With the painting "The Peaceable Kingdom", how should it be categorized?
Either it shows innocence or experience.
What do you think?
Why?
Wow! Which one??
https://www.google.com/search?q=the+painting+%22The+Peaceable+Kingdom%22&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjXiJmC2JjeAhUEXawKHWB9CuwQ_AUIDigB&biw=1152&bih=563
To categorize the painting "The Peaceable Kingdom" by Edward Hicks, you can consider the themes it portrays and the artistic style used.
1. Themes: "The Peaceable Kingdom" depicts a scene inspired by the biblical prophecy in Isaiah 11:6-9, where the predator and prey coexist peacefully. It portrays animals such as lions, lambs, and children together in harmony, symbolizing themes of peace, reconciliation, and the prospect of a Utopian world.
2. Artistic Style: Edward Hicks was a primitive or folk artist, known for his unique style which blended elements of realism and naivety. His paintings often featured bright colors, flattened perspective, and simplified forms. The painting "The Peaceable Kingdom" exemplifies this style with its vivid colors and simplified depiction of animals and figures.
Considering these factors, "The Peaceable Kingdom" can be categorized as both showing innocence and experience. It expresses innocence through its depiction of harmonious coexistence between typically opposing forces, suggesting an idealized, peaceful world. At the same time, its depiction of animals and children alongside a religious theme can also be seen as an expression of Hicks' personal religious beliefs and his experience living in a tumultuous time in American history.
To reach a conclusion on categorizing artworks, it is important to consider both the objective elements (themes, style) and subjective interpretations of the viewer, taking into account the artist's intention and historical context.