The Renaissance and Humanism

     Jan Van Eyck created an intriguing piece that left its viewers with more questions than before. Painted in oil, on an oak panel, the Arnolfini Portrait is something to be recognized as an intriguing piece.



Arnolfini Portrait, 1434

    The painting itself is stunning with its bright colors in the woman's dress and the various textures displayed in this small room. Within the room, the presented textures range widely based on the metal of the chandelier, the carpet in the corner, or the hair on the dog in the foreground. The colors are vibrant in the woman's dress and the bright red bed in the back suggests that this couple is wealthy considering that having a large bed was quite expensive. The male figure in the painting is also clothed in furs and expensive pieces. In the background, you can also see that there are oranges, which were not an easy commodity to the general public. All of these things considered, they do fall right into the humanist ideas of dynamic self, and individual dignity. As shown above, the couple is wealthy based on many things that are presented, which presents a dynamic to themselves, as well as their individual dignity.
    Something that might not be noticed by the viewer at first glance is the reflection in the mirror of the background. It is believed that Van Eyck painted himself in the reflection when visiting the couple to be painted for the portrait. Something else that is truly amazing is how he capture the rounded convex form of the mirror and adjusted the image accordingly.
    When looking at this painting, I do not think that I would own a copy of it. It is truly beautiful, but it is not my style of art that I enjoy looking at on the daily. Something that might be strange, but I relate to this couple and how they live in such a small room. I myself have the smallest room in my house and it appears to be even smaller than the one in this painting. Even though my room may be small, the belongings that are in my room do have more value than my accommodations may make it appear.

Ellabone. “Jan Van Eyke, the Arnolfini Portrait and Humanism.” Humanismartsblogger, 3 Aug. 2015, https://humanismartsblogger.wordpress.com/2015/08/03/jan-van-eyke-the-arnolfini-portrait-and-humanism/.

“Jan Van Eyck, the Arnolfini Portrait.” Jan Van Eyck | The Arnolfini Portrait | NG186 | National Gallery, London, 1 Jan. 1970, https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-van-eyck-the-arnolfini-portrait. 

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