Half Nude Woman with Coin - Research Paper Example

“Half Nude Woman with Coin” by Jacob Baker Summary Museum of Fine Arts, Boston maintains a wide variety of collections across the globe relating to fine arts with respective definitions and histories offered regarding particular collections. Of the notable collection that caught the eye relates to Jacob Baker’s painting “Half Nude Woman with a Coin’. The painting by Baker dates back to 1636, but still maintains its good and fresh condition. The painting significance is not only evidenced from the fact that it serves as a representation of the 17th century Dutch art, but equally because of the message it sends. The significance of the painting results from the painting capturing the theme of prostitution and the involved process. Money serves as a crucial factor in prostitution with the author successfully managing to capture all the crucial factors behind prostitution in the painting (Deursen 19). Amsterdam serves as the origin of the painting because baker lived and did his artworks in the city. despite the failure of the author to use a lot of colors, the color choice of and less bright lighting serves in representing the theme of prostitution not from the basis of actual darkness, but rather on the moral basis behind prostitution. The materials used in the painting comprise of oil on canvas with the painting equally enclosed on a frame. The painting and the intended message of the author serves as perfectly interconnected without flaws or challenges in interpreting the message from the painting. Furthermore, the painting still remains significant to date as it was during the 17th century. A bibliography of the author serves in recognizing the work of the author while equally enhancing an audience to create a connection with the painting and possible knowledge regarding the era of creation of the painting. “Half Nude Woman With Coin” by Jacob Baker The particular 17th century Dutch art under focus caught the attention of the eye relates to a variety of factors. The first reason behind the art attracting the eye relates to the fact that even for less keen observers, one must realize that something seems unrelenting about the art. Other than capturing the other common presentations with most of the paintings in that period, the work by Baker presents something different (Deursen 88). The interesting thing about the painting is that it seeks to explore a moral issue within the society and a portrayal that morality existed even in the time of its painting. The painting sends a message of an existing connection between women nudity and money. That serves as the driving factor behind the need to share the piece of art since it holds a deeper meaning based on the prostitute’s image, holding a gold coin, yet her breasts are exposed as she gives a half smile to the viewer. The artwork proves of significant importance because it captures the theme of prostitution and how it involves money. Below is a photo of the art Description of the art work first focuses about the author of the art work and the respective name and origin of the author if such is given. Jacob Baker a painter in the 17th century and one of the artists regarded as the 17th century Dutch Golden Class is the author of the painting. Records attribute the painting to be from around 1636 with the painting measuring 64.5 centimeters by 56.7 centimeters (Sumowoski). With oil and canvas serving as the common materials used in paintings across Europe in the 17th century, the painting is equally made from the same materials. The origin of the painting comes from the same location as its author in Amsterdam, Dutch with the painting currently found in Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFC). The painting still maintains a good condition irrespective of its age as it looks fresh. In the painting, Baker presents a half-naked woman, most probably a prostitute holding a gold coin in between her first and second fingers in the right hand while the left hand rests in her wrist (Graham, Dixon-Graham 66). The prostitute gives the viewer a half-smile and equally possesses some sleepy eyes. The hidden message that the author shares relate to the notion that prostitution is a costly business going by the fact that the half-naked woman holds a gold coin. Although the author fails to use a lot of colors in the paintings, the use of green color for the gown and more of a form of night dress for the prostitute with a mixture of white color for the collars and lobes helps in presenting a clear visual to an audience. Furthermore, Baker lights partly the direct background of the painting with darkness covering the other parts in an increasing manner as one move away from the painting (Kaplan 213). Furthermore, it is important to note that the painting represents a white prostitute and with Dutch serving as its origin, it proves indicative that the author provides a representation of a form of behavior in the same society. The painting helps an audience understand that in the 17th century, prostitution was rampant and costly in the Dutch region and probably across Europe, prompting Baker to address the issue in the form of a painting. Therefore, basing on the nature of prostitution and the manner the business is conducted, the author successfully managed in driving his intended point home. Prostitutes are known to seduce people and the painting captures that with the exposed breasts and half smile together with the look in the eyes. Furthermore, prostitution involves money with the gold coin serving as a significant sign. The painting sends a message that prostitution is an old trade conducted even in the 17th century and with the issue warranting an interest from painters, it must have been rampant (Walsh). The item came into the collection because it serves as a representation of a moral issue within the European society in the 17th century. It is important to note that the painting’s significance remains the same until today in that the issue of prostitution continues to follow the same approach that the author presents while still influencing debates about its morality. There lacks contradictions between the purpose behind the author’s work and the reasons behind the collection of the painting. Furthermore, the significance of the painting during its creation or collection remains the same today an indication that the message still proves relevant. That results because nothing has changed in respect to the manner the society views prostitution or the manner the business is conducted in the modern world. Presentation of the painting takes into consideration various factors to enhance in ensuring effective presentation that enhances in sending the right message. The first thing under focus relates to the setting with the half-naked woman’s background with darkness. Darkness serves as a indicator of the moral issues associated with prostitution within a society in not in the basic sense that prostitution occurs in darkness, but the act itself as morally wrong. The painting’s frame measures 64.5 by 56.7 centimeters (Seaman). Furthermore, the white color of the woman in the painting serves as an indicator of a representation of women of the author’s culture. An attached invoice number 1633 serves as a sign that the MFA owns the painting after purchasing. Because of the limited space and arrangements within MFA, the museum runs a website that comprises information about all the art works within the institute. An introduction of the author of the work as Jacob Baker and year when he made the panting occurs directly below the painting. Furthermore, after sourcing for information about the painting, a biography of the author is offered. The reasons behind provision of the author’s biography is to recognize the work of the author while also enhancing a viewer to understand the history of the painting and probably use the knowledge gained in connecting with previous knowledge held to understand the artwork better. My reaction to the exhibition derives a basis on the manner of presentation and information behind the artwork that proves excellent. The presentation of the exhibition fits the mission and history of MFA in that the mission aims at housing as well as preserving preeminent collections while equally aspiring to serve a wide variety of visitors. Furthermore, maintenance of the highest quality standards in preservation of the artwork serves as an indicator that the exhibition adheres to the history and mission of MFA. Works Cited Deursen, A T. Plain Lives in a Golden Age: Popular Culture, Religion, and Society in Seventeenth-Century Holland. Cambridge [England: Cambridge UP, 1991. Print. Graham, Dixon-Graham. High Art of the Low Countries: A Tour of Northern Europe. N.p., 2014. Print. Kaplan, Benjamin J. Catholic Communities in Protestant States: Britain and the Netherlands C.1570-1720. Manchester: Manchester UP, 2009. Print. Seaman, Natasha. "Class Disjunctions: Dutch Paintings at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston." Hyperallergic. N.p., 14 Nov. 2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. Sumowoski. "Jacob Adriaensz. Backer - Half Naked Woman with a Coin." PubHist - Publications on (Art) History. N.p., 2011. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. Walsh, David. "Seventeenth-century Dutch Paintings at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston - World Socialist Web Site." World Socialist Web Site - Marxist Analysis, International Working Class Struggles & the Fight for Socialism. N.p., 29 Oct. 2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2015. Read More