Creation of Adam

There are iconic images and then there are truly iconic images. Among these last, we find The Creation of Adam, painted on the ceiling of the Sixteenth Chapel in the Vatican around 1511 by Michelangelo. The painting depicts God stretching out his right arm towards Adam, to relay to him the spark of life. Adam himself is holding out his left arm towards God in a pose that mirrors that of his creator, thus underlining that he is created in Gods image. The story behind the image is told in The Book of Genesis, where the father breathes life into man.
 
While the image overall is famous, the center part with their arms where their fingers almost touch is iconic. To many people all over the world, these two stretched arms with fingers nearly touching is in fact The Creation of Adam. The fame of this single iconic image has also translated into the world of modern culture, where the image has been featured in everything from Family Guy to the movie poster of E.T.

The highly original depiction in The Creation of Adam of the life giving moment between God and man has been analyzed for centuries. Among the details discussed is whether the shape behind God represents the hum brain, whether the green scarf represents a newly cut umbilical cord and more. What can clearly be said is that The Creation of Adam represents an artistic achievement by Michelangelo and that the painting remains as relevant as ever, 500 years after it was completed. A true iconic masterpiece indeed.

Edgar Degas

Among the founders of Impressionism, though he himself refused to be considered part of such, Edgar Degas is among the titans of the art world. He indeed considered himself a realist, and many of his artistic traits were not in line with the impressionist ideal. As such, he painted indoors, he did not at least in his earlier work make use of overly bright colors and his art was not spontaneous, not inspired by the moment.

However, while Degas style show great respect for the great masters, it also includes characteristics like small visible brush strokes, he did start using brighter colors and he was always the master of movement. This last was apparent in his nudes, his race track depictions and especially in his many depictions of dancers, like Dancers at the Bar from 1888. More than half the works of Degas indeed covers dancers. These are also among the most stunning and famous of his work. Mostly all his art was painted in his studio, either using models or from memory, another trait that sets him apart from most impressionists. However, his influence was profound and his artistic touch amazing throughout his works many of which are availible as oil painting reproductions.

Gauguin Where do we come from

French post-impressionist Paul Gauguin is among other famous for spending time with Van Gogh in Arles until the later cut off part of his ear. Works like The Painter of Sunflowers are from this period. He also spent a considerable amount of his life in the tropics, especially Tahiti. His paintings from there are among his most famous and recognizable images.

One of these is “Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?” which was painted by Gauguin in the period 1897-98. Gauguin himself put the title in French in the upper left corner of the painting (D'où Venons Nous / Que Sommes Nous / Où Allons Nous). The original title does not contain question marks or dashes. Gauguin himself stated that the painting should be read from right to left, and that the three major groups in the painting illustrated the three questions posed. Starting to the far right, the three women with a child represent the beginning of life. In the middle, the group symbolizes the daily life of young adulthood. The final group was described by Gauguin himself as "an old woman approaching death appears reconciled and resigned to her thoughts". At her feet we can see, "a strange white bird...represents the futility of words." Meanwhile, the blue idol that can be seen in the background represents the beyond. The painting is overall done with Gauguin’s characteristic flamboyant use of colors, and deep brush strokes.

Paul Gauguin himself said of this painting: “I believe that this canvas not only surpasses all my preceding ones, but that I shall never do anything better—or even like it.” “Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?” is today on display at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, United States or have your own oil painting reproductions of his works.