How Japanese art pieces influenced Vincent Van Gogh
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: The Influence of Japanese Art on Vincent Van Gogh
Introduction: Vincent Van Gogh, one of the most celebrated artists in history, was greatly influenced by various artistic movements and cultures. Among these influences, Japanese art played a significant role in shaping Van Gogh’s artistic style and approach. This essay will explore how Japanese art pieces influenced Van Gogh, highlighting the key elements that impacted his work and examining specific examples of their influence.
Introduction of Ukiyo-e Prints:
Ukiyo-e prints, a popular art form in Japan during the 19th century, had a profound impact on Van Gogh’s style.
The emphasis on bold outlines, flat areas of color, and unique compositions found in Ukiyo-e prints intrigued Van Gogh.
Influence on Composition and Perspective:
Japanese art challenged Van Gogh’s traditional European notions of composition and perspective.
Van Gogh incorporated the use of asymmetry and unconventional viewpoints, inspired by Japanese woodblock prints.
He experimented with cropping subjects, placing them off-center, and incorporating dynamic angles to create a sense of movement and vitality in his paintings.
Color and Symbolism:
The vibrant and contrasting colors used in Japanese prints greatly influenced Van Gogh’s use of color.
The Japanese concept of color symbolism, such as the association between certain colors and emotions, resonated with Van Gogh’s expressive style.
He adopted the bold and expressive use of color to convey emotions and moods in his paintings, similar to the Japanese aesthetic.
Natural Landscapes and Seasons:
Van Gogh was captivated by the depiction of natural landscapes and changing seasons in Japanese prints.
He drew inspiration from the Japanese representation of nature, incorporating elements such as blossoming trees, serene gardens, or dramatic skies in his own works.
Van Gogh’s famous series of paintings, such as “Irises” and “Almond Blossoms,” demonstrate his fascination with nature and its connection to the Japanese aesthetic.
Influence on Brushwork and Texture:
Japanese calligraphy and ink painting techniques influenced Van Gogh’s brushwork and texture.
He experimented with bold, energetic brushstrokes, reminiscent of the spontaneity found in Japanese ink paintings.
This departure from traditional academic techniques gave his paintings a sense of vitality and emotional intensity.
Conclusion: Japanese art, particularly Ukiyo-e prints, had a profound influence on Vincent Van Gogh’s artistic style. The introduction of bold compositions, unconventional perspectives, vibrant colors, and expressive brushwork transformed his approach to painting. Van Gogh’s incorporation of these elements allowed him to convey emotions, capture the beauty of nature, and create a unique visual language. The impact of Japanese art on Van Gogh’s oeuvre highlights the power of cross-cultural influences in shaping artistic expression and underscores the enduring legacy of this remarkable artist.
