An Analysis of Three Banksy Paintings

579 Words2 Pages

The art work of Banksy is politically charged and tugs at your humanitarian side with just a look. The three images that we will look at were painted on the Apartheid Wall in Israel. This wall separates the West Bank and Israel. Banksy opposes this wall because as he states on his website, “The wall is illegal under international law and essentially turns Palestine into the world’s largest open prison”. Looking at these three images we get a sense of the bigger message behind the art. These images are surprising at first because they mix innocence and violence to prove a point of universal peace and how war affects the people.
The first image we see is that of a dove with a bullet proof vest on and a red sniper dot pointed at its chest. This image has a lot of meanings. The dove is a universal sign for peace. Banksy could be using the dove to show that activists want peace between Israel and Palestine. The red sniper dot can symbolize the Israeli government trying to “kill peace” or start an international fight by putting up this wall to surround Palestine. The bullet proof vest on...

Show More
Related

  • Joseph Hirsch 's Painting Analysis

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

    Joseph Hirsch’s painting Daniel was painted in 1976-1977. In 1978 during the153rd Annual Exhibition of the National Academy of Design, it won the First Benjamin Altman (Figure) prize. It measures 38 inches by 45 inches (96.52 cm x 114.3 cm) with a five inch gold wood frame surrounding it. The medium is oil on canvas. Everything within the painting is centered to draw your eyes to the action of the turned head and the pointed finger. According to the placard next to the painting this is a modern day version of the biblical story of Belshazzar’s Feast following the sacking of Jesualism from the Book of Daniel. From this point on, each figure within the painting will be addressed as Hirsch intended. The painting depicts a seated king, a dozing courtesan and Daniel. The three figures are the focal point of the composition. Hirsch uses a strong color palette to give the painting a luxurious and wealthy feel. Although the detail is not miniscule, the composition as a whole is easily understood. The use of oil paint allowed Hirsch to play with the composition as it was created.

    Read More

  • Denver Airport Conspiracy

    1245 Words  | 3 Pages

    Furthermore, painted are weeping women surrounded by deceased girls holding lifeless infants behind the military figure. A smog or gas seems to engulf them along with dead children. Even more, a third painting shows children from all over the world giving weapons to a German boy who is molding them into an uncertain object, showing there is no longer a need for weapons in a New World. In addition, the military man is dead with 2 doves above him, signifying such peace that has been brought. The final image is of a man in the middle, signifying Jesus.

    Read More

  • Jackson Pollock's Radical Painting Style Analysis

    104 Words  | 1 Pages

    With an admiration for the unconventional, I am moved by Jackson Pollock’s Autumn Rhythm (number 30). If I could see any art piece in person, this would be my choice. I believe that Pollock’s radical painting style and the way in which he lay the canvas flat on the floor to work, gives this piece a deepened perspective. There is a visible control in the chaos to which Pollock has said "I can control the flow of paint: there is no accident." Seeing this piece in person would awaken my unconsciousness, and convey the feeling of spontaneity that I wish society will still embrace.

    Read More

  • Chaos in Art: Comparing Kandinsky and Pollock

    1978 Words  | 4 Pages

    Visually, both Wassily Kandinsky’s Composition VII and Jackson Pollock’s No. 2 constitute a chaotic arrangement of colors and images with no apparent relation to one another. The randomly scattered paint, large canvas, and over-clamped figures all build a similar visual chaos in both paintings. Despite the mayhem, the two paintings differ in the inner emotions each artist wanted to express and the nature of the “chaos.” While for Kandinsky the chaos represents the smooth and melodic sentiments raised by music, for Pollock the chaos depicts the more spontaneous and impulsive emotions. The authors’ differing goals lead Kandinsky to ponder and refine his painting to capture a more universal theme and Pollock to develop his “drip” painting method

    Read More

  • Art Analysis: Claude Monet's Water Lilies

    381 Words  | 1 Pages

    Have you ever looked at a pond and squinted your eyes? Well if you have you would know exactly how Claude Monet felt. Around the time of this painting Monet was losing his eyesight. It seems to me that this painting was actually meant to be realistic, Monet just painted what he saw, how he saw it. It's kind of weird how he achieved this fuzzy look, he doesn't use any real hard edges on any of the forms, but they aren't really faded that much either, It could just be the use of alike colors (in this case green and blue) which make the edges of the lilies fade into the edge of the water.

    Read More

  • Art Analysis

    965 Words  | 2 Pages

    Though most works of art have some underlying, deeper meaning attached to them, our first impression of their significance comes through our initial visual interpretation. When we first view a painting or a statue or other piece of art, we notice first the visual details – its size, its medium, its color, and its condition, for example – before we begin to ponder its greater significance. Indeed, these visual clues are just as important as any other interpretation or meaning of a work, for they allow us to understand just what that deeper meaning is. The expression on a statue’s face tells us the emotion and message that the artist is trying to convey. Its color, too, can provide clues: darker or lighter colors can play a role in how we judge a piece of art. The type of lines used in a piece can send different messages. A sculpture, for example, may have been carved with hard, rough lines or it may have been carved with smoother, more flowing lines that portray a kind of gentleness.

    Read More

  • Palestine By Joe Sacco; A Book Review

    1945 Words  | 4 Pages

    Joe Sacco’s graphic novel, Palestine, deals with the repercussions of the first intifada in Israel/Palestine/the Holy Land. The story follows the author through the many refugee camps and towns around Palestine as he tries to gather information, stories, and pictures to construct his graphic novel. While the book is enjoyable at a face level, there are many underlying themes conveyed throughout its illustrated pages and written text.

    Read More

  • Keith Haring: Painting Analysis

    329 Words  | 1 Pages

    According to Erin Monroe and Realista Rodriguez, “Keith Haring was born on May 4, 1958 to Joan and Allen Haring, residents of Reading, Pennsylvania” He is a painter who according to Erin and Realista “encouraged drug awareness through his ‘Crack is Wack’ murals” in 1986. Israel described the media as a “mural” in NYC, due to its location next to passing cars on the Harlem River Drive (in Manhattan at 128th Street)

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Very Little Helps By Banksy

    1120 Words  | 3 Pages

    Banksy may have been exploring the idea of freeing the people who saw his piece by revealing to them the truth of what they are actually doing and how we as a nation treat consumerism higher than we treat respect for our country. Banksy has depicted this idea by having two people standing at attention in front of a flag pole while another person is hoisting a ‘flag’, this ‘flag’ that Banksy has used is actually a Tesco bag that is flying in the wind. The meaning relates to the viewer of the piece by using a plastic bag with a label on it that most people know and that most people know what the label actually is, the effect that the work might have on people would be a sense of truth and realisation. The artist’s message of the work could be interpreted in many ways and may have a different effect than what was intended on people depending on their

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Banksy

    1221 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although other artists know who he is, Banksy doesn’t have a public face that he shows at galleries and in his documentaries. In Will Ellsworth-Jones article “The Story Behind Banksy: on his way to becoming an international icon, the subversive and secretive street artist turned the art world upside-down” he talks about one of Banksy’s earlier galleries. Ellsworth-Jones says “The show was a high-profile demonstration of the phenomenon that has come to be known as the ‘Banksy effect’—the artist’s astounding success in bringing urban, outsider art into the cultural, and increasingly profitable, mainstream” (2). Banksy’s “effect” is altering urban culture and bringing it to art galleries to be displayed and sold. In the grand scheme of things, he is commodifying graffiti and urban culture, making it more consumable and then proceeding selling and profit off of it. In A&E’s biography page for Banksy they state that Banksy’s work is unique due to the fact that it “often engages political themes, satirically critiquing war, capitalism, hypocrisy and greed.” The uniqueness of his work is a common reason different news outlets give for Banksy’s success. Contrary to popular belief, Banksy’s content isn’t groundbreaking. Artists of all mediums, including graffiti, before and during his time have touched upon all of the same themes as

    Read More

  • Piet Mondrian And Jackson Pollock: Art Analysis

    393 Words  | 1 Pages

    Jackson Pollock born on 29th January 1912 in Wyoming. Pollock studied with Thomas Hart before leaving traditional techniques to explore abstract and expressionism. Pollock’s father was an abusive alcoholic which he then left the house. Then Charles, Pollock’s brother was like a father for Jackson Pollock. Charles was an artist he was considered the best in the family. Charles greatly influenced Pollock. Pollock enrolled in a manual art school from which he was expelled twice. Pollock then abandons his creative pursuits. Pollock then studies with Charles’s art teacher. During the depression president Franklin Roosevelt created Public works of art project. Pollock and Sanford (Pollock’s other brother)

    Read More

  • The Hands Resist Him: Painting Analysis

    838 Words  | 2 Pages

    Imagine watching the camera footage that you filmed earlier hoping to see nothing, but you see a young boy and girl crawling out of a painting that you bought for your young child. This happened to families who owned “The Hands Resist Him” painting. This painting has caused many families sheer terror. This painting has received the nickname “The Ebay Haunted Painting” after being sold on Ebay in February of 2000. Many unusual reports have been made of the horrifying painting. “The Hands Resist Him” is still intriguing people to this day.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Graffiti

    710 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the article “Revolution in a Can” by Blake Gopnik, he states, “The most elaborate images from Egypt, Libya, and Haiti today look very much like the 1980s paint jobs on New York subway cars and warehouse facades, and yet their point is not to function as art but to work as carriers of content and opinion” (114). In other words, graffiti is used to show how people truly feel inside. This is important because in addition to being considered art, it also serves the function of expressing oneself if that freedom does not exist. As a matter of fact pieces like this can be found all over the world. They are located on the Palestinian West Bank, on a wall on Benghazi in Libya, and in Tahrir Square in Egypt. A piece of graffiti art that epitomizes this is Begging for Change by graffiti artist Meek. The work engaged the public since it was done right near a train station. It features a homeless man holding a sign that reads, “Keep your coins, I want change”. The piece radiates a very powerful message stating how money can’t solve

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of Banksy's 'Girl With Balloon'

    986 Words  | 2 Pages

    Banksy’s artwork was effective in achieving it’s purpose because of it’s appeal to the heart, and in what is perceived as a dismal area where there is little hope, it most likely affected the view some may have on life, if not for just a moment.

    Read More

  • The Painting

    1128 Words  | 3 Pages

    "A picture can paint a thousand words." I found the one picture in my mind that does paint a thousand words and more. It was a couple of weeks ago when I saw this picture in the writing center; the writing center is part of State College. The beautiful colors caught my eye. I was so enchanted by the painting, I lost the group I was with. When I heard about the observation essay, where we have to write about a person or thing in the city that catches your eye. I knew right away that I wanted to write about the painting. I don’t know why, but I felt that the painting was describing the way I felt at that moment.

    Read More

More about An Analysis of Three Banksy Paintings

Open Document