Christina's World,1948

This painting was done by American Andrew Wyeth. Wyeth was a regonal painter who focused on everyday scenes of life in Maine and Pennsylvania. Christina's World is one of his more famous paintings. Every time I look at this painting I find myself wondering why this woman is alone. She is turning back to the house so wistfully and desperately, i can't help but think something horrible has happened. She looks desperate to get back to the house, but there is this huge expanse of grass in front of her, seemingly swallowing her up. The subdued and uniform green of the grass creates a flat plane which appears to block the woman from her goal. The house is also turned away from her as if refusing any guidance. The horizon line is pushed up near the top of the painting. All these elements further enhance her isolation. I think what is special about Wyeth is his unique realistic style. His style is labor intensive, every stroke of grass, every strand of hair is painted. I think it creates a air of mystery within his works. It also makes a work like a the one above which feels empty, to be much more interesting.