WATERCOLOR AND GRAPHITE ON WHITE WOVE PAPER, 1914
This is a medium drawing that was basically drawn by an artist known as John Singer Sargent in the year 1914 with a dimension of 53.3*40 cm which was later purchased by Joseph Pulitzer Bequest in 1915. The artist work has an aesthetic beauty which is characterized by an apprehension with beauty and a better taste as it has a high quality visual that is clear to all. The artistic work is highly academic as it is recognized by scholars across the world especially those who are largely interested in art history. His work is more technical as he uses several varying techniques or methods which enhance him to achieve his goal to produce an effective output product. The subject matter however is the core determinant on the kind of techniques and technical skills to apply in his artistic work as in explaining the subject matter different methods are required.
The drawing is carried out on a white woven paper where the artist has effectively applied the graphic skills in his work as well as the use of a canvas. The use of the canvas is widely seen as Sargent uses linen woven as his surface for painting all his work. The artist was driven by his experience when he was arrested in Tyrol soon after war was declared on the Australian nation by the Britain and France state. Through his period when he was in detention that’s where he was able to draw the theme of his drawing. In the drawing as many would think, the act of crucifying portrayed in the drawing does not represent the religious nature of the cross but rather has a deeper and different meaning. The artistic work is largely conceptual as it is emphasizing on concepts or ideas rather than the objects themselves. The objects in this case are used just to symbolize an idea or occurrence and state in which the Sergent is in.
The representation of a carved crucifixion is a sign of Sargent’s somberness and threatening mood as he looked forward to acquire a travelling documentation that would permit him to travel to London. The artist is held against his self will at this place as his will is to return back to London. This is to mean that he was like a slave who just hanged waiting for a day of rescue when he would be freed. He therefore could not make any move at all as he was tied with no hopes of leaving as this is symbolized by the crucifixion.
The sad facial expression portrayed in the drawing is perfectly represented and drawn out clearly as it symbolizes the sadness, humiliation and desperation that is present in his life. He is totally not happy as he is detained but then he has no choice as he cannot be able to get himself out of the place. However he is at a somber state and the detention has not yet given him stress that could lead to his insanity thus he is still in a position to think clearly.
The roofing’s on top of the cross are angular meaning that the shape of the drawings such as the roofing is angulated thus having sharp corners and the angles. The roofing’s is a representation that the detention and the suffering that the Sargent is undergoing through are specifically within the Tyrol. He being under the roof clearly indicates that all his tribulations are within the Tyrol’s boundary. It is thus evident that the people of Tyrol are ruthless and heartless with no heart for humanity. The cross is erected along the roadsides and in open ground meaning that these were places that were set apart and alienated from the rest of the society. The setting of this drawing is in an environment different from that of the varying locations in Tyrol. The place is isolated and at times those places were used for celebration during functions.
The Tyrol state takes pride in their work that involves detention and this is highly celebrated at some of the nation’s functions meaning they are not at any time remorseful or sorry for their actions.
The formation of these detention places along the roadside is to attract travelers who are using these roadside routes who would up praising the act of the Tyrol’s’.
The drawing uniquely portrays the sex of the man in the diagram using the appropriate physical characteristics that differentiates a gender. This hence allows the viewer to easily identify the gender or sex of the person being represented. This therefore in our drawing is a representation of the Sergent who is a male just as the one symbolized in the painting.
This painting of the canvas is similar to that of an allover painting since the artist is equally taking every part of the painting equally important and the painting is all over the canvas from one edge to another and from a corner to another corner.
In his art he personifies himself to Christ to allow the reader or the viewer to create imaginary visuals in his/her mind and to be able to relate well with what he/she already knows. These will thus enabler the viewer to identify the lifeless and humiliated life that Sergent is trying to describe in his drawing. His personification is also used to show the innocence of the Sergent as his arrest or detention was not because of his mistake or fault but rather an unfortunate circumstance. The use of the tree is representing a source of support which is able to support both the cross and the man in the drawing.
This represents the hope that the Sergent has on getting documentation to allow him travel back to London was a sought of support that anchored the detainee and the bad and awful experiences that he was going through. Hope enabled him to hold firm and to not give up at all.
The art uses the watercolors which mean that the colors used in this drawing are a mixture of water and the pigments of colors and the painting of this drawing uses these types of paints. While the darkness of the painting which is basically the tone of the drawing uses an additional grey color which gives the painting the dark tone. The painter has also applied the use of tempera which is simply the use of paint where water soluble binder pigments are mixed together with pigments so as to produce paint similar to the color of the egg yolk. This is largely applied especially on painting of the man in the drawing.
