About Two Pieces of Art

¶ … Art

Arnold Roche Rabell, "We Have to Dream in Blue"

Arnold Roche Rabell's painting "We Have to Dream in Blue" is a very powerful painting. The oil on canvas is an old medium which painters have used since before the Renaissance. Using a traditional material adds to the quiet power of Rabell's piece. What is immediately striking about the painting is the subjects face for that is what comprises the majority of the space in the artwork. The subject of the painting seems to be a black man or woman, most likely a man because of the narrowness of the face and the unfeminine appearance. At first it seems that this painting is a direct one of a dark-skinned face, but there is texture. The face and the hair are covered in what first looks like fur, but then the green in the hair makes it clear that the coverings are plant materials. The face is covered in red and green plant life. The subject also seems to be standing in front of a lattice of red leaves, some of which are attached to the greenery in his hair. The effect is that the subject is either coming through the natural world in order to invade the space of the person viewing the painting, or that he is in some sort of prison and trapped in the nature along with the audience member. Either way it is unsettling and unpleasant. The most striking thing about this painting and what the eye is drawn to first and most often are the sky blue eyes of the figure at the center. The eyes do not show any obvious emotion. They are not hooded from exhaustion or sadness nor are they lit up with excitement or happiness. Instead, they are resolute eyes; they know something and understand that there is nothing they can do to prevent its happening again. Blue eyes are not traditionally seen in black people and so they seem off in this very dark face. The meaning behind such a painting seems to be about the imposition of the white European culture on those from other ethnic backgrounds and how that imposition affects the people who do not fit into that majority population.

Enrique Grau Araujo, "La Mulata Cartagenera"

Enrique Grau Araujo's "La Mulata Cartagenera" or roughly translated the mixed woman from Cartagena is a painting of a beautiful light brown skinned woman. The title of the painting tells the viewer that she is a mulatto and it would be difficult to know this unless Araujo told the viewer this. That is, it would be difficult if the viewer were not able to pick up on the subtle clues to this heritage that abound in the painting. The background of the painting features large colorful flowers and fruits, the natural beauty of the Caribbean world in which the woman lives. They are prominent and large enough to catch the eye, but do not detract from the real message of the painting. Then there is the woman herself. She is quite lovely but exhibits an attitude in her expression and posture which illustrates that she is unhappy or at least dissatisfied with what she is seeing. Her hair is up and away from her face while her necklace is perfectly poised and centered, letting the viewer know that she cares deeply for her looks and puts effort in the appearance she presents to the world. The woman is highly sexualized in the painting even though she is fully clothed. Her light purple dress is very tight, with folds and creases indicating that she is in some way disheveled and imperfect as is the fact that her breasts are extremely prominent with the use of brown against the lavender dress making this part of her body highly noticeable. It is also interesting that the dress she wears if very western in appearance and not something that would be native to the people of Cartagena. Her hairdo is also indicative of a western influence. Being a mulatto, the culture clash between the paternal and maternal sides of her family would have influenced the young woman heavily, particularly if the community did not treat her well because of either her Caucasian or Hispanic background. So she stands somewhat defiant of either culture's stereotype of perfect white woman or earthy Hispanic, refusing to be completely either since neither of the groups would accept a mulatto woman completely.