Renaissance - Baroque - Art Analysis
La Visite à la grand-mère (Visit to Grandmother 1645-1648) by Louis Le Nain
I was drawn to this Baroque time period piece by Louis Le Nain because of several art elements. The rich colors: especially the reds in the clothing, the use of the tenebrism technique which is described as "Tenebrism was another technique used by several Baroque painters, popularized and believed to have started by Caravaggio. Although it is like chiaroscuro, it mainly focuses on the darker areas of a painting. The term originates from the Italian word, tenebroso, which in turn originates from the Latin, tenebra, meaning “darkness”. Other words related to this terms are gloomy and mysterious. It sought to create what is referred to as the “spotlight” effect, also called “dramatic illumination”."(Artincontext) The way the artist displayed the shadows in the room within the corners really highlights the people in the middle of the room and the casting of the light on the floor from the neighboring rooms. I also really admire the realism, how the features of everyone's faces look so natural and soft, as if they could just walk out of the painting at any moment. During this time period realism was becoming more and more popular and people were not painted to be posed gods or superhumans, they are just people existing within their home.
When I look at this painting, I feel an emotion of comfort. I grew up as the youngest of 9 children and being around family, especially all my siblings made me feel cozy and at peace, and that is what his painting reminds me of. The presentation of oil on canvas looks amazing and really makes the colors very rich. I know oil painting was very popular in this time period and I believe the artist executed it very well, I would definitely feature this in my home.
This piece also correlates with the rise of merchant classes during the Baroque period. Louis Le Nain has several paintings that include "peasants" and blacksmiths. This piece is most likely showing a family that was not in the wealthy societal bracket and they are spending quality time together with their grandmother in a scene of observed reality. With the decline of Spaniard power, a lot more European towns and cities were in charge of their own populations and working/merchant class people started showing up in art because artists were admiring real life all around them. Blacksmiths, bakers, store merchants, etc. were all being painted, sculpted, drawn, and more! This family looks like a merchant level family having some bonding time. With the rise of these working-class people becoming more ingrained in society, the economy flourished, as said in this source "Very few people think of merchants, and yet it was precisely these merchants who procured the flour used to powder wigs and bake bread, who imported exquisite fabrics from China and who paid for part of the royal construction projects with their taxes while also financing the remainder by loans."(Baumbach)
Works Cited
Artincontext. “Baroque Art - the Key Artists and Paintings of the Baroque Period.” Artincontext.org, 8 Sept. 2022, https://artincontext.org/baroque-art/.
Baumbach, Ursula Kampmann and Daniel. “01 Dec the Merchant in the Baroque Period.” Bookophile, 1 Dec. 1970, https://bookophile.com/the-merchant-in-the-baroque-period/?lang=en.
MeisterDrucke. “Art Prints by Louis Le Nain.” Art Prints By, https://www.meisterdrucke.uk/artist/Louis-le-Nain.html.
Hi Alana, I was actually considered using this painting! Now I'm glad I didn't. lol. This art really captures my attention by the use of warm light and the attention to detail with the children's clothing. I think this painting definitely depicts a lower societal class, since holes are seen in the arm of the girls dress and also in the boy on the rights pants. In addition, there isn't a lot of furniture portrayed in the room, and the chairs they are sitting in are wooden and simple, the area in whole seems kind of dull. I enjoy this painting because it's more situationally realistic.
ReplyDeleteYeah I think this is a cool work. you had a lot of good information about the artist. I think some things I thought is how this really could have been a moment in time and probably was based on the details. Also how he uses the light and its effect to highlight the people in the work.
ReplyDeleteHello Alana,
ReplyDeleteI thought that you had a pretty good explanation of this oil painting. I like this painting, because it shows that you can have fun hanging out, and talking with your family members, even if you are not in the best of situations. You may not have much money, but you can always have fun, hanging out with your family members. I would definitely have to agree with you, with the fact that the painting is supporting the rise of the merchant class. It shows that they are humble people, that do not have much money, but that they are still caring to one another, spending quality time with one another. The painter uses lines in his painting to convey meaning. He uses a bunch of vertical lines on the wall to show strength, to allow us to know that it is important to maintain strong, close relationships with your family members, so that we can be happy, having our family members as our friends.