Compare and contrast Grand Odalisque and Velazquez's Princess Essay

Compare and contrast Grand Odalisque and Velazquez's Princess - Essay Example The painting also represents an eclectic mix of styles that combine classical form with Romantic themes, which is a contrast to contemporary style and content. â€Å"Las Meninas† (1656) represents a masterpiece of Spanish painting by Diego Velazquez, and one of the most prominent paintings. The painting also doubles up as one of the most controversial and imitated painting in history. The painting depicts a scene from daily life within the palace of Felipe IV in which the Princess is at the centre in the company of her ladies-in-waiting (â€Å"Meninas†). Naturalism of the painting with its impact of spontaneity and relative informality should be understood within the context of Velazquez’s identity as a court painter and a member of the court of Philip IV (Mitchell 58). The painting demonstrates Velazquez skill in the utilization of â€Å"claroscuro† in which the point of light lights up the characters and establishes an order within the composition. I am drawn to these art works owing to the praise and criticism that they draw. Grande Odalisque, for instance, remains one of the Ingres’ most popular nudes given that the anatomical distortions of the odalisque persist to fascinate art fans. The paper compares and contrasts two masterpiece paintings belonging at diverse artistic periods and detailing distinct characteristics of artists’ distinct styles, namely: Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and Diego Velazquez. Grande Odalisque/Une Odalisque Stylistic Characteristics: Grand Odalisque The painting contains a clear outline and linear style highly typical of the Neoclassic movement; hence, the female figure within the painting is accentuated by light and possess a distinct contour highlighted by the setting of the darker movement. This renders the painting to be highly sensual, realist, and romanticized. Use of space: The body of the nude occupies the entire frame of the canvas in which her head, elbow, and buttock are only few inches away from the edge of the canvas, and her toes extend beyond the bounds of the edge. Techniques: One of the techniques that Ingres employs features his anatomical distortion as seen in the female nude. In Grand Odalisque Ingres drew extended sinuous lines to lengthen her back and pelvis area. Critics claim that the lack of anatomical realism makes her body appears boneless. Use of color: Ingres use of color is carefully planned, whereby he differentiates the warm tones vis a vis the cool colored silk. Lighting: The foreground of painting remains completely unlit heralding focus to the long and affective body of the odalisque. It appears that major spotlight awarded to her body, especially lighting and drawing attention to the areas that he elongates (her arm, back, and pelvis area). Tone: The Grand Odalisque is sensual and erotic, whereby the odalisque is offering herself to the sultan, but offers just a small preview of her body. Brushstroke: Ingres employs tight brushwo rk to attain his near photographic realism. Ingres incorporates the likeness of the texture of the model’s skin, the velvet, and the silk. Cultural Context: Grand Odalisque In the artwork, Ingres has generated a fresh aloof eroticism emphasized by its exotic context. The painting reflects sensual fascination with the orient and portrays his attraction for foreign eroticism. Some art historians cite the elongation of the Odalisque’