For the personal project, I chose the theme “Adventure and Discovery” because it stood out to me as the most personal. I have always loved to adventure to new places and explore the world around me. For example, I have gone hiking at a different location every weekend this semester so far, and I plan to keep doing this. As I grow up, I also want to visit many different countries and find new cultures to immerse myself in. Plus, I really like to adventure into conversations about complex philosophical topics.
My museum will encourage viewers to engage with their inner child and see the world in a new way. They will explore lands and places they have never been, imagining what it would be like to live a life there. I want the audience to find out what types of places they like and don’t like to get them excited about travelling and finding more about themselves.
The Forests that Stemmed Society
The first section of my museum showcases distant, wooded lands that I would love to visit. Viewers of the museum are put into a perspective of adventuring themselves. This collection of pieces encapsulates the wide expanse of the world there is to discover just beyond the woods. Featuring tastes of the Dutch Golden Age, creative and detailed landscapes and cityscapes, these pieces evoke feelings of mysticism and emotion.
Wooded Landscape (Unknown), Jan Hackaert
Content: This artwork looks like it was painted from the perspective of someone that has travelled through the forest and is about to make it to the sunny area on the other side of those trees. One detail that caught my attention is the animals being led by the farmer and his dog. I love how the animals are spread out and look to be exploring the area, which fits the theme. Another detail I loved is how you can see the mountain way in the distance, signifying that there is so much of the world left to be adventured which gives the piece a hopeful mood. This connected to me personally because when I go hiking, I always love to see the far-off mountains and get excited about reaching them in the future. The overall message of this artwork is that everyone is in their own place living life, even when there is no one else to see the work they are doing.
Early Morning (1825), Samuel Palmer
Form: The piece uses a lot of curved lines that intersect to create organic shapes. A detail I noticed is that it looks like the trail is about to pass a nearby town. Towns need to be explored just as much as nature does! The other detail I noticed is the bunny itself. I like how the creator of this piece combined animals and humans in one image. It is almost like the bunny welcomes you into the village of people. The bunny is drawn at a larger scale compared to the people in the background, making it the center subject. I connected to this personally because I love animals and am always happy to be on a trail with them as a biology major. I take a lot of cool pictures of animals and plants I see during my adventures.
View of Amersfoort (1671), Matthias Withoos
Interpretation: A detail I noticed here is the person bringing their horses and wagon past the town. My personal interpretation is that the individual is a lone traveler, like the audience of this museum. A detail I also noticed is how the point of view of the image seems to be above the town that is in the distance. This makes me feel like I have just gotten to the top of a hill and am getting to see what lies on the other side. This related to me personally because I have been doing a lot of peak hikes lately in the Los Angeles National Forest, and it is so satisfying to see everything from way up above. If we approach this using a psychoanalytical interpretation, we can guess that the viewer is in a state of wandering, and perhaps isolation from groups of people. In a structuralist interpretation, the uniform horizontal lines that are only interrupted by church steeples show that the city is a drab, boring place to live compared to the expanse of the outside.
Golfo Di Napoli Con Granili, Visto Dai Ponti Rossi (1701-1850), Saverio della Gatta
Content: The subject matter is a panoramic view of the Gulf with a historical granary serving as a focal point. The Red Bridges in the foreground add depth and perspective, leading the viewer’s eye toward the sea and the distant horizon. These structures may symbolize industrial progress and human intervention in nature, reflecting the transformation of Naples over time. The vast expanse of water could represent freedom and the unknown, contrasting with the rigid architecture. If we look at the meaning from form, we can see that the light in this painting could evoke a sense of nostalgia or longing. The bridges might symbolize connection and transition, linking the built environment with the natural world. The overall message seems to be the relationship between human civilization and nature. This painting connects to my project theme because it showcases a wooded area that the audience can imagine passing through or even living in. This seems like the type of place where someone could find themselves. The various forms that nature takes in this artwork, including mountains, trees and the sea really stuck out to me here.
The Everyday Beauty of the Sand and Sky
Whether it's in the sand, or sky, this world is large and ready for us to indulge in, so long as we leave no trace. In this room we will experience the beauty within the Plein-air style and Impressionism movement across painted canvases depicting beach fronts and blue skies.
Seacoast at Saint-Adresse (1864), Sunset Claude Monet
Form: The painting captures a coastal scene at sunset, with warm hues in the sky and reflecting off the water. The land mass makes a diagonal line across the horizon, leading the viewer to look into the distance across the ocean. A lone figure stands near one of the boats, suggesting the end of a day's work. You can see the directional force of the waves heading toward the shore, creating an implied texture of choppy water. The rhythm of the waves is also evident. Monet conveys tranquility and movement very skillfully in this painting. I chose this piece to pair with the overall theme because boats and water are vehicles of adventure and discovery. However, it also fits because there can be adventure in everyday tasks. The boat depicted is not remarkable, but it can still be used to make gradual change in life by helping provide food for a group or transporting people across large distances.
Antibes in the Morning (1888), Claude Monet
Context: This piece stands in contrast to the earlier Lighthouse at the Hospice in the use of light and color. Monet has now fully entered into the Impressionist style, which we know from the year this work was created being 1888. The style is actually beginning to fade out of popularity at this point of the historical period, but its influence continues here with the morning light on the tree leaves and the gradient colors in the sky. Artists of the time were free to pursue individuality away from art school expectations, which was likely a personal value of Monet’s. The artwork’s intended function was to explore the effects of light and color in a new environment beyond Paris. This artwork also involves Moet’s personal history. He had promised his companion, Alice Hoschedé, to capture the "sweetness itself, white, pink, blue, all of it enveloped in this fairy-tale-like air" of Antibes while he was there. I would say he accomplished this goal well here. I felt connected to this painting because of the inviting Mediterranean water. I can almost feel what it would feel like to be there, with the heat of the day just starting to creep in.
Lighthouse at the Hospice (1864), Claude Monet
Context: This is one of Claude Monet’s earlier works before he fully embraced Impressionism. The piece was painted in 1864 at the start of the Impressionist era when artists were still refining their styles, but you can clearly see an emphasis on capturing the sunset bouncing off the water, as well as the different lit clouds. Light was the focus of the Impressionist period in Paris. The movement originated in France during this historical time period as a reaction against the established art of the French Academy and the government-sponsored exhibitions called Salons. Artists like Moet wanted to focus more on the social values of everyday life, which is depicted in this piece. People seem to be bringing their boats back in for the day before the light completely disappears, a common, everyday practice. I thought this connected to me personally because I enjoyed the focus on mundane tasks and how there is value and beauty to be found in every part of life.
The Pink Villa at Trouville (1884), Gustave Caillebotte
Interpretation: Caillebotte’s piece is a reflection of his fascination with perspective and modern life. His work frequently explored themes of leisure and architecture, which is the artist’s interpretation. The painting features a pink villa prominently in the foreground. In the distance, sailboats line the horizon, suggesting a lively coastal environment. However, in a Marxist interpretation of the piece, the villa represents the privileges of the upper class: private property and wealth. The serene setting and elegance of the building contrasts with the unseen labor that maintains such estates, highlighting the divide between the bourgeoisie and the working class. In a psychoanalytical interpretation, the villa that is prominently in the foreground, could symbolize stability. The elevated perspective and the openness of the sea beyond might cause feelings of detachment or longing, suggesting tension between comfort and escape. Finally, a feminist interpretation could view the absence of people as a reimagining of space beyond gendered expectations. I thought this piece fit with the theme because it shows an example of indulgence into a life of discovery. This villa was created to perpetually watch the changing of the sea and sky around it. I thought it was a good example of how adventure can also be stationary.
Mother Nature Towers Before You
In this room we will climb up towards the stars. The further we rise the greater the views. Join me as we feel the racing breeze through realism and romanticism in the heights.
Die Strasse nach Evordes (1890), Ferdinand Hodler
Form: The painting features a long, straight road leading into the distance with trees on both sides that create a natural hallway with imperfect symmetry. These features create straight lines that draw the eye to the mountain in the background. The earthy tones of the road and trees contrast with the soft blues of the distant mountains, creating a serene visual experience. The brushstrokes are precise yet expressive and full of movement, capturing the rugged beauty of the landscape. The trees and road have a more clear definition, while the distant mountains fade into a softer background, enhancing the illusion of depth. I thought this painting matched well with my theme because sometimes the clearest path is the safest and best option. I feel like this is a great depiction of a defined, beaten path being able to lead to great things and take you to insurmountable heights. I also felt very connected to the visible changing of the seasons, which is displayed by the partial reds and yellows of the tree leaves.
Charlet in Hilterfingen (1871), Ferdinand Hodler
Context: As for personal history, Hodler painted this piece during his early years, when he was still developing his artistic identity. The painting features Charles Charlet, a close friend of Hodler, depicted in a serene landscape setting. This suggests an intimate connection between the artist and his subject, possibly reflecting themes of friendship, solitude, and contemplation. the painting belongs to the Romanticism movement of the historical period which emphasized emotion, nature, and individual experience. Hilterfingen, a picturesque Swiss village, serves as the location of this piece. The landscape’s tranquil atmosphere aligns with Hodler’s love of Swiss scenery. Hodler’s choice to show Charlet in a natural setting rather than in a formal portrait emphasizes human connection to the environment for the intended function. The painting may have been intended to evoke introspection, encouraging viewers to consider their relationship with nature. That is what drew me to include this piece in my museum, as I want viewers to look deeper into how they interact with nature and discover what sections of the natural world they feel most in tune with.
Alpine Landscape Humans on Mountain Path (1800-1830), Knud Baade
Content: The subject matter depicts people walking and resting on a steep mountain path, surrounded by towering alpine scenery. The figures appear small-scale in comparison to the vast landscape. The clouds, rugged terrain and distant peaks evoke a feeling of solitude and contemplation, and they could symbolize the complexity of life and nature. The mountain path could also symbolize life’s journey, with its challenges and then moments of rest. The presence of humans suggests a connection between civilization and the wilderness, which is a common theme in Romantic landscape paintings. This is all also part of the meaning from form. The curving path that looks steep but also smooth can mean that life is unexpected and how it is difficult to imagine where the future will lead. I would guess that the overall theme is human insignificance in the face of nature’s overwhelming presence because the mountains are massive compared to the people.
Mountain Sunrise (1826), Thomas Cole
Interpretation: A structuralist interpretation of the painting would focus on the underlying oppositions and cultural structures that shape its meaning. The painting presents a pristine landscape, reinforcing the Romantic ideal of nature as pure. This contrasts with the growing industrialization of the 19th century, positioning nature as a refuge. Unlike many landscape paintings that include figures, this piece focuses on the vastness of nature, reinforcing the idea that humanity is secondary to the natural world. Cole’s work focuses on the untouched beauty of the American landscape, but this perspective often ignores the displacement of Native American communities who lived in these regions. This would be a central focus in a post-colonial interpretation. The artists’ interpretation reflects his deep connection to the wilderness and his belief in nature’s transformative power. The painting captures sunrise from Vly Mountain, a peak near the Delaware River’s eastern headwaters. He chose a high vantage point, emphasizing the untamed beauty of the landscape. I think my personal interpretation aligns close to the artists’. I chose this piece for my theme because it shows the beauty of nature just as I know of it. It reminds me of Yosemite National Park in which I just visited this semester.
As you step back into the world beyond these walls, carry with you the echoes of these towering forests and golden horizons. Let the places you’ve seen awaken your curiosity and lead you to new discoveries, not just in distant lands, but in yourself. The journey of discovering the world and yourself never ends. It only expands.