Paper Example: Formal Analysis of Court of San Martino, Venice

Bertha Jacques created, "Court of San Martino" etching on a medium of paper in 1962 using silkscreen ink and spray paint on linen. Notably, the court of San Martino offers a more profound revelation of the open ground where people could conduct their daily activities. The painting is currently being exhibited at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It is relatively large at 23.8 x 18.9. Undeniably, it is impossible to get its more significant meaning without taking much time to observe it.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

The use of different colors gives the Court of San Martino its meaning. Notably, Bertha has succeeded in using both the dark and light colors to depict the appearances of the images the way they are supposed to be. The dark colors have been used to generate a feeling of reality in the walls of the buildings portrayed in the picture. A close look at the image would reveal that Bertha does not completely utilize the dark color to generate and achieve this effect. The combination of the light intensity (as the audience can observe it) provides the audience with the opportunity to distinguish between the court and the building. It is possible to identify, through directly pointing out the elements of the image as a result.

In the image, three people are portrayed. One appears to be a man who is painted in a dark color, while the other two are women who have put on clothes painted in white. This kind of distinction generates a significant meaning not only on the appearance of the individuals on the image but perhaps their inner beings. The posture of the woman standing right at the entrance of the building indicates that something is not right. She seems to pity her colleague, who is seen to be busy on the court. Behind her is a man who appears not to care about whatever the woman does. I think Bertha not only uses this kind of painting to reveal the purpose to which the court meant for, but also the conditions that women during that time lived.

Bertha further integrates both the light and dark colors on something that looks like a wooden or stone sculpture, and this is where the woman in the court carries her daily activities. A human face is sculpted on the front side of the huge sculpture and is further painted in the dark. Fascinatingly, the upper part of the sculpture is still decorated in light colors. I think this kind of distinction still reveals that effects and meaning associated with the two colors. It is possible to conclude that men tend to demonstrate a given level of superiority even in places whereby women should dominate. The face on the huge wooden or stone sculpture is probably that of a man and is painted black to signify the role of both the men and women in society.

Undeniably, the Court of San Martino is a complete revelation of the historical happenings in America during the late 18th and 19th centuries when the world was dominated by slavery and prevention of women suffrage. Undeniably, the colors play a critical role in generating a symbol and meaning of boldness and strength for women and therefore reflects coincides their abilities to conquer themselves.