Art Critique
Title: "The Dazzling Rose Maylie"
Artist: Kaitlin Decker
Medium: Watercolors on a Canvas
Dimensions: n/a
Date: 2014 Representing1848
Location: City of London
Description, Analysis, Evaluation:
The great artist of 2014, Kaitlyn Decker created this piece of work representing the time in 1848 where women were seen very differently. In this time, most women were seen in a negative light if they were poor. They were useless. Charles Dickens’s novel Oliver Twist, illustrates a woman that was seen in his eyes, as a piece of artwork. She had indescribable beauty. This quote from Charles Dickens in the novel shows what he thought about women who were young and beautiful of his time. Although she was poor, he still described her in the most delightful words:
"The younger lady was in the lovely bloom and spring-time of womanhood; at that age, when if ever angels be for God’s good purposes ethroned in mortal forms…She was not past seventeen…so mild and gentle; so pure and beautiful, that the earth seemed not in her element, nor its rough creatures her fit companions." (Dickens 250)
Rose was an orphan, but lucky enough to get adopted by Mrs. Maylie at a young age. To Dickens, Rose was seen as the perfect woman. She was flawless, the ideal image of a woman of the Victorian era. This painting shows how pure, beautiful and power all traits that Rose Maylie portrays through the division throughout her face. Dickens describes how pure she is by not ever describing her sexual drive like Nancy is described. Nancy will let men manipulate her and use her unlike Rose who holds herself in a high standard. Rose is a representation of society and shows that not all women should be seen as objects. Women should be held to a higher standard and should stick to their morals. The soft paint strokes on her face, describes her angelic beauty in contrast to her dark dress that covers her breasts. This suggests that she is modest and respected throughout her community. She is not easy and holds men to the same high standards as she holds herself. The artist paints her holding lilies because it represents growth and how she has grown as a human being in a tragic society. Lilies specifically represent humility and devotion, and they are placed in weddings all over the world. Rose gets married in a novel. Even though she gets married, she still does not take his last name to prove her devotion to her adopted family and her power as a woman. The power of Rose is shown through her severe drive within her eyes, that she knows her worth and power. She is proud of the woman she has become and would do nothing to change herself. This piece shows peace and serenity, which was a constant theme throughout the novel. Ms. Decker painted the background a dark deep ocean blue. The dark blue represents depth and her past of being in the orphanage. Dark blue represents her washing away her horrible history of her life, and her starting a new fulfilling life with her adopted parents. She became the person she was meant to be. The dark blue not only represents a moving on stage, but also a darkness turning into a light; which, symbolizes how her old self of being an orphan has died. She is now a strong, courageous, women with good morals. Rose Maylie shows hope for woman, that not all are the same. Not all women will be ruined by society. Women will not be held to a stereotype. Rose Maylie is a true example that women were not all damaged by the evils of the public in 1848.
Works Cited
Dickens, Charles, and George Cruikshank. Oliver Twist. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. Print.
"The Kennedy Center: ARTSEDGE." ARTSEDGE: Teaching Students to Critique. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.
"Lily." Lily Flower Meaning & Symbolism. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.
Title: "The Dazzling Rose Maylie"
Artist: Kaitlin Decker
Medium: Watercolors on a Canvas
Dimensions: n/a
Date: 2014 Representing1848
Location: City of London
Description, Analysis, Evaluation:
The great artist of 2014, Kaitlyn Decker created this piece of work representing the time in 1848 where women were seen very differently. In this time, most women were seen in a negative light if they were poor. They were useless. Charles Dickens’s novel Oliver Twist, illustrates a woman that was seen in his eyes, as a piece of artwork. She had indescribable beauty. This quote from Charles Dickens in the novel shows what he thought about women who were young and beautiful of his time. Although she was poor, he still described her in the most delightful words:
"The younger lady was in the lovely bloom and spring-time of womanhood; at that age, when if ever angels be for God’s good purposes ethroned in mortal forms…She was not past seventeen…so mild and gentle; so pure and beautiful, that the earth seemed not in her element, nor its rough creatures her fit companions." (Dickens 250)
Rose was an orphan, but lucky enough to get adopted by Mrs. Maylie at a young age. To Dickens, Rose was seen as the perfect woman. She was flawless, the ideal image of a woman of the Victorian era. This painting shows how pure, beautiful and power all traits that Rose Maylie portrays through the division throughout her face. Dickens describes how pure she is by not ever describing her sexual drive like Nancy is described. Nancy will let men manipulate her and use her unlike Rose who holds herself in a high standard. Rose is a representation of society and shows that not all women should be seen as objects. Women should be held to a higher standard and should stick to their morals. The soft paint strokes on her face, describes her angelic beauty in contrast to her dark dress that covers her breasts. This suggests that she is modest and respected throughout her community. She is not easy and holds men to the same high standards as she holds herself. The artist paints her holding lilies because it represents growth and how she has grown as a human being in a tragic society. Lilies specifically represent humility and devotion, and they are placed in weddings all over the world. Rose gets married in a novel. Even though she gets married, she still does not take his last name to prove her devotion to her adopted family and her power as a woman. The power of Rose is shown through her severe drive within her eyes, that she knows her worth and power. She is proud of the woman she has become and would do nothing to change herself. This piece shows peace and serenity, which was a constant theme throughout the novel. Ms. Decker painted the background a dark deep ocean blue. The dark blue represents depth and her past of being in the orphanage. Dark blue represents her washing away her horrible history of her life, and her starting a new fulfilling life with her adopted parents. She became the person she was meant to be. The dark blue not only represents a moving on stage, but also a darkness turning into a light; which, symbolizes how her old self of being an orphan has died. She is now a strong, courageous, women with good morals. Rose Maylie shows hope for woman, that not all are the same. Not all women will be ruined by society. Women will not be held to a stereotype. Rose Maylie is a true example that women were not all damaged by the evils of the public in 1848.
Works Cited
Dickens, Charles, and George Cruikshank. Oliver Twist. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. Print.
"The Kennedy Center: ARTSEDGE." ARTSEDGE: Teaching Students to Critique. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.
"Lily." Lily Flower Meaning & Symbolism. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.