Metropolis 2013 (Essay Sample)

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Metropolis 2013
Artwork is something very sensitive since it has to catch the eye of the viewers. In most cases, people always try to be unique when they try to come up with an artwork that will outshine others. Considering that designs require creativeness, artwork remains in the same line of creativity, as the creator has to maintain his innovative nature. Among the many artists who convey their innovations through artwork, include Eugene Delacroix and Goethe. These two artists have come up with creatures that are unique in the eyes of the viewers; however, they rival each other in their creativity. Eugene Delacroix is a French artist famous for the 17 lithograph illustrations in 1828 which accompanied Goethe’s Faust and famously. From the innovation created, Goethe asserted that Delacroix surpassed his own vision. This paper will highlight the various endeavors of Delacroix. The paper will father give a reason why Goethe is criticizing the work of the lithograph illustrations using art features.
Eugene Delacroix was a French leader of the Romantic school of painting. He was a prolific artist who produces more than 9000 works during his lifetime. The work that the artist produced ranged from paintings to watercolors, drawings to pastels. His work shaped the impression of various artists while inspiring the symbol of movement. Considering the factor of inspiration, the artist borrowed so much from Peter Paul Rubens and Venetian Renaissance painters. His paintings focused on colors and movement instead of the modeled form and clear outline. His work remained to be a topic of discussion in many ways but to him it was strength.
From the various illustrations done by the artist, the French edition of Goethe’s Faust and Shakespeare’s Hamlet remain to be unique among the finest examples in the medium. However, he faced various critiques concerning the Goethe’s Faust, which illustrated the 17 lithographs in 1828. According to Goethe, Delacroix surpassed Goethe’s vision by coming up with the idea. Goethe evaluated the piece in defense of his assertion towards Delacroix. His defense was related to the evaluation in terms of effectiveness of work that Delacroix did to translating the pictures into a meaningful idea.
As mentioned earlier, the work of Delacroix was painting which expressed a certain meaning to the community. He illustrated other people’s work including William Shakespeare, Scottish writer sir Walter Scott and German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The set of 17 lithographs used in the illustration of the French edition of Goethe’s Faust raised the concern to many. Considering that Delacroix is a professional artist, he used various techniques in applying the techniques to attract people. For instance, the technique of application of contrasting colors having small strokes of brush, creating certain vibrant effect among others was quite significant in the influence of the impressionists.
All with the endeavors, Goethe among others like Shakespeare was not happy with illustrations. Goethe, Faust, trageìdie de M. de Goethe with illustration of the 17 lithographs by Delacroix and two additional variants of the portrait of Delacroix raised issues. According to other historians, Goethe’s Faust was among the finest publications in the 19th century. The illustrations by Delacroix, as mentioned by Gordon Ray, was a high point shown in the Romantic book illustrations. Likewise, David Bland ascertained the volume as a great-illustrated book. The copy of the volume still survives in a good condition since it has brilliant impressions of lithographs, which were printed on white, rose, light grey and blue Chine Colle. However, Goethe still was not happy despite acknowledging the talent of Delacroix. He asserts that Delacroix used to plan to have a portfolio of illustrations without including texts. However, Saultelet, a publisher, wanted to reissue the translation of Stapfer first published in 1822. Initially, the plan was to create twelve plates but later, the artist increases the plates to seventeen including the portrait of Goethe. His idea of the lithographs was to surprise the middle class. He perceived them as a thoughtful act of belligerence. According to Goethe, the French public criticized him for extra fierce force. The Faust, as compared to the contemporary British and American publications reveal an illustrative style of some small and formal engravings.
From a large extent, critique over the work of Delacroix saw it as a technical eccentricity. Delacroix used to ink the plates while employing the factor of slashing the use of scraper in his work. In the views of Goethe, the forms and figures of the work of Delacroix, included in the illustration, lacked purity. Likewise, the poses also were excessively contorted. However, Goethe was quite delighted by the whole situation. From the statement he said, he admitted in sarcasm that the scene was perfect. The idea of D...