Jansen Che: April 2008

Thursday, April 24, 2008

thinking aloud

Click to enlarge and view analysis written on painting

At first, I thought this painting was just about a women sleeping on the table.

I really liked the dull atmosphere, and the contrasting room which had much more light

looking more carefully, you see the table is a mess, there seems to be a tilted over jar under the fabric. The woman could be in grief. With the painting of cupid behind, it could suggest she could be in grief from love. A lost love probably, you can see the chair the other chair is not tucked in but angled toward the door, asif someone just left. they probably had an arguement or fight looking at hte messed up table

There is a semi opened door, rather than a closed door, or wide open door. It gives me this kind of feeling that the woman kind of just sliped into the room, without obstructing the door. shes not in the fighting mood?

The grief of woman could further be reinforced by the dark, dull lighting. the top of the painting shows the room to be a really dark room, but the dark shade softens as reached the bottom. this could suggest that the room is a small confined room, with very little, or some soft lighting.

this dull atmosphere is contrasted with the outside, brightly lit. It would seem that the woman is retreating from the bright lights, "pollution", air, noise. to come to this small confined, silent, cozy? room.

The furniture, fruits, painting, vase, fruit, gives thee room its cozy intimacy, a feeling of at home. a retreat?

there is also a loosely hanged cloth? behind the woman, next to my white arow, it kind of gives me this loose feeling, the room is not stiff, with all the fabric lying loosely. it probably gives an unsecure feel?

we can see by the rich table cloth, table, chairs, clothign, painting that this family is poor... from the clothing of the woman, i would think that she is either a typical house wife, or daughter? or maybe a servant...

Paolo, The Complete Paintings of Vermeer (Italy: Harry N, Inc. Publishers New York, 1967), 88

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Project 2

Paolo, The Complete Paintings of Vermeer (Italy: Harry N, Inc. Publishers New York, 1967), 25

Narrative:

"Depressed woman retreated from family"

Initial Draft design

a square really confined room, no windows, isolated from a main room which is much more open, brightly light. with all the abundant light, glazed walls. it gives an atmosphere that does not want the beholder to be in that large room. its not "tamed". just like the text of QIAN Zhongshu 'window'

the long stairs connecting these room, descends. probably underground, to further protect the room, from the vicious light