Research Two Artists Visual Culture

This article explores the visual culture of two artists - David Hockney's Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy and Sir John Everett Millais' Ophelia. It provides a detailed description, analysis, interpretation, and judgement of these artworks. Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy is a naturalistic painting that depicts a modern couple, while Ophelia is a history painting that depicts the tragic death of a Shakespearean character. The article also discusses the symbolism, colours, shapes, lines, light saturation, and sensory qualities used in these paintings.

Research Two
Artists Visual
Culture

Table of Contents
Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy ...........................................................................................................1
1 Description ..............................................................................................................................1
2 Analysis ...................................................................................................................................1
3 Interpretation ...........................................................................................................................2
4 Judgement ...............................................................................................................................2
Ophelia ...........................................................................................................................................2
1 Description ..............................................................................................................................2
2 Analysis ...................................................................................................................................3
3 Interpretation ...........................................................................................................................3
4 Judgement ...............................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy
1 Description
 Artist: David Hockney/ 1970-1971
 Title: Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy
 Type: Acrylic Painting
 Subject: The painting depicts the couple Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell in their flat after
their wedding with one of their cats Blanche on Clark's knee.
 Objects in the artwork: Clark is sitting on modern metal-framed chair with cigratte on
his left hand and bare feet on thick pile of the rug. There is telephone and lamp on the
floor to the right of Clark and a plain table on the left of Birtwell supporting a vase filled
with lilies and a yellow book. There is also a framed print on the right of Biortwell.
 First Impression: The painting creates image of modern couple, the successful young
couple seem stylish and confident. The painting holds unique appeal because of the
realism and virtually life sized subjects of the painting.
 Colours used: The painting utilizes muted colour shades to create cool felling. Admits
this, the red colour of Mrs Clark's dress and Blue Jumper of Mr Clark stand out. The
yellow colour of the book on pale white table is also eye catching.
 Shapes Lines: The painting consists of flattened surfaces and creates silhouettes with
emphasis on lines and shapes.
 Light Saturation: Contre-jour technique is used in the painting and the window between
the couple is the light source. This creates backlighting of the subject and every subject in
the painting is set against the light.
 Sensory qualities: The mood is naturalistic as the painting depicts relationship between a
couple.
2 Analysis
Hockney has successfully created naturalistic painting by using large canvass and
creating virtually life sized subjects set against lighting using contre-jour techniques. The
subjects of the painting are looking directly at the viewer which creates a third in the
relationship of this couple (Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy, 2021).
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3 Interpretation
This distance between the couple along with the direction of their stance creates an image
of independent modern couple. This also creates a third in the couple which depicts the distance
between the couple. The symbolism and composition of great artworks of the past can be seen in
this painting. This includes Rake's progress and The Arnolfini Portrait. Hockeny's version of A
rake's progress is seen on the wall. On the other hand, composition of the painting is similar to
The Arnolfini's portrait and lines near Mrs Clark depict annunciation as she was pregnant during
the time of the painting. All these factors state that the relationship between the couple is not
goof which is prophetic as the couple was together for only four years.
4 Judgement
The effort put in the paining to create naturalism makes it one of the greatest pieces of
modern artwork. In addition to this references to past artworks to create symbolism also increase
the significance of this paintings and help easily communicate the relationship between the
couple.
Ophelia
1 Description
 Artist: Sir John Everett Millais / 1851-1852
 Title: Ophelia
 Type: History Painting
 Subject: The painting depicts the tragic death of Ophelia which is character from famous
Shakespeare play Hamlet. Ophelia is singing before drowning in the river.
 Objects in the artwork: The main subject of the painting is Ophelia is wearing gorgeous
veil laced with silver. The top of the image consists of an uprooted willow with a chump
of shrubs and cluster of aquatic plants in the lower left. The flora surrounding the river is
also presented in a detailed manner.
 Fist Impression: The face of Ophelia is attention grabbing element of the picture
because of detailed a subtle expression on the face. Apart from this the detailing in
natural surroundings of the river in the painting takes the viewer to the scene of
Certitude's speech in the play.
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 Colours used: The painting features rich colours of nature against the soft skin tone of
Ophelia. The dark vivid colours of Ophelia's surroundings play well with the light
colours used on the main subjects body.
 Shapes Lines: The portrait has arched top and there is line separating murky grey
backwater from the natural green landscape.
 Light Saturation: The darkness surrounding the main subject and interactant details of
the body of Ophelia submerged in water make the painting more appealing.
 Sensory qualities: The detailed painting and symbolic usage of realistic fauna creates
melancholic mood.
2 Analysis
Millais has effectively utilized symbolism of fauna and colours to set the scene from the
Shakespeare play and depict the story of Ophelia. The positioning of Ophelia's hands is in orans
posture which represents submission to gods will as she approaches death,. In addition to this the
dark backwater surrounding Ophelia communicates the melancholic fate of the Shakespearean
Heroine (How Ophelia is represented in nineteenth-century English art, 2018). The painter has
been successful in communicating the overall story of Ophelia as the clothes of the character
depict that she is upper class noblewomen and various detailed symbolism depicts the unlucky
future.
3 Interpretation
The depiction of Ophelia as a woman in this painting reflects the social and cultural
conditions in Victorian Britain. The balance of the image is complicated and self-contradictory.
On one hand the painting looks stable because of its suitable spatial structure between all
elements and on the other hand every element of this painting looks delicate with possibility of
breaking up (Symbolic Death of Ophelia by Sir John Everett Millais, 2021). Ophelia's face
attaches the death of the character with tenderness and beauty rather than fear and ugliness which
is another contradiction. These contradictions are a reflection of Victoria era which exists in
historical agency such as death and beauty. This painting successful distorts the horror of death
and connects with beauty, which reveals the part of myth of 'madness' shaped by the painting
which makes people naturally believe that such a morbid and mad face can be type of beauty as
well
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4 Judgement
This painting is an excellent artwork from the Victorian era which not only provides an
insight into the cultural influences of the era but also successfully represents the literature from
where the main subject of the painting is taken. This is completed by detailed symbolism and
effective usage of colour.
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REFERENCES
Online
How Ophelia is represented in nineteenth-century English art, 2018. [Online] Available through
<https://shakespeareandbeyond.folger.edu/2018/01/30/ophelia-nineteenth-century-
english-art/>
Symbolic Death of Ophelia by Sir John Everett Millais, 2021. [Online] Available through
<https://vsemart.com/symbolic-death-of-ophelia-by-sir-john-everett-millais/>
Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy, 2021. [Online] Available through
<https://www.sartle.com/artwork/mr-and-mrs-clark-and-percy-david-hockney>
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