Comparing and Contrasting the Boating Party and Narcissus
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In this paper I will compare and contrast the works of Renoir and Caravaggio. The first, Renoirs “The Boating Party,” depicts a group of friends sharing a meal and the second, Caravaggios “Narcissus,” shows a young man who has fallen in love with his own reflection. Though the two artworks are very much different, they also share some similarities.
Of the many similarities of the two paintings, perhaps one of the more obvious is the medium used. Both of the artworks are done with oil on canvas. This type of medium is one commonly used by both artists.
Another likeness of the two works, like the medium used, is very apparent. Both of the works are paintings. Though the styles of the paintings are nothing alike, both were created with paint and brushes on canvas. The first work, “The Boating Party,” was actually painted by the hands of a man with crippling arthritis. It is amazing what one may overcome to create such beauty.
Though the two paintings are functional in a typical sense, both evoke an intellectual function. Both works make you think. In “Narcissus,” there is not anything that would ordinarily be unhappy in the picture- it shows a handsome man gazing at his reflection in a pool, but for reasons hard to describe, the picture makes you think of gloomy things. In “The Boating Party,” you see a group of people in a restaurant. Nothing special appears to be taking place in the painting but when looking at it you relate it to something cheerful. There is a unique talent both artists have to stimulate such thought and emotion by using colors, brushstrokes, and placement.
The similarities between “The Boating Party” and “Narcissus” are apparent, but the differences between the two are much easier to describe. The first is the difference of subject matter. “The Boating Party” is densely packed with figures and “Narcissus” shows only one man. “The Boating Party” is set on the balcony of the Maison Fournaise restaurant in Chatou. Parisians came to the Maison Fournaise to rent rowing skiffs, eat, or stay the night. Renoir often included friends in his paintings and “The Boating Party” is no exception. Among them is Aline Charigot, shown in the painting holding a dog in the bottom left of the composition. She and Renoir were later married. Also depicted is actress Ellen Andree in the center of the painting. Seated across from her is Baron Raoul Barbier. In the background is wealthy art historian and collector Charles Ephrussi, shown wearing a tophat. Gustave Caillebotte, a major figure in the impressionist scene, is shown in the right foreground next to actress Angele Legault and journalist Adrien Maggiolo. Much different is the subject of “Narcissus” where a single man, one of Greek mythology, is depicted. This painting shows only Narcissus as he admires his reflection in the pool.
Another difference of the two compositions is the theme. I think the theme of “The Boating Party” is people, all sorts, coming together to share food, wine, and conversation. This is representative of the time in France. French society was changing from the mid to late nineteenth century and it is notable that this restaurant hosted customers of all classes including businessmen, society women, artists, actresses, critics, writers, seamstresses, and shop girls. Though I am unfamiliar with this time period and cannot distinguish trades and classes with a single look, in the picture you see men in suits eating with men in t-shirts, representative of some difference in class no matter what era you are from. While “The Boating Party” is themed in the joy of the changing times, “Narcissus” is completely different. “Narcissus” is based on Greek mythology. In this painting Caravaggio brilliantly manages to tell the entire story of Narcissus with a single picture. According to Ovids “Metamorphoses,” Narcissus was the son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Liriope. He was known for his astonishing beauty. The blind prophet Tiresias told his mother that Narcissus would live a long life as long as he never recognized himself. In the story, Narcissus rejected all of his lovers. When he rejects the nymph Echo, she goes to the gods and requests that he be punished for not returning her love. She asks more specifically, that he knows what it is like to love someone that you can never have. So, as the myth goes, one day Narcissus finds a pool of water and goes to drink from it. When he, does he notices his reflection in the pool. It is in this moment that the gods decide to punish him for his actions. He does not realize that it is his own reflection and falls in love with it. Not long after he falls in love with the reflection he begins to understand the feelings of the others who had unrequited love for himself.