Analysis: Artist For The Starving

1367 Words3 Pages

Rachel Donaldson
Professor Parker
Composition I
September 16, 2015
Artist for the Starving

Kennington, Thomas. Orphans. 1885. Oil on canvas. Tate Gallery, London. Tate. Web. 3 September 2015.
Poverty has always been and will most likely always be a major global issue. Different people use different mediums to advocate awareness for poverty. Artist like Thomas Benjamin Kennington, used painting to achieve this goal with elements such as color, movement, depth, and balance. Kennington was born in Grimsby England, and studied art at several schools including South Kensington School of Art, Liverpool School of Art, and Academy Julian (Ross). Kennington was most recognized for painting everyday domestic scenes; however, Kennington also painted realist pictures focused on social issues. During the 1800s, the …show more content…

In the painting Orphans, the context is the most essential part of the painting. In the Victorian Era of London, there were a growing number of homeless children (Daniels). Knowing this simple fact allows the viewer to understand why Kennington chose to paint homeless children. Like many artist, Kennington used his art to promote change in society. Some people think that Kennington was inspired by the artist Murillo to paint less fortunate children (Orphans). The painting of the two boys was created to show how heartbreaking the situation in London really was. The context serves as a center point for Kennington; without the poverty in London during the 1800s Kennington might not have created this image. The original function of the painting was to cause change in the way people felt about the homeless in the late 1800s. In todays world, the function can still be used to show how poverty still effects children all around the world. Along with Context, Kennington used major art elements to represent his

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