by Kianna Jones

1) Primavera by Botticelli

I found this painting very interesting because it reminded me of a particular scene I saw on one of my favorite shows, True Blood.  To me, this painting looks like a fairy land with magic fruit and mystical, graceful people.  It looks like the the people aren't human, but nymphs, fairies and other magical creatures just trying to live life freely.  There is also a dark forest which seems forbidden in some way.  

This painting reminds me of True Blood because there is a scene in one of the episodes where there are fairies in this beautiful place giving out magic fruit to people.  However, all is not what it seems, and the fruit is actually the magic used to to make people see what really isn't there.  The people see beautiful faries, but what is really there is a forbidden forest and hideous creatures.  This scene from True Blood emulates the painting in that there are faries, fruit, a forbidden forest and creatures, and all is not what it seems.

 

2) Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi  

I really admire this particular painting because of the graphicness.  This one captured scene is so dynamic because the viewer can actually feel the emotions within it.  You can clearly see Judith's hatred and fury for Holofernes as she slits his throat.  The viewer can see the pain registered on his face as he is dying.  Everything about this painting is so epic.  The painter could've chosen any moment to paint, the before or the after, but since she chose the climax, it is much more powerful.