The Social Status of the Artis - The Renaissance and now

Self Portrait in Fur Coat (1500)

Albrecht Durer

Albrecht Durer's 'Self-Portrait in Fur Coat' (1500) shows a significant change in the way that the artist views and portrays himself. ;

1. Identify aspects of Durer's self portrait that show a changing view of the artist's view of himself as an individual.

The way that Durer has portrayed himself in the painting shows pride and wealth. He used the posture of how he has being portrayed to symbolize his power, he had made himself look almost Jesus like in the painting with the long hair and beard. For that is how people imagined Jesus to look like. The view of himself that he gives is that he is the best and that he views himself as an individual with skill and intelligence of a high master. Comparison between him and Jesus is made in this painting.

2. Explain how the artist's social status increased during the Renaissance period. Briefly explain why this happened.

Durer's social status increased during the Renaissance period because of the painting of himself which was viewed around. The reason for him being noticed was because of the renaissance period people were religious and the shift of humanism had just begun to sin into the world. People were in shock that Durer would paint himself Jesus like, that is how he became to be well known.

3. Comment on Gavin Turk's work in relation to individualism, status of the artist and egotism.

Knob (1997) Gavin Turk

Gavin Turk's individuality is based around the theme concept of pop art and old vintage style. He brings out his individualism with the concept of using himself in the art works an making it relate towards him. The egotism shown in his works are of his name and his posture of how he relates himself within his work to show that he can be the work and make it based about him. He became well known for his equating with famous people.

4. Comment on Damien Hirst's use of his work and the media for self promotion.

Damien Hirst and Maia Norman (1995)

Damien Hirst uses his work to promote not only himself but the media used in his work. He uses his work in a way that the wealth will be attracted to and also finds ways to attract people to his art by remaking something that has been done and making it something of his own but using media that the world has now thought of as priceless and something that will always grab peoples attention. the self promotion that he gives himself is not a serious matter to him but i think while reading more and studying into this matter Damien Hirst is showing his personality more with his art and being out there rather than not been seen and only focusing on the art when you can find out the artist himself and how the art works were to be.

5. Find 2 images of work by any artist or designer that reflect some of the ideas of individualism, self promotion or egotism that have been discussed on this blog. Upload images to your blog, title and date the work, identify the artist/designer and comment on the work in relation to the question.

"Persistence Of Memory - Salvador Dali"
1931
Oil on canvas

This work seeks deep within what time is and what was. The memory of being remembered and to be forgotten. Dali shows individualism from what he has painted from his mind and thought, he shows a personality and skill that can only be comprehended by that fact of having individuality. As personality has shown of interest and style that is different to ordinary painters/artists who seek for persistence in skill and technique and in what really is true than what isn't possible. Salvador Dali was really famous from all his works because it was different and showed a unique style of individuality. Being different was what made him famous in his art.


"Roy Lichtenstein - Drowning Girl"
1963
Oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas


Lichtenstein's individual aspect of art was based around the style of pop art and focused more on the variety of comics and typography and colour. He used the old style of comics to create his own art works of stories that show emotion and also keep that comic style in it. Bases around the women's life and vanity that is skin deep within some women. He seeks the interpretation of how women see themselves. He divides himself in the art with his scenarios and the emotions that are put in the artwork. He became a well known pop art artist and with his creativity of making the comic book strip style more famous than ever and keeping it in style and changing it into a new form of art.

6. How do you think artists and designers are viewed in Western society today?

I think artists and designers are viewed as individuals in society today, because of the new expression and style that they give and not only the look has changed the personality and meaning of what artists and designers produce. They play a big role in modern society and have got people to focus more on what the art means and have now understood the meaning of artists and designers in our time. They are accepted more now than before and can find more to do with their interest now and are able to produce artworks any how with the acceptance of people today.

Reference:

Notes in ALVC- Renaissance and Humanism (Durer)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer

http://www.authenticsociety.com/about/ThePersistenceOfMemory_Dali 

http://www.artsz.org/lichtenstein-pop-art-drowning-girl/

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/durer/self/

http://radicalart.info/ego/statements/index.html

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG7733481/Maia-Norman-Damien-Hirsts-Californian-girl.html