The Most Beautiful Paintings in the World
La Sirena (The Mermaid) | PC: Sally Becker
Disclaimer: This article is apart of a special April Fools' Day publication called The Mocktower. No factual information is contained within this article.
Memento Artem
Art is an extremely subjective experience. Every work will bring a spectrum of opinions. A Picasso may bring an “I love this piece” or an “It’s not for me.” However, there are some pieces that transcend subjectivity and become objectively beautiful. There are few works that accomplish this rarity, but when they do it’s phenomenal and awe-inspiring for all who bear witness to their beauty. These are examples of such pieces.
Girl Dancing in the Rain by Clarice Bouvier creates a mystical encounter that explores the human experience of emotion. We find the figure of a young girl hovering mid-leap in the air during a downpour of rain. Bouvier’s dramatic use of color is a tool she uses to pull the viewer into the scene. The deeply rich hues of blue immerse the viewer in the intimate scene. These hues contrast her dandelion yellow dress soaked by rain. Still, Bouvier was intentional in her use of color to describe emotion. The golden rays of light and yellow dress represent emotions commonly associated with positivity, the blues represent the negative or dark emotions. Again, a contrast is made. Despite the strong color emotions, Bouvier making the rain a grey tone holds a symbolic meaning of inner peace. Bouvier accomplishes more than a stunning visual piece of art, but a visual mantra into which we can find ourselves.
Girl Dancing in the Rain | PC: Sally Becker
La Sirena (The Mermaid) by Nichola de’ Medici draws inspiration from the Art Nouveau movement. Through Art Nouveau, Medici wanted to use the motif of organic and fluid forms. In the painting we find a mermaid alone on the beach lit my moonlight. Dancing spheres of light and creatures of the sea surround her. She peers into the water with a face expressing curiosity. Even so, her reflection shows a face full of contentment. Vibrant color is everywhere in this painting as reflected by the Art Nouveau style. The mermaid’s scales shine with a hues from vividest green to deepest gold. The group of sea creatures also contains a diverse spectrum of hues as well. La Sirena’s fiery red hair cascades over her shoulders. The deep blue of the ocean. The radiant soft yellow hue of the moon that mirrors upon the water. This painting causes the viewer to want to be in the scene and feel her wonder. It is an awakening of the childlike imagination that we all have and urges us to shamelessly explore that imagination.
Beauty in art is beyond simple aesthetics. It's something that even the great philosopher Plato encourages. An untouchable abstract “something” we can’t possibly achieve. However, we can pursue the form through art. Sometimes our opinions differ on what may achieve beauty. However, like these paintings, there are times that opinions align and beauty is found by all within humanity.
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio doesn't know where he is and at this point is too afraid to ask.