Toyen(Marie Cerminova) was born September 21, 1902. She was a Bohemian painter, draughtsman and illustrator and went to the School of Fine Arts in Prague. She was a cubist artist, but during a three-year stay in Paris from 1925 to 1928 she began semi-abstract art. In her later years she started to experiment with artificialism and this type of work was given its own label to differentiate from her earlier form of art.
Artist’s Name: Toyen(Marie Cerminova)
Title: Myten om ljuset
Date: 1946
Description: A shadow of a man holding a Plant is going to be eaten by the dog shadow made from hands.
Analysis: The artist certainly has given us something to focus on in each part of the piece. It can be read from left to right like a book or left to right, depending on the viewer. The style is very clean.
Interpretation: My interpretation of this is that things are not always as they seem. The shadow of the man could truly be there, but without a form how is he to hold the plant? There is definite shape to the hands, yet they form a dog like creature about to eat the plant held by a formless man. It definitely makes me think and try to figure out what exactly is going on.
Judgment: I certainly enjoy the piece. It’s very simplistic but in its simplicity there seems to be a very deep meaning that I’m not quite sure I’m catching on to. Howvwer, the style is very crisp, clean and to the point. She has fluid lines and is an amazing illustrator.
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Jerry Uelsmann was born in Detroit on June 11th, 1934. He received his B.F.A. degree at the Rochester
institute of technology in 1957 and his M.S. and M.F.A at Indiana University in 1960. He began teaching photography in 1960 at the University of Florida in Gainsville. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1967 and a National Endowment for the arts Fellowship in 1972. His work has been shown in more than 100 individual shows in the United States and abroad for the past forty years. His photographs are also permanent in many museums around the world.
Artist’s Name: Jerry N. Uelsmann
Title: Meditation Mystery
Date: 2001
Description: The sky meets the sea at the horizon, a ladder is supspended in the water and a bird is free in the background.
Analysis: This photo is very low key and dark, possibly due to the fact that it’s in black and white. The black and white adds focus, making you realize that the subject is something serious.
Interpretation: I feel that based on the title, this piece is a point of freedom or enlightenment achieved when meditating. Meditating is a calming, helpful action which can help clear your mind and see clearly. Like climbing up the ladder out of a dark sea (or hole) of confusion and finally being able to see the light through the clouds. The bird definitely conveys the sense of freedom since they can fly anywhere without restriction.
Judgment: Once again, I enjoy this piece. It definitely resonated with me as soon as I saw it and I enjoy the meaning I see behind it. I love the outside of the box thinking he has in this piece and all of his work.
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Both of the artists seem to have a simplistic style to their work. They both send your eye to a certain point in the piece and make you focus on what they want you to focus on. However, the difference is medium is apparent. Toyen’s work has an almost story like quality to her work. As if it’s be illustrating a scene in a book. Jerry’s seems more realistic and actually allows you to see yourself there.
