What is art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

What is art - Essay Example It is difficult for an ordinary person to understand the essence of the pictures and the idea of Witkin. My gut reaction to the series of the pictures was quite emotional, because it comprises much dark colors and strange combinations. The pictures seem quite weird to me and my emotional response was more negative than positive, though there was something in them, which attracted my attention. It made me feel that way, because it had very strong symbolic meaning. The obvious thematic and formal qualities of the works are people, darkness and suffering. The pictures also contain symbolic combinations of different items, for example fruits and cut arm (â€Å"Anna Akhmatova†), a unique combination of skeleton and arrows in it (â€Å"Queer Saint†), representation of naked woman with cut legs and fingers (â€Å"Humor and fear†) and so forth. There are some elements, which make the pictures significant. The people, represented on the pictures by the author are always n aked. It greatly contributed to these works, because they represent the native spirit of the human being, his origination. The method, used by the author, makes the works more real and sensual. The works of Witkin are very alike with the pictures of such famous painters as Francisco Goya, Frida Kahlo, Botticelli and others. The visual sense of the works is revealed through the religious influence. The word â€Å"Redemption† expresses the act of forgiveness, which clears everybody from the past sins. â€Å"Love and Redemption† belongs to the fine art, photography. The compositions are influenced by the Baroque style. They can be described as religious, informative, confusing and distracting, because the main (usually dark) plan of the photo distracts the attention of the viewer from the main idea. I associate these photos with the following metaphors â€Å"body constriction†, â€Å"travelling pain†. It reminds me