Analysis Of Joachim Beuckelaer's The Four Elements: Water

The intention of this essay is to analyse Joachim Beuckelaer’s The Four Elements: Water. To achieve this analysis, its contextual setting will first be explored by researching paintings of this genre and other Renaissance artists of this time. Secondly, a compositional analysis will be undertaken as this is an essential starting point to understanding the painting. Finally, a semiotics approach will be taken in order to consider the narrative within the painting and to begin uncovering the meanings hidden within the piece.

Beuckelaer was born in Antwerp, Belgium in 1533. He trained in the workshop of his uncle and Dutch historical painter, Pieter Aertsen. By his late twenties Beuckelaer was a master painter in his own right. Although many of Beuckelaer’s paintings were of a similar subject matter to Aertsen’s, Beuckelaer was thought to have surpassed his master in skill. (ref) Both the artists specialised in market and kitchen scenes which display depictions of domestic activity. These scenes often incorporate a biblical subject in the background and suggest an intended contrast between the physical and the spiritual. During the 1560’s Beuckelaer painted purely religious scenes. During this period he also made designs for stained glass. Beuckelaer was also employed painting the figures into the work of other artists such as Anthonis Mor.

This painting is one from a set of four. Each painting depicts imagery to represent one of the four elements of the earth. All of the paintings also contain a different biblical scene in the background.

Description

During the Renaissance the subject of paintings was shifting from religious scenes to depictions of everyday life. The first genre scenes were produce...

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...ht of the piece contrast to the greens and yellows of the vegetable. Scenes like this with fruit and veg of all seasons were created to show wealth and prosperity. Beuckelaer created many market scenes with fruit and vegetables.

These images are outright celebrations of the fruitfulness of the countryside.pictorial assurances of the continuing abundance for a land on the brink of civil war (Honig 47)

In almost all of Beuckelaer’s paintings of market scenes the produce takes up more than half of the composition. The foodstuffs for sale are painted with exquisite detail and lavished with attention whilst the sellers and characters in the painting take a backseat, their purpose merely for presenting the goods. It is this attention to detail that gives the paintings a still life aspect.

Through them, still life art compositions articulate ideas about luxury and excess,