Practice Question: Subject Matter (Comparsion)

1. Compare the subject matter of Lunch by Nguyen Than 1978 and Herons by Chen Wen Hsi 1990



Lunch by Nguyen Than



Herons by Chen Wen Hsi



Best Answer:

Both Lunch by Nguyen Than and Herons by Chen Wen His are abstract paintings. 

Lunch is an oil painting done with vigorous brushstrokes and portrays a grouping of five figures, possibly a family seated cross legged on the ground around a table waiting for lunch.  The figures are semi-realistic reminiscent of the style of Picasso’s figures.  They are all facing the viewer as if waiting.  On the table there are only two round balls.  Is this enough lunch for everyone? With the head of the cow in the background and the bird singing on the table it can be assumed this a very traditional village house and the people are quite poor.  The artist chose to use mainly blues and yellows to suggest the shaded dreariness of an inside cabin.  Also there is a large yellow curtain with highlighted creases blowing in the breeze and separating one figure from the others.   In Herons, the artist uses a traditional Chinese ink style with geometric forms and rather earthy colours of green, black and red to depict herons.  They seem to be standing amongst tall grasses accompanied by some swimming ducks waiting patiently for fish.   In the bottom left corner, the muddy water is represented by strokes of yellow with a few small black fish starting to appear.  The scene is very chaotic with no real focal point and allows one to imagine a riotous cacophony of noise. This is ironic however, for in order for Herons to catch fish, they must stand very still and quiet for long periods of time.

Both pictures, although using different styles and techniques, use food and the search for it as their main subject matter.