Famous Artwork art

Two Men Contemplating The Moon

“Two Men Contemplating the Moon” is an oil painting of the Romantic movement painted approximately around the year 1819. The painter, Casper David Friedrich, is considered to be the most important German artist of his generation, widely known for his work, “Wanderer Above the Sea Fog”. German poets and writers at the time were highly fascinated by the moon, and heavily incorporated it in their works, which inturn, became an inspiration for this painting. The painting is rich in symbolism, primarily targeting the political situation of Germany at the time. Art historians believe that the dead and uprooted oak tree depicts the tragic state of war Germany was in. The clothing of the men can be recognised as the attire adopted by university students as an act of rebellion against the Napoleon regime.

The Old Guitarist

Painted by Picasso in 1903, following the death of his close friend, Casagemas, who committed suicide, this painting is considered the most notable of the works from Picasso’s “Blue Period”, which is the time he was living in poverty. During this time, Picasso is said to have painted a lot of works that depict the miseries of the ill, poor, and alienated. The guitar is the only visible shift of colour amidst the blue monochrome, and fills in empty space in a manner both physical, and symbolic. The frail figure of the man recalls the works of El Greco, a great 16th century artist. This work is also popular for mysterious images underneath it. Research revealed two earlier compositions, one of which appears to be a sad and distressed woman.