Blog Post #2: "Springtime"

This unique oil painting has touched my heart since the first time I went to the Metropolitan Museum "Springtime" 1873, by Pierre Auguste Cot, the famous artist first displayed it in Paris Salon. While a famous painting it is clearly a representational style in where you can easily depict the two young lovers in that brightly enchanting forest. Pierre Auguste Cot has created a very interesting combination. His painting has curved and thin lines altogether it gives it a direction to separate and distinguish the two lovers in the painting, but at the same time combining them as if they were one. These lines leave an attractive moving quality and a softening outcome on the painting. Whit it's 2 dimensional organic shapes surrounded by trees, part of nature as well as the two lovers in the swing. It definitely has warm colors creating an ambiance of warmth and tranquility. The content of this aesthetic work of art has a very strong emotional message. The expression on the female's eyes give us a clue of what could only mean young love, we can't see the males face but her features are the only evidence of what the content is trying to make us feel. My objective thought would lead me to say that this is clearly two people on a swing enjoying each others company on a fresh summer day. My subjective thought is much more curious, I would believe they are hiding in the depths of the forest to somehow finally be together, the nudity of the female's body and both their feet gives me a clue as to how young love is, always so innocent and open. It is easier to see things, we can all do that. When we truly look and study the depth of what is in front of us then we will have an indication of veracity. John Berger precision on the subject of how we interpret and view art today is very different from the past. In Ways Of Seeing, John Berger states " An image is a sight which has been recreated or reproduced. It is an appearance, or a set of appearances, which has been detached from the place and time" (9). Somehow this painting gives me an idea of what young couples would look like in Pierre Auguste Cot's time. Its unique delicacy and emotional taste made "Springtime" became an important icon in the 19th century. Until this day over the last 125 years it has been adored and noticed by the eyes of millions.