Essay Questions

Expound the limitations of isolation in 'model-painting.' - "London Models”

Wilde elucidates “As regards the influence of the ordinary model on our English school of painting, it cannot be said that it is altogether good. It is, of course, an advantage for the young artist sitting in his studio to be able to isolate ‘a little corner of life,’ as the French say, from disturbing surroundings, and to study it under certain effects of light and shade. But this very isolation leads often to mere mannerism in the painter, and robs him of that broad acceptance of the general facts of life which is the very essence of art.” Isolation reduces the artist disruption by ensuring that there are no external hindrances to the painting process. However, the isolation is detrimental to art because it results in superficiality and limited naturalness which is not indicative of a real-life setting. Art is relevant when it incorporates all aspects of life both desirable and undesirable. Accordingly, isolated artists may not perfectly represent life in their works due to the isolated environment where they paint models.

Why is the American ambiance not ideal for Art? - “Impressions of America”

Wilde elucidates, “The next thing particularly noticeable is that everybody seems in a hurry to catch a train. This is a state of things which is not favourable to poetry or romance. Had Romeo or Juliet been in a constant state of anxiety about trains, or had their minds been agitated by the question of return-tickets, Shakespeare could not have given us those lovely balcony scenes which are so full of poetry and pathos.” Wilde reasons that the omnipresent hurry among Americans would not offer an ideal ambiance for artistic compositions such as Shakespeare’s. Hurrying influences the emotional appeal of a composition. According to Wilde, appealing art should be in a slow setting which enables the audience to relate with the characters.

Expound the binary that categorizes art.-“Art and the Handicraftsman”

Beauty versus Ugliness binary: “PEOPLE often talk as if there was an opposition between what is beautiful and what is useful. There is no opposition to beauty except ugliness: all things are either beautiful or ugly, and utility will be always on the side of the beautiful thing, because beautiful decoration is always on the side of the beautiful thing, because beautiful decoration is always an expression of the use you put a thing to and the value placed on it.” Beauty is mutually exclusive with ugliness. Accordingly, artwork cannot be beautiful and ugly simultaneously. Embellishments are useful in amplifying the magnificence of things. The utility ascribed to beautiful things is greater than the value of ugly items.