Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog

Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog

Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog was painted by Romantic Landscape painter Caspar David Friedrich during the 19^th Century. In this painting he included a self-portrait of himself with his back towards to viewer suggesting he wanted the viewer to look at nature through the artist’s perspective (Caspar). As a Romantic Landscape painter, Friedrich’s greatest achievement was to turn landscapes in to a spiritual and mysterious scene (Caspar). The “Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog” showed the peak of Romantic paintings during the Romantic era. The painting suggested men’s development and exhilaration, or fear and terror.

The first significant that can be seen is how the artist painted the Wanderer or himself looking out towards the misty scene, standing above the peak. This suggested the painter wanted the viewer to look at the world through his perspective. The man not showing his face gave the viewer a sense of mystery. Besides giving a sense of mystery, he wanted to focus on the power of nature instead of men. The use of multiple layers of both opaque and transparent clouds enabled Friedrich to achieve a natural lighting effect (Caspar).  The sea of fog covering up the scene and the peak of mountain gave the viewer another sense of mystery. Friedrich used a sea of fog to cover up nature suggesting the mystery and the unknown about nature. With the Wanderer standing on top of the mountain blending in to the sea of fog, we question whether men reached the pioneer of their development or is there a mysterious power of nature that was never seen before?

The Romantic Era was a response to the Industrial and Scientific Revolutions believing that science would solve the mysteries about nature and the universe. However until today, men still have not revealed the mysteries about it. This suggests that the power of nature is so powerful that it should not be under-estimated.

The Great Wave

The Great Wave

The Great Wave is a woodblock print created by Katsushika Hokusai which is part of the collection of the Thirty-six Views of Mt.Fuji. Hokusai’s life is defined by his passion for art; he spent most of his life creating art pieces and often they were signed off with “The old man mad about painting” (Katushika). His prints were collected by many famous impressionist artists in the later years such as Claude Monet. The Great Wave is Hokusai’s most significant work in his Mt.Fuji series during the peak of his creativity.

The print showed a huge wave coming down against three boats where fishermen were crouching down as they were surrendering to it. The wave is deadly and furious as the thick, hardened skeletal lines gave the wave claws. The thickness of the wave is then softened by the touch of bubbles of mist (Katushika). The curved line of the waves guided the viewer through the wave, passing the boats and to the landmark mountain (Katushika). The wave showed that nature does not show mercy as it is attacking the innocents who raise themselves with fishing. The life of these fishermen is in the hands of the monstrous wave. With the curves of the waves and how one boat is behind a smaller wave, it made the print move as it was curling towards it and tossing the boat in the air. The size of the innocents are incredibly small compared to the wave. The comparison again showed that nature has enough power to take over men. 

Although many of the works in the Thirty-Six views of Mt.Fuji do not focus on the mountain itself, this print showed the unpredictable power of nature taking over men. This print showed that nature, especially water, has no clemency as the life of the fishermen were in its hand. When the sea of water is affected by the movement of Earth and other elements, the boats and settlements crumble and men perish.

Japan Earthquake 2011

Japan Earthquake

This photograph is in Japan, Miyagi prefecture on Friday March 11, 2011 after a massive magnitude of 8.9 hit Japan. The photo showed water flooding the people’s homeland. The area was destroyed after being attacked by a ten meter high tsunami that was caused by the earthquake. Besides people’s home, ships and cars were carried by the humongous wave to the streets of coastal towns (Japan). The earthquake was the strongest ever to hit the country since the 1800s, killing 14,300 people (Powerful). 

In the photograph the monstrous tsunami caused by the earthquake had washed the entire costal town in Miyagi prefecture. The people also had their back turned to the viewer which created an effect of making the viewer look at their homelands from their perspective, getting viewers involved in the cruel scene. Houses and buildings were destroyed and smoke can be seen. The scene again reflected on the power of nature. Men do not have enough power to stop disasters like tsunamis and earthquakes caused by nature because it is way too powerful. From the photograph, homelands were destroyed, the entire prefecture was swallowed by the tsunami. People were shown to be powerless; they could not do anything but to wait for help. 

Natural disasters are impossible to avoid and prevent with the power of men. The nature does not show mercy as it will take any innocents' life away as their lives are nature's hands.

The Eruption of Mount Vesuvius

The Eruption of Mount Vesuvius

The painting “The Eruption of Mount Vesuvius” was painted by an English Romantic Landscape painter, J.M.W Turner in 1817. The painting recorded one of the world’s most catastrophic disasters and eruptions scenes, the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD (Destruction). The eruption wiped out the entire city of Pompeii, burying the   entire city under ashes.Turner is one of the earliest impressionist painter and believed to have started this art movement (Eruption). One of the most significant styles of Turner’s paintings is that he combined two types of rivaling paintings, historical and landscape (Destruction).

The impression of the “Eruption of Mount Vesuvius” is fear, the “firestorm”and pyroclastic flow given off in to the sky. The use of bright grey from the mouth of the volcano slowly merging into a dark mellow color captured the fear and power of Vesuvius. Turner was also recognized to use watercolor with oil paints as a result of creating a fluid, lively and energetic scene, creating an excellent atmosphere. The mellow colors blended with grey blue suggested the world is coming to an end. A reflection of this dramatic scene can also be seen in the water. Citizens who were fleeing indicted the helplessness of men and showed nature overpowers humanity. Light was emphasized in Turner’s paintings as he believed it represented God (Destruction). Turner compared the power of nature to the power of God by using light given off by the volcano in his painting. The comparison showed that men have no power against nature as nature is similar to God. 

In 79AD, the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried the entire city of Pompeii, taking both people’s homeland and life away. This major natural disaster reflected the power of nature once again, showing how men do not have a chance to go against it. Turner compared both the power of nature and God in the painting with the use of light on top of the mouth of the volcano. The power of Nature is indestructible and vicious.

Bursting Sun

Bursting Sun

The “Bursting Sun” was one of the first abstract landscape paintings by Jaison Cianelli in 2009 (Abstract). The painting gave a powerful energy as it represents the Sun. The main focus of the painting is not the Sun or sunset but the energy the Sun is delivering.

Cianelli’s painting was influenced by abstract expressionist artist such as Jackson Pollock. Pollock was known for splashing paint directly on to the canvas and using rapid brush strokes (Jackson). Expressionist art is to express emotions, feelings and experiences instead of physical experiences. Rich colors such as red, yellow, orange and thick texture expressed Cianelli’s emotions. The lightened lines were influenced by Pollock’s style of brush strokes. Even though the Sun is not drawn out completely, the use of bright colors emphasized the importance of the Sun and its power. The Sun is the natural source of energy as all living organisms need the energy from the Sun to survive.


 Although the painting does not show any natural disasters or humanity being destroyed by nature, it represents a natural power that all living organisms need. The Sun also provides energy that allows living organisms to grow. This suggests that the power of nature is more important and powerful as it is durable and efficient.

Bibliography

"Abstract Art, Contemporary Paintings, Abstract Landscape Paintings by Cianelli "Bursting Sun" – Abstract Landscape Painting." Abstract Art, Paintings For Sale: Abstract Landscape Paintings, Contemporary Paintings, Abstract Paintings, Contemporary Abstract Art, Abstract Landscapes, Abstract Art For Sale, Abstract Art Canvas Prints. http://cianellistudios.com/blog/busting-sun-abstract-landscape-painting/ (accessed April 28, 2011).

"Caspar David Friedrich Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog." Caspar David Friedrich. http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/his/CoreArt/art/rom_fri_wand.html (accessed April 21, 2011).

"Caspar David Friedrich Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog." Epoch Times | National, World, China, Sports, Entertainment News | Epoch. Times.http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/30388/http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/30388/ (accessed April 21, 2011).

"The Destruction of Pompeii, 79 AD." EyeWitness to History - history through the eyes of those who lived it. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pompeii.htm (accessed April 27, 2011).

"Eruption of Vesuvius." Oil painting reproductions - PaintYourLife.  http://www.oil-paintings-reproductions.com/Articles/eruption-of- vesuvius.html (accessed April 24, 2011).

"Jackson Pollock's Unique Style." Jackson Pollock Unauthorized. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2011. <http://www.jackson-pollock.com/uniquestyle.html>.

"Japan Earthquake." Huffington Post. http://socialdiets.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/japan-earthquakejapan-tsunamijapan-quakemiyagi-prefecture/ (accessed April 24, 2011).

"Katushika Hokusai." Katushika Hokusai: The Great Wave. www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol11no10/pdfs/about_cover.pdf (accessed April 21, 2011).

"Kinsner: Hokusai's Great Wave." Electrical and Computer Engineering. http://www.ee.umanitoba.ca/~kinsner/about/gwave.html (accessed April 21, 2011).

"Powerful Quake, Tsunami Kills Hundreds in Japan - ABC News." ABCNews.com: Breaking News, Politics, World News, Good Morning America, Exclusive Interviews - ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=13110884&page=1 (accessed April 27, 2011).