There are countless numbers of paintings, sculptures, and other very recognizable works of art that have existed for thousands of years. Often, this art evokes emotions and creates questions in the minds of the viewers. What was the inspiration? What's the story behind it? And of course - what does it mean?
Here, the art enthusiasts and experts at Navis Pack & Ship explore some of these questions and unveil the mystery behind the work. Read on!
.jpg)
Image: Wikipaintings
One of the most recognized works of art in history is Edvard Munch’s “The Scream,” and many art lovers know that there had to be an interesting story behind the painting. However, the story behind “The Scream” is not as intense as you would expect. It’s similar to most stories about works of art in that it reflects a real life experience. One night, Munch was walking down a city road and noticed that the sky had a sharp blood orange color. As he stopped to gaze upon the staggering sunset, he heard the floorboards were creaking below him. He believed that the sound coming from the boards combined with the bold sky was nature’s way of almost yelling for something. Hence the celestial painting was born.
Another painting that has been recreated and parodied a million times is Grand Wood’s “America Gothic.” Perceptive viewers wonder if that was actually Wood himself in the painting. It wasn't, but considering how accurately Wood depicted American farmers in that painting, you would think it was him! The story goes that Wood was driving around Iowa one day trying to locate subjects for his next work, when he noticed this quintessentially American house built using Gothic architecture. Wood became enamored with the house and used it as his backdrop. The only thing missing from the painting were actual people, so Wood drew upon his own life and painted the female and male characters based on his sister and his dentist.
"Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh is another of the most widely recognized paintings. It’s easy to look at “Starry Night” and think that the painter must have spent thousands of nights outside studying the night sky. Of course any inspiration for a nighttime skyline has to come from familiarity with a starry sky, but Van Gogh painted this masterpiece in 1889, right around the time that he was spending time in a medical facility. And it’s believed that the painter drew this image from his view from the sanitarium. But interestingly enough, he painted it during the daytime even though it was a nighttime themed piece.
These are just a few of the intriguing pieces of art that reside in musems and art history textbooks around the world. Do you have any other questions about famous works of art? Contact the art experts at Navis with questions!
By Steve Goble, VP of Marketing Communications for Navis Pack & Ship. When he's not spilling packing and shipping secrets, he's spending time with his family at a San Diego Padres or Chargers game. Connect with Steve on Google+ and LinkedIn.
