In the foreground, there is a figure trapped within the zig-zag walls, wrapped in blue cloth that flows around in the painting, soft and fluid. The cool color blue contrasts with the warm orange and red color that dominates the painting. The blue color may represent water while the red color represents fire, there fore creating this conflict in the colors, making the painting look as if there will not be peace, contrasting again with the peaceful expression of the figure. The figure entrapped within the walls, lies in a vulnerable foetal position. The orange dominates the painting, reinforcing the feeling of being trapped, restrained and supressed. The figure, who i think, represents lucia hartini herself, is wrapped in the color blue. Slowly, the zig-zag wall stretches through the mid ground to the background of the painting. The ridgid red walls contrasts with the fluidity of the blue cloth. The cracks on the wall may show something coming apart, crashing or just old age. There is also a section of the wall that collapsed which may show break-through or destruction. There are also creepy eyes floating in parts of the painting, projecting colored lights towards the figure, making it the centre of attention. Creeping through the walls, towards the figure are white mists that diffuses through the walls from the background. In the background, it is dark with red mists, creating an ominous mood in the painting. On the right side of the painting, the background is in complete darkness while on the other side, there seems to be some red light shining upon the mist or clouds. However, this red light makes the dark background look even more eerie. The cracking ground in the foreground transforms into the dark endless sky making it look like a endless fall if you step beyond the walls that confines the figure. These areas gives the viewer a chance to imagine what lies beyond the painting and uses the viewer's imagination to create strong images that can translate to fear, panic or distress.
Painting style:
The brushwork in the painting are well blended and this makes the painting very realistic despite the impossible setting. When the impossible or surreal setting is depicted in a very realistic anger, it allows the viewer to be more attracted to the painting. It allows the viewer to place themselves within the painting and imagine what it would be like. In Lucia's brushwork, she brings out the fluidity ( seen in the smooth flow of the fabric) and the rigidity ( the firm zig zag walls). The flowing draping fabric and the hard solid brick walls brings out a stark contrast. It embodies the situation Lucia is in. The harsh criticism and the skeptical looks of the society against her vulnerable self.
She also uses much contrast within her painting like the one mentioned above and also the use of colors. Like the warm orange contrasting with the cool blue. The contrast is like fire and water.
The contrast of the pitch dark mysterious space with the brighter red clouds or mists.
There is the contrast of the rigid and fluid and the warm and cool, the unknowing and known, creating a uneasy feel in the painting.
Principles of design:
The figures and subject matters are more or less simplified slightly, where the figure had the basic necessary features for it to look real and believable same with the cloth, where the folds are simple yet a little realistic. The subject matters are mostly proportionate and realistic.
The lines in the painting stands out the most. The first and the one that stands out the most is the line created by the brick walls. The lines lead the viewer's eye movement in a zig zag motion through the painting. Looking at the painting in more detail, the lines created by the cracks allow us to scrutinize the details in the painting, leading us bit by bit in to the painting. Then there are the lines created by the shadows. The one under the figure leads us from the foreground to the figure then to the dark endless sky in the background. Then the line that contrasts with the rigid lines created by the walls is the fluid lines of the blue fabric. It flows across the painting then disappears and appears again. This leads us in a different path to look at the painting. The blue fabric leads us in two paths diagonally across the painting. Despite areas in the painting are confined by the wall, the painting seem like a never-ending setting where the painting just depicts on part of what Lucia sees.
Symbolism:
There are many symbols within the painting. To avoid more scrutiny, her works are heavily symbol-laden. It allows her to express her anger and frustration.
The figure represents her angry and suppressed about gender discrimination in her society and the walls shows that she is trapped and restrained. The smog that seeps between the brick walls and encroaches upon the women shows how society discriminates against women is like to Lucia. The blue represents power as female warriors who protected the sultans wore it. However the woman's vulnerable and powerless posture makes her donning of a blue dress not powerful at all. Her choice of blue would better suggest sadness or maybe she would like to see herself become a strong female warrior in time to come. The aggressively zigzagged hard brick walls would represent how Lucia feels confined in real life as a woman, while the floating eyes would symbolize the scrutinizing, judging and doubtful eyes of the society. The watchful eyes are supposed to look frightening and eerie. The beam from the eye is like the beam of scrutiny from society which the figure, her, cowers from.
Compare:
Background:
Shortly after her divorce from Diego Rivera, Frida completed this self-portrait of two different personalities. In her diary, Frida writes that this painting originated from her memory of an imaginary childhood friend. Later she admitted it records the emotions surrounding her separation and martial crisis. On the right, the part of her person which was respected and loved by Diego, is the Mexican Frida in Tehuana costume. In her hand she holds an amulet bearing the portrait of Diego as a child. On the left, a more rather European Frida in a lacy white Victorian wedding dress, the Frida that Diego abandoned. The hearts of the two women lie exposed, a device Frida often used to express her pain. The unloved Frida's heart is broken while the other Frida's heart is whole. From the amulet that Frida is holding springs a vein that travels through both women's hearts and is finally cut off by the surgical pincers held in the lap of the rejected Frida. In despair, Frida tries to stop the flow of blood from Diego but it keeps dripping…she is in danger of bleeding to death. The stormy sky filled with agitated clouds may reflect Frida's inner turmoil. Holding her own hand, she is her only companion.
The painting consists of very fine and well-blended brushstrokes just like Lucia's. In both paintings, it depicts the painter themselves and also tells the viewer their inner emotions. In this painting, the two Fridas sit confidently but with the absence of emotion, still and motionless looking straight at the viewer. The painting is dominated by Black, grey and white color. The dash of stronger color of blue, yellow and green tilts the overall visual balance of the painting making the right side appear heavier. The image is surreal where realistic subject matters are placed in a unrealistic or impossible setting or situation. The background shows high resemblance to Rene Magritte's Personal Values where she also used the sky as a background on the walls of the room.
Comparing this to Lucia Hartini's work, both artists uses the background and also surrounding subject matters like walls to express their emotions of anger, pain or distress. Both artists depicted themselves in the painting as the most direct representation of themselves in their paintings. However for Frida, despite the problems and pain faced by her, she still depicts herself strong and confident with dignity whereas Lucia depicts her self vulnerable weak and powerless. In Frida's work, through the image of the broken heart, we can directly relate and understand that she went through some heart break. So we can conclude that she used direct symbols as compared to Lucia where she uses eyes which casts beams on the figure to symbolize the discriminatory stares on her by society, taking on the issue of gender discrimination. She is more subtle with her use of symbolism. Hence trough that, we can see the difference in terms of their personality where Frida has a strong character while Lucia has a weaker or gentler character. Frida is not afraid to bring her message across with strong and symbols that creates a strong impact while Lucia prefers to use subtle images and gives the viewer some space to inject their own views and emotions.
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