Mesmerized by the Art of Jan van Eyck
In addition to the "Wedding Portrait," van Eyck painted many other outstanding works. He worked with his brother Hubert on the "Ghent Altarpiece" and is believed in many cases to have finished the work his brother started in their joint efforts. Consequently Hubert van Eyck's art is overshadowed by that of his brother Jan. Still, it is together that they utilized an optical phenomenon called "atmospheric perspective" in which the air, or atmosphere, is never completely transparent. There is a sense of the dust in the air. The atmosphere itself is vaguely palpable.
To conclude, I will say that "The Man in the Red Turban" is also a fascinating portrait and may in fact have been Jan van Eyck himself. Does the strain showing around the subject's eyes indicate that he spent too long staring into a mirror in the act of painting his self-portrait? Many art historians surmise so. The intricacies in the face are enigmatic to me. Flattering, yet not. Accurate, certainly. But little is given away in terms of personality because the expression is on the verge between harshness and kindness. The straight lips might just as readily break into a smile as a frown. It is as though the man in the red turban is in thought. I hold my breath waiting to see what his expression will become.
Copyright 2002 Patricia Dake
To view images of the "Arnolfini Wedding Portrait," the "Ghent Altarpiece," and "The Man in the Red Turban" click on this link:
Sources:
Great Artists of the World by Larissa Branin, Smithmark Publishers ~ A Division of U.S. Media Holdings, Inc, New York, 1997. ISBN: 0-7651-9239-X
History of Art ~ A Survey of the Major Visual Arts from the Dawn of History to the Present Day by H.W. Janson, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ and Harry Abrams, Inc., New York, 1977.
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