Each time at the National Gallery, there'll be a particular room that I'm fascinated with. There isn't an explantion for it. It could be a certain stage in life that makes me view the paintings with different emotions. That would result in specific paintings calling out to me at every visit.
While I've always enjoyed contemplating masterpieces, I also want to pay attention to the other artists.
This time, I'm quite enthralled by 'The Four Elements' by Joachim Beuckelaer. I've seen them, but the paintings never really jump out at me till now.
There're so many layers of meanings and interpretation of paintings. The Four Elements hold deep philosophical threads within each brush stroke. Biblical connotations aside, I go into the plebeian mode and look at how the 4 paintings cleverly depict everyday life at the marketplace. The details in the paintings are simply amazing.
The man is very taken by them too. He likes it so much till he circles the halls to double back and revel in them again. I laughingly say it's because the paintings appeal to the cook in him.
In Water, all the different species of fish and their lifeless glassy eyes staring up chilled me a little. In Earth, the different varieties of vegetables and fruit lend so much color to the background. In Fire, the haunches of meat and poutlry hanging off the hooks are mesmerizing- they look so fresh. The painting is described as ingenious as it has multiple vanishing points. When I stare harder, I'm drawn into the picture, into that noisy market. In Air, all the different kinds of fowl made the stomach churn just a little. I don't particularly enjoy eating fowl.
The National Gallery is one place I can linger and spend hours strolling through the halls. Such richness of color, vivid lines and classical beauty.
While I've always enjoyed contemplating masterpieces, I also want to pay attention to the other artists.
This time, I'm quite enthralled by 'The Four Elements' by Joachim Beuckelaer. I've seen them, but the paintings never really jump out at me till now.
There're so many layers of meanings and interpretation of paintings. The Four Elements hold deep philosophical threads within each brush stroke. Biblical connotations aside, I go into the plebeian mode and look at how the 4 paintings cleverly depict everyday life at the marketplace. The details in the paintings are simply amazing.
The man is very taken by them too. He likes it so much till he circles the halls to double back and revel in them again. I laughingly say it's because the paintings appeal to the cook in him.
In Water, all the different species of fish and their lifeless glassy eyes staring up chilled me a little. In Earth, the different varieties of vegetables and fruit lend so much color to the background. In Fire, the haunches of meat and poutlry hanging off the hooks are mesmerizing- they look so fresh. The painting is described as ingenious as it has multiple vanishing points. When I stare harder, I'm drawn into the picture, into that noisy market. In Air, all the different kinds of fowl made the stomach churn just a little. I don't particularly enjoy eating fowl.
The National Gallery is one place I can linger and spend hours strolling through the halls. Such richness of color, vivid lines and classical beauty.
3 comments:
I LOVE the National Gallery. LOVE. It literally started my love affair with museums.
national gallery is my fav! unfortunately i gave this a miss last yr because i know my son and my friend's children would be real bored (and create a din) there. hopefully the next time i go london...
D
dawn: ME LOVES too. but i fell in love with the Lourve first.
dee: soon babe! they've the cutest children nursery books at the retail shop. i bought couple for the friends.
Post a Comment