“Art and Identity: The Museum of Modern Art”

In the following three paintings, each one resembles personal, cultural or historical identity. These artists use symbols, such as motion, buildings, statues, and flowers to provide the observer an idea of the painting by analyzing it instead of reading its title or text. I personally would say two of these paintings have a positive view but one has a negative view.

 “Dance (I)” I would identify it by cultural because the title says it all, dance, or should I say dancing. It’s among us and every culture. There are different types in each race. It has a history as well. This painting shows us motion, not only by holding hands and how their arms bend but also how the bodies are positioned and a wavy line that crosses from one side of the painting towards the other side. By holding hands I believe it resembles as they are joined as one, therefore, I say it’s cultural. Due to its title and purpose, I believe that is the reason why the artist didn’t use a lot of colors.

 “Family Portrait, II”, I would identify it by personal, it’s a portrait of Stettheimer’s family. She managed a salon in New York City, where she exhibited her work and shared her poems. She has an image of herself, her sisters, which were assistance of hers, and her mother. She has the GE building; 30 Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, and the Statue of Liberty. She uses light colors, such as blue for the background, red, pink, and gold.

 “Collective Suicide”, I would identify it by historical. This is a vision to Siqueiros of the Spanish conquest of Mexico. In this painting, Siqueiros shows us Spanish troops riding horses, statue broken, and people in chains or covered in blood in order to avoid slavery. This painting is barbarous. Siqueiros shows a lot of details not only with the colors but its texture and motif.

In conclusion, these three paintings show a lot about the artist based on their perspective and style. They were all done in the same time period. The use of colors and texture informs the observer a lot. I believe each of the paintings has a title that basically gives away the meaning of it. Either way, I enjoyed the different qualities these paintings show.

Henri Matisse

“Dance (I)”

Oil on canvas

1909

Florine Stettheimer

“Family Portrait, II”

Oil on canvas in artist’s frame

1933

David Alfaro Siqueiros

“Collective Suicide”

Lacquer on wood with applied sections

1936