1/28/13: The
Definitive Work
Les
Raboteurs de Parquet (Floor Scrapers) , Gustave Caillebotte
Dubbed “The definitive work of
Modern Art”, “Floor Scrapers” has some deep meanings held in a seemingly simple
scene. The painting depicts a trio of
workers, as the work suggests, scraping off the varnish from the wood
floor. The light illuminating the
workers and their work area serves as the organizing principle of composition,
marking the work as impressionistic and accenting parts to be paid extra
attention. The light highlights the
scrapers as well as the work they are doing, creating focal points from the
two. Naturally, what makes this work so
significant is the combination of the two elements in reference to
society. The scrapers themselves are not
what would have been considered suitable subjects, as they are neither
historical figures, nor are they rustic farmers. The fact that they have been painted in such
a praiseworthy manner would have disgusted members of higher society. On top of
that, the scraping that they are doing holds metaphorical/symbolic meaning for
art. The floor that has been scraped
away is more illuminated than the sections of floor that still retains varnish,
which symbolizes that like wood scraping, art is being stripped of the darkness
of its academic past and illuminating the path to modern art.
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