At the French Windows by L.A. Ring
Reflection
In one of my favorite classes, I was asked to select ANY painting that would embody me as a human being. One painting to depict Sofia Rojo-Kratochvil...
Upon looking at this piece, my heart ignites with happiness. The color scheme, the beautiful woman, and the lush green nature add such a romantic element to this art. When choosing one piece of art to represent me, it was incredibly difficult. I had chosen five paintings before getting to this one.
This painting, done by L.A. Ring, depicts his pregnant young wife. Many historians believe that this image is L.A. Ring's declaration of love for his wife, as they were newly wedded during this time. The season of spring plays a vital role as it symbolizes new life waiting to come. In this case, their baby symbolizes the new life that will soon arrive. On the other hand, the disruptive element of the old tree symbolizes the threshold between the past and future. Ring uses this tree to balance the piece, ultimately painting the statement of moving from one stage, or place, to another in life.
I see myself in this fascinating piece in many ways. The women in the painting stood out to me the most as I saw myself in her: a strong independent woman. She stands tall and has liberated herself from gender roles, quietly showing her confidence. She beautifully unites both divine femininity and intellect with her garments and stance. Much like her, I hope that I radiate this same energy in my life. I have been surrounded by many people that have helped me gain this liberation of gender roles. I have grown to be powerfully independent, but I also carry the motherly instinct as depicted in this masterpiece. These women and I share two things: self-sufficiency and self-love.
The tree in the background acts as a symbol of how I implement my love old times in my own life. I value time with elders and hearing from their past. The beauty of the past is something I very much value and so fascinating. Apart from this, the tree signifies the last stage of life. Just as the pregnancy and spring symbolize a new beginning, the tree serves as a reminder that with a fresh start comes the end. This resonates with me as I like to live each day as it were my last. Yes, very cliché, but, yet, very real. Having this reminder is essential as it helps us be more present and loving towards everyone.
The lush greenery is a nice touch to this painting; it is one of the reasons why I love this piece so much. This bright color shows the playful, child-at-heart, side of myself. It is a soothing and relaxing color. This romantic painting sums me up to the tea, proving my hopeless passionate attitude towards life and how I always see life through rose-colored lenses.
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