability to catch the subject in good lighting.
