Walking through the Bowers Museum for the first time, I was mesmerized by the variety of unique art, including Native American, African, Pacific Islander, South American, Pre-Columbian, and decorative arts. I knew the museum was relatively small, but once inside, I was lost in vast world of ancient native tools, African masks, Mayan pots, Chinese jewelry, and local Orange County paintings. The museum also offered workshops, films, and gallery talks, which I found to be a great addition to help those who want to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the art.

While it was amazing to see and learn about these exotic artworks, I ultimately chose to honor a local artist, Frank Coburn. I was immediately struck by his oil on wood panel painting, Forest of Arden, Madame Modjeska. At first glance, the painting made me think of Claude Monet, one of my favorite artists of all time. It reminded me of Monet’s stunning paintings, such as Women in a Garden and Springtime, where women were depicted in white clothing, enjoying the natural beauty of their surrounding landscape. With the depiction of sunlight and small, broken brushstrokes, I could feel Madame Modjeska’s peace and tranquility while she relaxed in her garden.

I learned that Coburn painted this piece from a photograph that was taken of Madame Modjeska, a Polish-born theater celebrity, in her California garden home. She is seated on the stone ledge of a fountain, with her home in the background, and a grand tree towering behind her. In the foreground, rests a round, stone, flowerpot that is situated within the fountain, depicting a bird sitting on a tree. While Madame Modjeska is relatively small in size when compared to other objects in the painting, it appears that Coburn intended for her to be the focal point. While hints of white can be seen throughout the piece, the subject is dressed in all white, which makes her visually stand out from the rest. The painting appears to adhere to traditional laws of perspective and the various elements of the painting do seem to be in proportion to one another.

It appears that Coburn was much more interested in evoking emotion than precisely and accurately depicting the subject matter. His lines are expressive, subtle, and somewhat blurry, creating a dreamy and abstract mood. For example, Madame Modjeska’s face is void of facial features, as are the details of her home. It is fascinating to compare the painting with the original photograph, as one can immediately feel the difference in emotion. The details, fine lines, and lack of vivid colors of the photograph are what made it feel dry, cold, and stiff. Conversely, Coburn seems to mostly stay within an analogous color palette throughout the painting, using various hues of green, yellow, orange, and brown. This predominantly warm color scheme evokes sincere and calming emotions. The addition of Madame Modjeska’s reflection (along with the various colors of the leaves) in the pond, adds to the dreamy and mysterious nature of the painting. What was the subject thinking?

Coburn’s use of light and repetitive pattern of brush strokes throughout the painting also adds to the overall emotional effect. The light source appears to be the sun, coming from the upper left-hand portion of the painting. He creates this effect through his use of light, high-key values that are placed side by side, creating the illusion of sunlight. There are also portions where he seems to add pure white (as on the bird’s belly) to further highlight this effect. The minimal use of shading limits the dimensionality of the painting; yet, it is what keeps the overall mood of the painting peaceful and calm. Coburn’s brushstrokes also appear to follow a subtle circular pattern that brings the observer’s eye around the panting. For example, the brushstrokes in the left foreground seem to be moving towards the right and slowly upwards, around the bend of the flower pot, up towards the trees (which seem to move towards the right in the upper background), and then back around towards the left, where your eyes rest on Madame Modjeska.

Overall, I found this assignment to be a very inspiring and educational experience. It not only opened my eyes to art forms that I had never seen before, but it also provided me with a whole new perspective on art. By having to analyze and critically think about a particular piece, I was able to develop a deeper and substantive appreciation for this painting. I was also left wondering what life may have been like in Southern California, during a time when the lands were still unscathed by suburban neighbors and technology, when artists were flocking to the area in hopes of capturing the natural beauty of the place I call home.