I need help creatively analyzing a painting. Any takers?

Question

I need to look at a painting and sort of "discover" an underlying story, but alas, this isn't my forte. Might you get me started? The painting's here:
http://www.made-in-china.com/servlet/image?compatible=true&tid=2&fid=0&lan_code=0&cache=1&id=SlQEyTaKItqp

Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

There are several things I feel with this painting. I sense a surrender .. as well a statement of longing, perhaps remorse, and very great sadness. The bending of a head can signify reverence, shame or submission. There seems clearly a rite of passage perhaps a loss of innocence or the loss of a beloved. The image of lilies is often highly symbolic as well. They signify "purity, modesty, virginity, majesty, fertility. Lilies are also a symbol of death." We're left to imagine the artist's clues in a way that makes sense to ourselves.

http://www.sfheart.com/lily.html

Answer 2

I see a play of lights on the leaves and the figure back and shoulders. Her neck seem to be longer than average but it's the play of light that keep my eye travelling. I think the photo does not do the painting justice. I rather see the original, there seem to be alot missing as far as color representation.

1. I would look at composition
2. Which technique was used
3. Color in terms of value
4. Drawing proportion
5. Style
6. Message

These are some of the few things I look for when analyzing a painting.

Answer 3

I don't want to compose it for you here

But there is something of insecurity over her own sexuality. Her hair is tightly woven in a braid... They say when a woman lets her hair down she feels comfortable and in touch with herself. She's looking, down, at a flower and flowers are a symbol of reproduction or the female anatomy.

She could be feeling guilt, showing that her arm is held inward as to block her body, or her breasts says she's feeling more reserved than usual. She could be reflecting on an act, the dress falls half way off her shoulders....

Colours suggest different values and moods, there are 2-3 basic tones in the image. I would check on it.

Answer 4

Baserunner gave a really good answer.
Also try to see that the lady is the main feature of the painting so try to discover her feelings and emotions. e.g. her head is faced down showing she seems to hide a secret.
You could even make links with the beauty of the flowers and the beauty of the lady, all linked in with the pastel light colours used.

Hope this helps xx

Answer 5

Sort of idealised, romanticised portrait. The pose is somewhat unconventional. Does not appear to draw on classical traditions that I can tell - there is nothing identifying this woman a aphrodite for example. Her hair and pose does give is a sort of erotically charged tone. I don't really see and underlying "story" either - just a very attractive portrait.

Answer 6

the painting seems to me to be about sexual desire, the plant represents the male sex organ and look at the dark and light areas around the woman. the dark area is next to her exposed side the light near her covered. if this painting was done during the victorian era, this especially would have symbolized forbidden desire.also look at her hair, it's down and tousled, that was a classic sign of a woman's looseness. look at her face, demure and looking downward, sign of submission, again to desire.