Poems and Paintings
This article discusses the ways in which the understanding of a poem is expanded through the visual effects of a painting. Likewise, the painting is inspired and enlightened due to the story of the poem.
Poetry Heightened by Paintings
The painting, Girl Powdering Her Neck by Kitagawa Utamaro is a wonderful addition to the poem. The eye is drawn to the painting first and a mental picture is created of the woman powdering her neck. The mind is opening up to the creative process, which is further enhanced once the poem is read. The poem itself does a thorough job of setting the stage for the womans morning ritual of powdering and applying make-up, but the painting gives the mind a shortcut in that the scene is already developed. Energy is not needed to set the stage in the mind and can instead be focused on the actual comprehension of what is taking place.
In contrast, the poem compliments the painting greatly. Just looking at the painting, one would have to guess what the woman is thinking of as she stares into the mirror. Would the viewer really understand that the woman is about to powder her neck and begin the morning ritual of painting on her make-up Perhaps the title would give hint to this, but most likely the viewer would not study the painting long enough to really contemplate the womans actions or reasons behind them. The poem creates the story of the painting and brings it life by giving the woman personality, characteristics, thoughts, and even dreams.
Both the painting and the poem accentuate the thoughts of the author and what she is trying to portray through word and picture. Reading the poem alone would not create the emotional connection that is initiated with the visual of the painting. Just the same, looking at the painting alone would not create the emotional story and yearnings presented behind the meaning of the poem. Together they paint a complete mind picture of this womans daily ritual and her thoughts behind it. Combined, they touch the soul in a way that enables the reader to truly feel part of the story as if the reader is the one staring into the mirror contemplating the day ahead.
Poetry Heightened by Paintings
The painting, Girl Powdering Her Neck by Kitagawa Utamaro is a wonderful addition to the poem. The eye is drawn to the painting first and a mental picture is created of the woman powdering her neck. The mind is opening up to the creative process, which is further enhanced once the poem is read. The poem itself does a thorough job of setting the stage for the womans morning ritual of powdering and applying make-up, but the painting gives the mind a shortcut in that the scene is already developed. Energy is not needed to set the stage in the mind and can instead be focused on the actual comprehension of what is taking place.
In contrast, the poem compliments the painting greatly. Just looking at the painting, one would have to guess what the woman is thinking of as she stares into the mirror. Would the viewer really understand that the woman is about to powder her neck and begin the morning ritual of painting on her make-up Perhaps the title would give hint to this, but most likely the viewer would not study the painting long enough to really contemplate the womans actions or reasons behind them. The poem creates the story of the painting and brings it life by giving the woman personality, characteristics, thoughts, and even dreams.
Both the painting and the poem accentuate the thoughts of the author and what she is trying to portray through word and picture. Reading the poem alone would not create the emotional connection that is initiated with the visual of the painting. Just the same, looking at the painting alone would not create the emotional story and yearnings presented behind the meaning of the poem. Together they paint a complete mind picture of this womans daily ritual and her thoughts behind it. Combined, they touch the soul in a way that enables the reader to truly feel part of the story as if the reader is the one staring into the mirror contemplating the day ahead.
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