such a peice of shit >disregard it
Brooke Benoit
5-14-04
Block G
Art Project
James McNeil Whistler Harmony in Blue and Silver: Trouville
The book Jane Eyre is the represented perfectly by James McNeil Whistler's painting Harmony in Blue and Silver: Trouville. At first glance of this painting my first question was "What is this man looking for?" Which is exactly what my first question was when I started to read Jane Eyre. The book is a narrative so it is naturally about Jane Eyre's quest for her place in the world. The painting and the book are harmonious in reflecting this quest through different mediums.
The painting's colors reflect the mood and tone of the book perfectly. Much of the book is depressing and dreary as are much of the colors in the painting. The dreary and dirty off-white beige are what the eyes initially see in the painting because it takes up 60 percent of the canvas. This reflects Jane Eyre in that initially the book is very depressing as it describes Jane's struggles, but the author does not impose her view on you, she simply tells the story in a factual manner. Thus reflecting the dirty beige color perfectly, it is a clean color but only to our perception it is not. Just as Jane Eyre's future is relatively bright in comparison to her past, the horizon, which represents the future in this painting, is a relatively bright color in comparison to the rest of the colors used in this painting. The horizon is the only bright spot in the painting with a few ships, portraying that Jane Eyre's desires to be part of a community will finally be fulfilled.
Although the person in the painting is a man he is still a perfect representative of Jane Eyre's quest. Jane is not the typical woman of that time period, her dreams aren't as simple. Thus she is represented as a man in this painting, because she shares more in common with the men of her time period than the women. Jane craves to be part of a community but also desires freedom, a contradiction that is central to the novel and this painting. Mr. Rochester offers her a chance to be truly part of something for once, but she refuses this because she realizes that with this unity would come entrapment. She would have to live as his mistress, thus sacrificing her self dignity and respect. The slight pensive way the man leans back in the painting indicates his initial refusal to except the future. Whistlers broad sweeping brush strokes that sweep out to the ocean show that he will eventually accept his fate; just as Jane Eyre eventually marries Mr. Rochester.
The man is standing broodingly as though is he caught between a rock and a hard place. The viewer's first impression is that he is utterly lost. This reflects Jane quite perfectly because she is offered marriage by two men which she initially refuses both. However, the refusal of St. John makes her realize how fortunate she is to have Mr. Rochester. This is shown through the painting in that the left side of the horizon is darker and much more dismal than the left, making the right side seem brighter. Jane's realization is only made possible after the two are put in comparison, much like the painting, as the man stands facing the brighter side of the horizon. Whistler's depiction reflects Jane's ultimate decision to marry Mr. Rochester. The man in the painting is lost in a moment in his life, as Jane was, but the bright horizon shows that he will eventually find what he is looking for, as Jane did.
In conclusion the book Jane Eyre is represented perfectly through whistlers painting. Whistlers painting shows Jane's story through color, brush strokes and the overall feeling of the painting. The painting has all the key elements to represent Jane's quest for herself and the ultimate fulfillment.
5-14-04
Block G
Art Project
James McNeil Whistler Harmony in Blue and Silver: Trouville
The book Jane Eyre is the represented perfectly by James McNeil Whistler's painting Harmony in Blue and Silver: Trouville. At first glance of this painting my first question was "What is this man looking for?" Which is exactly what my first question was when I started to read Jane Eyre. The book is a narrative so it is naturally about Jane Eyre's quest for her place in the world. The painting and the book are harmonious in reflecting this quest through different mediums.
The painting's colors reflect the mood and tone of the book perfectly. Much of the book is depressing and dreary as are much of the colors in the painting. The dreary and dirty off-white beige are what the eyes initially see in the painting because it takes up 60 percent of the canvas. This reflects Jane Eyre in that initially the book is very depressing as it describes Jane's struggles, but the author does not impose her view on you, she simply tells the story in a factual manner. Thus reflecting the dirty beige color perfectly, it is a clean color but only to our perception it is not. Just as Jane Eyre's future is relatively bright in comparison to her past, the horizon, which represents the future in this painting, is a relatively bright color in comparison to the rest of the colors used in this painting. The horizon is the only bright spot in the painting with a few ships, portraying that Jane Eyre's desires to be part of a community will finally be fulfilled.
Although the person in the painting is a man he is still a perfect representative of Jane Eyre's quest. Jane is not the typical woman of that time period, her dreams aren't as simple. Thus she is represented as a man in this painting, because she shares more in common with the men of her time period than the women. Jane craves to be part of a community but also desires freedom, a contradiction that is central to the novel and this painting. Mr. Rochester offers her a chance to be truly part of something for once, but she refuses this because she realizes that with this unity would come entrapment. She would have to live as his mistress, thus sacrificing her self dignity and respect. The slight pensive way the man leans back in the painting indicates his initial refusal to except the future. Whistlers broad sweeping brush strokes that sweep out to the ocean show that he will eventually accept his fate; just as Jane Eyre eventually marries Mr. Rochester.
The man is standing broodingly as though is he caught between a rock and a hard place. The viewer's first impression is that he is utterly lost. This reflects Jane quite perfectly because she is offered marriage by two men which she initially refuses both. However, the refusal of St. John makes her realize how fortunate she is to have Mr. Rochester. This is shown through the painting in that the left side of the horizon is darker and much more dismal than the left, making the right side seem brighter. Jane's realization is only made possible after the two are put in comparison, much like the painting, as the man stands facing the brighter side of the horizon. Whistler's depiction reflects Jane's ultimate decision to marry Mr. Rochester. The man in the painting is lost in a moment in his life, as Jane was, but the bright horizon shows that he will eventually find what he is looking for, as Jane did.
In conclusion the book Jane Eyre is represented perfectly through whistlers painting. Whistlers painting shows Jane's story through color, brush strokes and the overall feeling of the painting. The painting has all the key elements to represent Jane's quest for herself and the ultimate fulfillment.