William Merrit Chase was an artist in the 1800-1900’s. Summering in Shinnecock Hills near Southampton, NY, he lead an art school, where he created beautiful paintings of both the landscapes and the society. His painting Young Women with Red Flowers, an oil canvas created in 1904, was located in the Gesture and Pose section of the Cornell Fine Arts Museum. Next to this, the painting titled Portrait of Mary St. John Hutchinson by Vanessa Bell is displayed. Vanessa Bell was a painter and member of the Bloomsbury Group. After doing further research, it was discovered that the Bloomsbury group was started by male figures, all educated at either Cambridge, Trinity, or Kings College; most were members of the exclusive Cambridge society. Though the
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A self portrait not only exhibited ones social position, but also the idea that the individual was acquainted with the arts. Being knowledge in the fine arts meant that you were educated and well rounded. It was the socially acceptable way to display ones self worth. Young Women with Red Flowers was actually a demonstration for Chase’s art students, which is interesting to think about when considering its context. His plein-air art school was located near Southampton, in which the people who attended the school were members of the upper class, wealthy amateur painters aspiring to indulge in the arts. Becoming familiar with art was the embedded status quo. Chase was not only demonstrating how to create art, but who to create. The young, pale women dressed in fine silk was a representation of New York society. It was normal to paint people of this ilk, and would be strange if otherwise. This painting being displayed in the Gesture and Pose exhibit contextually makes a lot of sense. Again, the people who would pose for self portraits were typically those who ranked high in stature. Considering the context in a bigger spectrum, the painting being displayed at the Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College in Winter Park Florida is also more than just
A self portrait not only exhibited ones social position, but also the idea that the individual was acquainted with the arts. Being knowledge in the fine arts meant that you were educated and well rounded. It was the socially acceptable way to display ones self worth. Young Women with Red Flowers was actually a demonstration for Chase’s art students, which is interesting to think about when considering its context. His plein-air art school was located near Southampton, in which the people who attended the school were members of the upper class, wealthy amateur painters aspiring to indulge in the arts. Becoming familiar with art was the embedded status quo. Chase was not only demonstrating how to create art, but who to create. The young, pale women dressed in fine silk was a representation of New York society. It was normal to paint people of this ilk, and would be strange if otherwise. This painting being displayed in the Gesture and Pose exhibit contextually makes a lot of sense. Again, the people who would pose for self portraits were typically those who ranked high in stature. Considering the context in a bigger spectrum, the painting being displayed at the Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College in Winter Park Florida is also more than just