Art reflects the historical changes of society throughout periods such as the Renaissance. Artists reflected their own experiences and opinions regarding politics, religion and ethical issues, through the art they painted. The differences between the lower class and higher class were exhibited by Paul, Herman, and Jean Limbourg. They were revealing the hard but unpaying work of peasants in contrast to the life of the Duke and his family. They exhibited the economical gap at the time, which is also shown through the work of Jan van Eyck in the early 15th century, through symbols of luxury. In the 17th century, many artists began to paint the split in the church. Which happened after a man named Martin Luther discovered the deceiving lies that the Catholic figures in the Vatican were feeding to other Catholics. Telling them that their sins would be forgiven with a certain amount of money, creating an outrage and many protests. This divided the church up, and protestants began to interpret the bible in their own way after Martin Luther translated it himself. This is portrayed through the work of Johannes Vermeer, showing a Catholic woman living in a Protestant country. As Christianity begins to change, education made its way in, as shown through the work of Rembrandt van Rijn.
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Paul, Herman, and Jean Limbourg
FEBRUARY: LIFE IN THE COUNTRY,
TRÈS RICHES HEURES 1411-1416
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Although peasants were working very hard, much harder than the typical person in the higher class, their work was not quickly paid off. In the Limbourg brother’s “Very Sumptuous Book of Hours,” FEBRUARY: LIFE IN THE COUNTRY, TRÈS RICHES HEURES, the brothers use horizontal lines to reveal the long walk that was ahead of the peasant man walking with what appears to be his donkey. The women are all sharing a fire and sat around it to keep themselves warm. The artists’ use of specific symbols, such as “the heavy sky and bare trees,” (Stokstad 581) displayed the amount of cold these individuals were enduring. Their use of color also indicates the previous point, “The muted
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Paul, Herman, and Jean Limbourg
JANUARY: THE DUKE OF BERRY
AT TABLE, TRÈS
RICHES HEURES 1411-1416
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palette is sparked with touches of yellowish-orange, blue, and bright red, including the man’s turban.” Another work of the brother, which clearly puts on display the economic injustice at the time, is there “JANUARY: THE DUKE OF BERRY AT TABLE, TRÈS RICHES HEURES.” Showing another cold winter month and how it affected the Duke of Berry and his family and friends. Many symbols indicate the wealth of this family, such as the “...food, and expensive tableware.” (Stokstad 581). As well as the dog on the bottom right, the expensive clothes, and tapestries on the wall. The use of bright colors also reveals their wealth, as the cold of outside seems to not be affecting them in any way. The Limbourg brothers made this book for the “book-lover”(Stokstad 580) Duke Jean of Berry, and if he were to open this book he would see his splendid January winter shared with his loved ones. Although this would give him some pride, if he were to turn to the next page, he would see the peasants suffering another winter day of February. This could have been purposely done to open his eyes to the unjust division of wealth.
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| Jan van Eyck DOUBLE PORTRAIT OF GIOVANNI ARNOLFINI AND HIS WIFE 1434 |
In the fifteenth century, individuals began reaching for different types of accomplishments, such as getting their portraits done or exhibiting themselves in religious paintings. This revealed their high egos, which can be compared to our generation’s use of social media to preserve and record our name and existence. Hoping to avoid passing away without leaving a mark on this world. This is ego is shown in Jan van Eyck’s DOUBLE PORTRAIT OF GIOVANNI ARNOLFINI AND HIS WIFE. In this double portrait, Giovanni shows many of his “deserved” riches, such as his “hat 一earned, rather than inherited” (Stokstad 575). He was a very wealthy Italian merchant, and his desire to portray that hard work is obvious. The dog in between the couple represents their fidelity and wealth, as well as the chandelier, oranges, carpets and bed frame in the couple’s home in addition to the clothes on their backs. This painting is open to many debates, but one thing we cannot deny is his dedication to being perceived as a hardworking man who accomplished great wealth. This painting also exhibits the influence of the church on this couple, “A figure of St. Margaret 一protector of women in childbirth” which is displayed beside their bed. This reveals to influence of church and earned wealth on the success of a family. Portraying Giovanni’s great ego.
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| Johannes Vermeer WOMAN HOLDING A BALANCE c. 1664 |
Continuing on religion, Johannes Vermeer displays the split in the church in WOMAN HOLDING A BALANCE. This very still and real-life moment emphasizes the artists’ use of symbols. The woman is holding a balance, and right behind her is a painting of God coming down for the day of judgment. In Christian beliefs, God is the judge of our goodness, he will balance all of the good we have done, as well as the wrong we have caused. The results will affect our denial or acceptance into heaven. The use of “juxtaposition” (Stokstad 762) and the use of light coming out of the window allows the audience to clearly see the metaphor that is displayed; the day of judgment. According to Stokstad, the woman is, “...Catholic living in a Protestant country” (Stokstad 762). This reveals the changes in the church, and the light itself “evokes the vanitas theme of the transience of earthly life” (Stokstad 763). This specifies the unavoidable development of the church in the late 17th century.
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| Rembrandt van Rijn THE ANATOMY LESSON OF DR. NICOLAES TULP 1632 |
In the mid 17th century, Rembrandt van Rijn paints THE ANATOMY LESSON OF DR. NICOLAES TULP reveals the influence of education and science. In this painting, physicians sat around a dead body going through an autopsy to teach them the right way to conduct it. Rembrandt uses light and shadow techniques, he makes “...effective use of Caravaggio’s tenebrism technique” (Stokstad 758). This specific technique is used to display shadows in a certain way, and its goal is to have the figures appear in a three-dimensional scene, allowing the audience to feel as if they were watching the autopsy with Dr. Nicolaes Tulp. The light flows down, hitting the faces of the physicians and emphasizing the dead man’s arm, which is being cut open. Rembrandt’s painting is reflecting his “cosmopolitan city environment, his study of science and nature” (Stokstad 758). Which was a huge change in the Renaissance, as science and other subjects’ influences were highly acknowledged.
Concluding, the Renaissance was a time of “rebirth,” in which many artists began to reflect personal and societal changes through their art. The church split, economic injustices were easily noticeable, education was appreciated. People began to experience different aspects of life, to better themselves economically and educationally. Although all of these changes occurred, one thing that remained a hint in many pieces of art was the day of judgment. To constantly remind others, that although education and wealth felt good, they were only temporarily beneficial.
Works Cited
Stokstad, Marilyn, and Michael Watt Cothren. Art History. Sixth ed., II, Pearson, 2018.
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