Girl on a Green Sofa with a Cat is a painting created by Max Pechstein in 1910. It is categorized as a work of expressionism or fauvism, a movement that began at the turn of the 20th century in France although it is unknown exactly where this piece originated. Fauvism entails bright, opaque, and often contrasting colors depicting realistic value. The colors in Girl on a Green Sofa with a Cat are certainly bold, but more muted than more popularized examples of Fauvism, such as Woman in a Hat by Henri Matisse.
I feel drawn to this painting mostly because of the sense of comfort and calm that it invokes. The vast majority of the painting is done in various shades of deep and royal greens that vary in shades to create depth and value. An example of this is the sofa cushion that the girl rests on. The reflection of lighter green on the bottom half of the cushion contrasts with the darker half of the top half to portray the weight of the girl contorting the natural shape of the cushion while also displaying an element of unity. This also implies that the girl herself is comfortable. Her positioning, with her head resting in her hand and the other between her knees, reflects similar awkward, but cozy positions we all find ourselves in when relaxing on our own couch, in a grand armchair, or what have you.
The choice of color in this piece is particularly appealing to me. Green is a secondary color, formulated by equal parts blue and yellow. It's dominant in nature and represents relaxation, harmony, and peace. Psychologists have studied the color green and found that green has calming effects because people associate greenery with a place where basic needs will be met, like an oasis.
There is an emphasis on the girl's face in the painting, which is bright red. This could mean a number of things, and I think that it depends on the viewer to determine what exactly that is. It could be that she's upset and has been crying, that she's tired, that she has simply been sitting there for too long. I think that no matter how you perceive it, the color placement is intentional and is meant to help convey the mood of the painting. Subsequently, the mood that is perceived is dependent on the reasoning imagined by the viewer of why the girl's face is flushed with bright red.
Kyleigh, I love this piece of art. As a woman with cats this image Is very relatable. When pets relax with you it creates a sense of contentment that makes everything in the room feel calm. Whenever I feel upset or distressed my cat always comes to comfort me wherever I may be in the home. One thing I would add to this post is how the shape of the art helps to enhance this calm tone that is created by the green color. Everything in the photo is rounded, the couch, the girls face, the cats sleeping position, and her boots. The rounded shape is simple to digest. I love that you shared this, thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat work! When I look at his art piece I feel like there is a sense of relief that she feels after an upsetting event. Here bright red cheeks tells me that she has been crying but is feeling better now. Although it is calming, I don't know that I would hang this up in my home. It is nice art work but it does not necessarily radiate positivity for me.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those pieces of art that really remains up for interpretation based on the viewer. Some may find that she is flushed, while others may say she has been crying, and even then some may also state she looks like she is blushing or angry. These kinds of pieces are meant to get the viewer's attention, to really start the intellectual process of understanding. Thank you for picking this particular piece, its intriguing to say the least. I also agree with your statement that the greens give off a serene state.
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