Figure in Illuminated Doorway, Rufino Tamayo, 1960, Color lithograph, 65 x 50 cm (Art after Independence)Tamayo, though he had contact with artists such as Siqueiros and Orozco, and was aware of the work of Rivera, took a different path, made work that was rather small and not political in nature. He lived and taught in New York and in Paris. In 1960 (the date of this lithograph), he moved back to Mesico until his death in 1991. He and his wife had an impressive collection of Pre-Hispanic art and left it for a museum in Oaxaca. Another museum (Ruffino Tamayo Museum of Contemporary Art) opened in 1981 and houses his work along with other contemporary artists. (There is also a PowerPoint from another high school that references the work after Independence. It has highlights about the pieces.)
This type of print is unlike the etchings in the previous posts. This is a lithograph - check out MOMA's explanation of printmaking - you will learn about 4 processes here! THIS IS A FABULOUS FLASH DEMONSTRATION OF THE PRINTMAKING PROCESS - YOU MUST CHECK THIS OUT!! (You can tell I really like this site!)
Anway - he was interested in still life and genre scenes (images of everyday activities). This female silouette in in a doorway with one hand resting on the doorframe. It seems that her head is covered by a veil and is shaped kind of like a keyhole. His palette is simple - black, white, red and shades of yellowish-browns. The featureless figure could represent common experiences at key stages in life. Modern subjects often move towards themes that have broad universality with the viewer.
4 comments:
The warm palette and contrast between the dark figure and bright backdrop create dimension in the viewer's eyes. It's a fantastic demonstration of negative space between the form and the doorway, and the illumination on the doorway is beautifully depicted. I love it.
-Sheridan Taylor
1st Period
I really like this because of the strong contrast between the figure and the light. I like how the figure's details aren't worked out and how the person is drawn in profile. I also really like this picture because it has a very rustic quality to it.
-Caroline Peeters
4th period
Wow, this is a cool painting!
As soon as I looked at it, I could tell what was going on in the painting. I love how the figure of the person in the dorrway, contrasts the light coming from beyond. I also like how the person's body shape was drawn indistinctly showing that the person's identity is a mystery. I also just plain like the mental image of someone standing on the threshold of something new while still not sure if their ready to leave behind what they know.
This painting really interests me. The way the artist uses the contrast between light and dark, and the fraying, rough edges to kind of give the painting a scary quality to it. It makes me go back to the days where you would hide under the bed to get away from the monsters in your closet. It reminds me of horror movies with the way she is just an outline in the door.
-Madeline Watkins
2nd period
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