The painting is named “And Life Anew.” and was created by Rita Kernn-Larsen in 1940. It is an oil on canvas painting that measures 26 7/8 x 20 7/8 inches or 68.3 x 53 cm (Detroit Institute of Art, n.d.). The painting is a naturalistic landscape view that shows the effects of time upon it. The title suggests a rebirth or hope for the future of earth creatures. The painting has been exhibited in several locations, most recently at the Museum of American Art in Oslo, Norway, and Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen. The painting is found through the link.
Kernn-Larsen is a Danish artist who is known for her paintings of abstract women. She started painting in the late 1940s when she was living in Paris and studying with the French painter Fernand Léger. She participated in exhibitions that were held in Europe in the 1930s, which included Exposition Internationale du Surrealisme at the Galerie des Beaux-Arts (1938) (Peggy Guggenheim Collection, 2017). After 1938, she carried out an exhibition at Peggy’s gallery. Before the end of 1938, she conducted other exhibitions: Collages, Papiers-collés, and Photo-montages exhibitions, and Contemporary Painting and Sculpture. Her work has been exhibited all over the world, and she has received numerous awards and honors, including the Eckersberg Medal (Denmark’s highest award for artists) and the Prince Eugen Medal.
The painting is composed of several elements that work together to create a unified whole. The painting is composed of four elements: canvas, three birds, oil splash, orange-colored fruit, root branches from the tree log (signifying a plant), bright light, and feet (animal or human being). The canvas forms the base or background on which the other elements are placed. The orange is positioned in the left-center of the painting and is too visible. The root branches extend out from the tree log and create a sense of depth and movement. The feet are located at the bottom of the painting, next to the tree log holding the roots.
Different patterns have been used to show the connectivity in the painting. For example, there are string-like lines that connect to the tree-log looking like image. The canvas on which the art is drawn is more of beige color and slightly rough. The rough symbol could be signifying the challenges in the universe, which holds the creatures just like the canvas contains all the art. The orange-colored fruit is illuminated by sources of light from the top-left side of the painting. This contrast between light and dark creates depth in the painting. The root branches are positioned at different angles throughout the painting and are most visible in the upper half of the image. They add movement to the piece and contribute to its overall composition. The feet are located at the lower bottom of the art and serve as a human component that connects with nature.
The emphasis of the painting could be to demonstrate the existing dependence among living creatures. The light-blue figure in the art looks like a flower. The flower, orange fruit, and leaf all have lines attaching them to tree roots. The human feet are also attached to the tree roots; this could portray the close relationship between humans and plants. Another emphasis is on the bright light shading on the three birds, which seem to be feeding on the ground. This could be illustrating the importance of light to the creatures since all three birds are located on the brighter side of the picture.
The painting also shows an orange-colored fruit with a green bud. The orange is portrayed as a warm color, while the green bud is portrayed as a cool color. This use of complementary colors helps to create a sense of visual interest in the painting. A painting needs to have a sense of visual interest in order to hold the viewer’s attention. This can be accomplished through a variety of means, including contrast, color, texture, and composition. By creating a visually interesting painting, the artist can communicate their ideas and emotions more effectively to the viewer. Additionally, the application of light and shadow (dark side) helps to create depth and realism in the painting. The painting also features brown birds and a brown oil splash on the canvas. This suggests that the painting is about life starting anew or about nature renewing itself. The use of earthy colors aids in creating a feeling of warmth and serenity, while the abstract elements in the painting add an element of intrigue and mystery.
Similarly, the green leaves in the painting are representative of life and growth. They are fresh and new, representing a new beginning. The darkness on the foot side represents death or endings because for rebirth to occur, death must have occurred. It is a somber reminder that life always comes with an end. However, the painting would not be complete without the bright light. It is a symbol of hope and represents the promise of something new after death. Together, these three elements create a powerful statement about the cycle of life. The application of art and design knowledge reveals that the creator of this painting was likely trying to express a sense of hope and renewal. By using muted colors and simple shapes, the artist was able to create a piece that is both beautiful and evocative.
In conclusion, “And Life Anew” is a painting done by Rita Kernn-Larsen. Based on different analyses, the painting can have many different meanings. The artwork denotes nature with shadings that could have several hidden meanings. There are dark human or animal feet that represent the existence of a human being. Similarly, the are green leaf-like drawing, birds, and some bright light. All these elements can be put together to represent the universe or the creation. The green colors could mean life since the color is associated with living plants. On the other hand, dark shadings could be related to the death of something; thereafter, a new life starts.
References
Detroit Institute of Art. (n.d.). | Detroit Institute of Arts Museum. Detroit Institute of Art. Web.
Peggy Guggenheim Collection. (2017). Rita Kernn-Larsen. Surrealist Paintings. ITSLIQUID. Web.