Running Head: ART HIGHLIGHTING POVERTY 2

ART HIGHLIGHTING POVERTY 2

Art Highlighting Poverty

Name

Institution

Date

The invisibility of poverty

From UNICEF Invisible Child sign installation, By Lee, 2005 (“”)

The art was created by Kevin Lee and illustrates a child sitting on a staircase and being stepped on. The art is an illustration of how we live with the poor, and they continue to remain invincible. The art strongly impacts the message that the artist is trying to communicate about poverty. The art was created to raise more awareness of the invisibility of poverty, especially among children. Poverty continues to be a problem for many countries, and just because few nations cannot see it or are not experiencing it does not mean that poverty is not there (Young, 2021). The context of the work has greatly impacted my feelings. The art has reminded me to always show empathy and compassion for individuals suffering around us as opposed to ignoring them or looking away. This work was successful as the artist managed to communicate the intended message. More than a decade since its creation, the art is still relevant today. In using the art, UNICEF managed to raise funds amounting to $30000 that went into fighting poverty in children.

The gleaners

From Google Arts & Culture, by Millet, 1857 (“”)

The art was created by Jean-François Millet to illustrate what peasant life looks like. These women are the embodiment of the rural working class. They were given permission to go swiftly around the fields at dusk in order to pick up the ears of corn that had been overlooked by the harvesters one by one. Three of them are depicted in the front, bent double and with their eyes scanning the ground by the artist. The three stages of this back-breaking repetitive action required by this unpleasant work are juxtaposed in this way: bending over, collecting the corn, and straightening up again. The art changes my feelings and attitude towards the different types of works that people do to make an honest living. The work is successful as the artist manages to successfully illustrate the value that everyone has, whether they are poor or disadvantaged in any way, as everyone has their own value that they bring to the table.

The potatoes eaters

From Vangogh Museum, by Gogh, 1885 (“”)

The name of the artist is Vincent van Gogh Who created a painting (oil on canvas) titled the Potato eaters in 1885. The painting shows a poor family having an evening meal. The context of the painting follows the stay of the artist in Drenthe 1883, where he got an opportunity to interact and live among farm laborers for three months. I believe the artist is communicating the harsh reality of poor people living in the countryside, for example, from looking at the art which displays dusty unpeeled potatoes to signify the work the peasant put in to obtain an honest meal. The painting makes me empathize with the harsh realities that poor people through to make an honest meal. The work is successful as the artist successfully manages to communicate the intended message, which was to showcase the harsh realities that poor families have to go through to make an honest meal.

Flavio da Silva

From the Photo Series, By Da Silva, 1961 (“”)

The name of the artist is Gordon parks. The art in focus is a photograph titled “Flavio da Silva” in 1961, showing Flavio, a 12-year-old boy living in the life of grinding poverty. The context of the work of art involves an investigation to document poverty in Brazil by life Magazine, with Parks covering the assignment. In relation to the context of the work, the artist manages to send a sad yet very powerful message on the state of poverty and how it affects the most vulnerable in society (Miranda, 2019). The context of the work makes me feel even more saddened by the continued state of poverty which was a big issue over half a century ago and continues to be a bigger problem even today. The work is successful as the art managed to generate both outrage and empathy that led to increased donations to fight against poverty.

References

Gleaners – Jean-François Millet. (n.d.). Google Arts & Culture. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/gleaners/GgHsT2RumWxbtw?hl=en

MIRANDA, C. A. (2019, July 19). Flavio da Silva, photographed as a boy in Brazil’s favelas, on the images that outraged. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/miranda/la-et-cam-gordon-parks-flavio-getty-20190710-story.html

The Potato Eaters – Van Gogh Museum. (2019). Vangoghmuseum.nl. https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/collection/s0005V1962

Young, A. (2021, January 7). Heartbreaking Photos Highlight the “Invisibility of Poverty.” My Modern Met. https://mymodernmet.com/photographs-invisibility-of-poverty/