Beyond the First Glance

What do you see? An old woman, or a young woman? Sometimes it is necessary to look a bit harder and longer to find what makes an image significant (or in this case, entertaining)
Source: https://ermiliablog.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/old-woman-yong-woman-optical-illusion.jpg

The first chapter of Grace and Necessity, by Rowan Williams, was a bit difficult to break down, and one must spend a long time rereading and teasing it out before being able to decipher the points the author was trying to make. After working with the text a bit, it becomes clear that one of the main concepts that Williams and Jaques Maritain, the writer whose work Williams is analyzing, are trying to convey is that good art makes one see beyond the face value of things, particularly in regards to spiritual significance.

The greatest philosopher of our childhood, Rafiki, concurs that one must "look beyond what you see" to find
the spiritual value in something, in this case art.
Source: http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lziafcnHVg1r9ztioo1_500.jpg

On page 36-37, Williams creates a list of Maritain's core arguments on the subject of art and what it should be. The list includes ideas about art such as:

• Art being an act of intelligence
• How art invites contemplation
• That art cannot be created for a narrow and specific goal (such as being simply beautiful or creating propaganda)
• When looking at art, we perceive the significance of a work outside of its physical nature

Other scholars who analyzed Maritain's concepts, such as Anthony Richard Haynes in his article Jacques Maritain's Definition of Art, likewise mention his strong belief in art conveying matters that are intangible and perhaps sacred. Haynes states, "For Maritain, the artist is inspired by being able to figuratively see the world through emotion... Maritain holds that the artist has an 'experience-knowledge' through the senses in divining the 'secret meaning' of things, in virtue of emotion."

Though I don't agree with everything that Maritain and Williams argued, I do agree with their point about art making one look more closely and find greater significance both in the artwork and in general life. For example, one could look at the work titled "In Me," by Johnson Tsang, and say that what she saw before her was a cage and porcelain clay put together. She would not be wrong, but she would be missing the point.

In Me
Johnson Tsang

The physical nature of the work is not what makes it resonate with people. Tangible textures and interesting surfaces certainly enhance a piece, but it is the feeling and ideas that give art lasting power. In taking a deeper look at Tsang's piece, one might reflect on the way a mournful cherub is caged inside the head of an adult, perhaps indicating the more innocent or truthful parts of ourselves that we lock away. 

There are many ideas that one could glean from a work such as this. It has a resonance that goes beyond one's initial view and makes her want to look closer and think harder.

 Another good example of art that requires careful observation and thought is Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, a painting believed to be by Pieter Bruegel.

Landscape with the Fall of Icarus
by Pieter Bruegel
Source: https://www.google.com/search?espv=2&biw=1439&bih=653&q=landscape+with+the+fall+of+icarus++painting&oq=
landscape+with+the+fall+of+icarus++painting&gs_l=serp.3..0l2j0i7i30l2j0i30j0i8i30.2538.2
538.0.2851.1.1.0.0.0.0.45.45.1.1.0....0...1.1.64.serp..0.1.45.xvHb4NOzN4k

The image appears to be an idyllic painting of a beautiful and pleasant coastal town, with a farmer going about his work and a few scattered ships sailing on a beautiful green sea. If this was all the painting had to offer, it would still be an impressive work of art, but it would not have quite as much staying power. In fact, it might come close to the kind of art Maritain dismisses as only pursuing beauty and not having any real substance.

However, the title of the piece makes one pause. The "fall of Icarus" refers to the Greek legend about a boy named Icarus whose father built wings made of wax and feathers so the two of them could fly out of prison. However, despite his father's warning, Icarus flew too close to the sun, melting the wax in the wings and causing him to fall into the sea. 

So where does the boy feature in the work of art that bears his name? Look closely. 

Landscape with the Fall of Icarus (close up)
Source: http://johnesimpson.com/images/breugelicarus_thefallen.jpg

Near the right bottom corner of the painting, near the ship closest to the foreground, is a tiny pair of thrashing legs and a few small feathers falling into the water.

Now the image takes on a darker tone, as the audience realizes how the village is going about its business while a young boy crashes to his death. As William Carlos Williams says in the last few lines of his poem about the painting,

Unsignificantly
off the coast
there was 

a splash quite unnoticed
this was
Icarus drowning ("Landscape" 16-21).

As mentioned previously by Williams and Maritain, good art allows one to see past the basic nature of a work and connect with something spiritual and significant. The intelligent creation of art leads one into deeper contemplation, and with works such as In Me and Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, one will find poignant and dramatic connotations when engaging in such reflection. Like many things in this world, one discovers more in art when they are willing to take a second glance.

Sources:

Williams, Rowan. Grace and Necessity: Reflections on Art and Love. London: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005. Print.

Haynes, Anthony Richard. "Jacques Maritain's Definition of Art." New Blackfriars 96 (2015): 527-541. Web. 4 Oct. 2015.

Williams, Carlos William. "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus." Collected Poems: 1939-1962. William Carlos Williams. Vol 2. New York: New Directions Publishing Corp., 1962. Access: Poets.Org. Web. 4 Oct. 2015