Surrealistic Photo Montage Project

Leonora Carrington

Ms. Carrington was an artist, sculptor and writer. She was born in England in 1917. In her younger days, Carrington came into contact with surrealism through her lover Max Ernst. They moved together and lived together in France where Ms. Leonor took part in Surrealist activities. Carrington’s first major art exhibit came in 1947 at the Pierre Matisse Gallery in Manhattan. Fans view her works of art as “dream-like” images.  Sadly, Carrington recently died in Mexico City on May 26, 2011. Leonora Carrington was one of the last original surrealists.

Otto Umbehr

Otto Umbehr was a free-spirited bohemian and self-taught photographer. He studied at Weimar Bauhaus in 1921 before he moved to Berlin two years later. In Berlin he worked as a portrait photographer and a photojournalist. He undoubtedly had an untraditional approach when helping a “new vision” along with other artists during his era. An interesting fact about” Umbo” (an alias which he is referred to by) was that he actually served in the German army during World War II. During that time period he actually lost all of his prints and negatives because his studio was destroyed.

Artist’s Name:  Otto Umbehr
Title: Mystery of the Street
Date: 1928
Description: The daily life in the streets of Germany in the aftermath of World War 11. This photographer also uses bird’s eye view technique to make the most of his art piece.

Analysis:  This photo is asymmetrical and doesn’t have much noise nor is it too crowded or busy to distract me.
Interpretation: I feel as though he uses shadows to take our thoughts elsewhere. Him using black and white color scheme as entails us to believe that life had become increasingly simple and there wasn’t much to enjoy.

Judgment: I believe Umbo create just what his eye had envisioned. His angling was simply remarkable and I was intrigued for longer that probably intended.

Artist’s Name:  Leonora Carrington

Title: The Pomps of the Subsoil

Date: 1947

Description: This painting was completed on an oil canvas. Three ghost like figures surrounding a blanket in open land with animals all around.

Analysis:  In this painting her main focal point would have to be the three characters in the bold coloured dresses/drapes.  Her colour palette consists of darker colours to create this mood and vibe that the painting gives off.

Interpretation: I believe Leonora Carrington was trying to create a dream like image based on a picnic almost. With the animals in tow, sitting in a grassy open plain like area.  I think the human like characters are not real people but figments in her imagination.

Judgment: In my belief Carrington created a fairytale like painting. There isn’t a care in their world and I appreciate her artistic views .

These two artists differ incredibly. Otto Umbehr  perched himself to an indescribable view. Taking this real life photo is totally different when compared to Carrington’s imaginative painting masterpiece. It is obvious that both artists are creative and possess originality. I am well-pleased with both works of art.