Although I was unable to attend class on the sixth, here are some of my reflections from the readings.
I absolutely adore Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s Hunters in the Snow, I feel the last time we’ve seen a genre scene depicting laymen like this was in Duke of Berry’s Calendar, where we saw a similar winter scene on the January page. The art style is so distincct — the outlines are so clear, sort of reminds me of The Birth of Venus (the two don’t look very similar, but the linear forms of the outlines are somewhat the same).
Caravaggio’s Calling of Matthew is such an interesting work. I love the tenebrism and chiaroscuro, as well as how Christ is not depicted in the painting, but only referenced. He brings with him this supernatural light.
I’m excited to start studying Italian Baroque art, particularly the architecture, as I know the Catholic Counter-Reformation resulted in some innovative places of worship!