Monday, June 16, 2008

Beloved Mother




"In the 'Beloved Mother', Greuze represents a new reality, give me an example of art from the 20th century that represents this. What do you think this implies about the power of art in society.

In Greuze's the "Beloved Mother", the woman is represented in a elevated status. She is heavenly and loving, she represents a new kind of mother at the time. The mother, with all the kids playing around her, represents a new kind of family, a family that is focused on making sure the children are taught the right lessons and morals rather than being considered pests, and being sent off. What Greuze is showing is how he thinks mothers should be. So rather than making art that represents the life around him, coping what he sees, Greuze is making his own reality, he is creating social values that he believes are important. So in this sense, art becomes the creator of social values, and the woman becomes a mother, or in this sense, synonymous with mother Mary.

What does it mean when art can be the example by which we change ourselves to correspond? Does this give art unlimited power, because it makes us change ourselves, our values and beliefs without even our direct knowledge. I think Greuze's art would therefor directly correspond to propaganda art of the 20th century. Propaganda art, is especially that which is created during a war, becomes advertisements that represent a single person's or even a government's belief that turns in to art to sway the publics decision on a subject. The propaganda art of World War 11, was created for several purposes including, to convince the American people: to support the way, to join the war effects, and to continue to support the government. In the case of women, it actually created a new vision of the woman, the "Rosie the Riveter." A new woman, that was strong, and masculine. A woman that could work, while the men were at home.

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