Artworks featured in 'Pleasantville'
- 1. Masaccio’s ‘Expulsion from the Garden of Eden’. Used mathematics to create perspective which was new and radical. They were nude. (Fig leaves were added to hide this) Broke away from the current Gothic style which was controversial at the time. This painting is an early renaissance painting. The majority of other renaissance painters of the time painted in the Gothic style, which flattened forms and idealised beauty. In this painting Masaccio broke away from this style, causing huge controversy. This controversy is why Gary Ross included this painting in Pleasantville, as it symbolises the attitude that Bill has to adopt.
- 2. Titian’s ‘Venus of Urbino’ Didn’t know what the purpose of the painting was, symbols of fidelity, but also lust. She’s naked apart from earrings, a ring and a bracelet, which are symbols of prostitution. The dog is a symbol of faithfulness, and the fact that it is asleep hints that the woman portrayed is unfaithful. And the the roses and the myrtle tree in the background symbolise fidelity. This painting, once again, breaks away from the Gothic style that was used by other Renaissance painters. It also depicts the goddess Venus, a symbol of lust, as loyal to one man. This depiction did not sit well with contemporary ideas, and caused much disapproval. Gary Ross chose this painting for both its history and beauty.
- 3. Turner ‘Rain, Steam and Speed’ Brushstrokes are broad, free and gestural. Paint application is thick and used sparingly. Colour is used to define perspective. Canvas is left bare in places and has a smoky effect to it. This painting was painted during the English Romantic art movement, the successor of British Neo-Classicism. It was quite controversial, partly because of the paint application process. The paint is applied thickly which leaves brush marks. It has also been applied alla prima, which means all at once, giving the smoky effect. Gary Ross included this painting to show Bill variety in paint application.
- 4. Picasso’s ‘Weeping Woman’ Flat, and with a shallow perspective. Stylisation of form. The work is broken down into simple geometric shapes. Use of bold outlines This painting abstracts and distorts form, making it unrealistic. Though she is recognisable as a woman, detail is obscured and identity removed. This meant that the painting was open to interpretation. Gary Ross included this image because of that characteristic. We can see this when Bill sees the woman sleeping and Betty sees the woman crying.
- 5. Rembrandt’s ‘Self Portrait’ series Brushstrokes are broad and applied thickly, and he scratched into the wet paint to create highlights. Two circles in the background that confounded art historians and critics. This painting was painted during a time when smooth paint application was preferred. In this painting, the paint is applied thickly and with gesture. The quick application of paint creates a smoky effect, much like in Turner’s work. Gary Ross chose this painting because it shows Bill that not all paintings have to be perfect or smooth.
- 6. Monet’s ‘Water lilies’ Bold use of colour. Quick, jabby brushstrokes. Paint applied straight from tube. Abstraction Scale Monet enjoyed the play of light, particularly on water. He uses extremely vibrant colours juxtaposed against one another to recreate this effect. His water lilies were the final stage in his exploration of light. Gary Ross chose this work because it shows Bill he can use vibrant colour in different ways.
- 7. Cezanne’s ‘Still Life with Oranges’ Faceting Flat blocks of colour Use of complimentary colours Varied axes of perspective This painting was considered controversial because of the way that Cezanne painted it. The way he applied colour in blocks, rather than shading the fruit nicely did not sit well with other painters of the time. Also, the way that Cezanne keeps changing view point also frustrated his contemporaries. Ross showed this painting so that Bill can get an idea of playing with perspective.
- 8. Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ Paint application is impasto Colours straight from the tube Gestural brushstrokes Cypress trees thought to be bad omens; representative of death Outlining Not actually a scene Van Gogh wasn't a well known artist Van Gogh never sold a piece of art in his lifetime. This piece was painted while he was in an asylum and it is his most famous piece. Gary Ross chose to use this image in order to show Bill that one does not need to be known as an artist to create great works of art.