Art According to Sayre (2009), the Four

Art

According to Sayre (2009), the four roles of the artist are keeping a historical record, giving form to intangibles, revealing the hidden, and showing the world in a new way. In "Mother of Pearl and Silver: The Andalucian," James McNeill Whistler fulfills the role of historical record keeper. The depiction of the Andalucian captures the style, attitude, and culture of the subject. In this sense, "Mother of Pearl and Silver: The Andalucian" is a historical reference. Although the fashion is not quintessentially Spanish, the subject in the painting does capture the mood of the late nineteenth century, when Whistler painted. Whistler depicts the fashion and attitudes of the era in this painting, which also show how globalization was becoming a reality for many Americans and Europeans. An American painter depicts an American model wearing Continental clothes and a Spanish hairstyle.

In "A Burial at Ornans," Gustave Courbet also paints to provide a historical record. However, as the Musee d'Orsay points out, Courbet broke from prevailing artistic tradition by showing everyday life events rather than grand historical events in "A Burial at Ornans." The funereal scene is rendered in multiple shades of gray, which enhance the impact of the theme of death. A community gathers with a Catholic bishop and priest presiding over the burial ritual. The large crucifixion cross rises into the air, symbolizing the ascension of the soul to heaven and also the triumph of the Catholic Church as a political entity. At the same time, the gaping hole in the ground represents the "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" concept of returning to the earth for the Christian burial. A large crowd gathers to show the significance of community during the funeral rite, and even a pet dog is present. The painting reveals the continued influence of the Church in the daily affairs of people. Courbet suggests that the Church controls human community life, as well as attitudes towards life, death, and the afterlife.