Old fisherman portrait of a weary man contemplating the sea life and his weariness after fishing art

We begin understanding ourselves when we can look at art in a meaningful way. In this case we can use the painting of an old fisherman wearing a red... more

by MendyZ

Buy the Original Painting

Price

$7,250

Dimensions

20.000 x 24.000 x 1.000 inches

Title

Old fisherman portrait of a weary man contemplating the sea life and his weariness after fishing art

Artist

MendyZ

Medium

Painting - Acrylic On Canvas

Description

We begin understanding ourselves when we can look at art in a meaningful way. In this case we can use the painting of an old fisherman wearing a red hat and suit with a long white beard portrait as an example to best understand the world around us and how it impacts us and how we impact it in turn. This man knows the dangers of what lurks beneath the waves and wants nothing more than to return home safely each day. His face is grim and serious and his eyes are focused beyond us. He's deep in thought about something. Perhaps the weather? Maybe a conversation with God? We may never know for sure because the subject is not looking at us. He's not looking at you or I, only forward into the future where he sees himself going back to being the man he was before the sea took him away.
The old man it thoughtful and worried, yet is seated composed. It seems so simple, but look deeper. The man has lost everything to the sea: his wife, his children, his livelihood, and now his own life if things do not go well tomorrow. Yet he sits composed, sitting alone in a room with no windows or doors. His eyes are staring past us. He looks like a ghost haunting the walls of the room. But unlike the ghosts that haunt Hemingways tales, this one has been dead for many years. This man has given up all hope. He has come to terms with the fact that he will die, just as soon as the next wave crashes upon the shore. He will drown. Just as soon as the tide rises. Just as soon as the fish stop biting.
Take a good fifteen minutes and look at the elements. Look at the man. What does he want? Is he happy? Sad? Worried? Think deeply about why he might be sitting there, by himself, in such a sad state. Look closely at the painting and you'll find it. The man has a hook above his head deep in the dark background. It's the same kind of hook used to catch fish. If the old man had any luck today, perhaps he caught dinner. If not, then maybe he's trying to think of ways to keep his family fed while he awaits the next storm. Or worse yet, he thinks of the wives and kids that he left behind on dry land. Did they eat tonight? Will they eat again tomorrow? How much longer until the tides rise? When will they be able to see their husbands again? How long before they become widows and orphans?
The composition, the colors, the way the artist has melded, smushed, and spread the paints. They are thick, and smeary, and saturated in color and vibrancy. This old man has seen it all. He has lived through it all. He has endured. He has survived. Now, as we speak, he waits for the end. For the next wave. For the next disaster. For the next catastrophe.
The man is looking out the painting to the side. He is not looking at us. He is weary and he is wearing his best suit. A suit that he does not wear when headed out to sea as the captain of his boat. He has a full white beard stained from nicotine and the salt of the ocean. And he has a red bulbous nose indicating he drinks to forget the rocking of the water.
This is a man that has felt small in the vast churning of the oceans when out on his daily fishing expeditions. Very similar in theme and content to Hemingways works, especially the Old Man And The Sea. This is a great example of a portrait painting of an old man sitting down in a chair facing out of the picture. It speaks volumes about how we should approach our own lives. We must remember who we were once and what we have accomplished. Then, we must also remember who we can become if we stay focused and dedicated to our goals.
When you look at this painting, try to imagine yourself in this old man's shoes.

Uploaded

July 6th, 2022