1. What makes Wiley’s paintings similar or different to the classic paintings he was influenced by?

2. What statement are the paintings making about: Who is beautiful? Who should we honour? Who is sacred?

3. Which "elements of art" or "principles of design" are used?  What effect do these have on the viewer?

What makes Wiley’s paintings similar or different to the classic paintings he was influenced by?

• Wiley dignifies his subjects in a manner reminiscent of classical portraits, where they are portrayed with a confident look on their face, in appealing clothing, with no obvious flaws or imperfections. Classical portraits make their subjects seem regal and perfect, and though Wiley’s subjects aren’t in royal attire nor do they wear rows of jewels, this same same sense of dignity or regalness is afforded to his subjects.

• The colours in the photo are much more vibrant in Wiley’s paintings compared to the classic paintings he is influenced by. Much of this can be attributed to the lack of vibrant ink colours back when classic portraits were painted. However, the portraits also represented the culture that they were depicting, and in classic portraits, they portrayed “prim and proper” high-class society, attributed more to white tablecloth dining and muted colours, compared to the contemporary black culture and the vibrant colours that depict their equally vibrant culture.

Question 2

What statements are the paintings making about: Who is beautiful? Who should we honour? Who is sacred?

• Classical paintings portray their subjects in royal attire, decked out in jewelry and crowns, with powder-white faces fit for a palace. As a non-member of the high class, it is difficult to relate with classical portraits or identify with their subjects. 

• Kenneth Wiley’s paintings turn this idea on its head, with his choice of subjects. As he mentioned in an interview, he approaches people on the street who he feels would look good in a portrait. His portraits are not restricted to those of high-class aristocrats, who can afford to pay someone to paint a portrait of them. His subjects are the common folk, and perhaps more importantly, and significantly underrepresented in classical portraits, his subjects are people of colour.

• He portrays his subjects with the same level of dignity, importance, and respect as aristocrats would be given in classical portraits. With his contrasting choice of subjects, he makes the statement that it is not just rich white people that are beautiful and deserving of honour. Regular people, and people of colour at that, are also beautiful and can be honoured and held as sacred, themes ingrained throughout his paintings.

Question 3

Which “elements of art” or “principles of design” are used? What effect do these have on the viewer?

• Wiley uses muted colors with bright yellow, pink and white flowers which is a stark contrast and brings out the flowers more in the painting. This effect allows the viewers to feel at ease and peaceful as the colors are more cool toned.

• He also contrasts the subject with the background as she is wearing blue which is in a similar tone with the background. It’s as if she herself is blending in with the background. It makes the viewer feel that the garden is a part of her and she resonates within it. It allows the viewer to make a connection with the subject. 

• The lady has a serious and thoughtful expression and is looking at the audience almost as if she is questioning the audience. Her making direct eye contact with the viewers makes them keep looking at her.

• Her skin is glossy and realistic which brings her out in the forest and highlights the focus of the painting. Along with that she is wearing simple clothing with no jewelry that shows her simplicity and shifts the focus more to her than her attire.

2. What statement are the paintings making about: Who is beautiful? Who should we honour? Who is sacred?

   
   

   Dawe portrays beauty through the lens of 19th-century European ideals, with idealized, serene women in flowing garments, suggesting that sacredness and honor were historically reserved for white, European figures in art. The biblical story reinforces the moral and spiritual virtues traditionally celebrated in that era. Wiley disrupts this tradition by portraying modern Black women as sacred and honorable. Wiley’s vibrant, floral background and the subjects’ contemporary clothing assert that beauty is diverse and inclusive, challenging Eurocentric standards. By reclaiming a biblical narrative, Wiley elevates Black women to a position of sacredness and reverence, suggesting they are equally deserving of honor and representation in historical and spiritual contexts.

   
   

3. Which "elements of art" or "principles of design" are used? What effect do these have on the viewer?

   
   

   Both Wiley and Dawe use elements of art and principles of design to convey their distinct messages about beauty and sacredness. Wiley employs vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and bold contrast, blending the figures with a floral background to create a surreal, decorative effect that celebrates modern Black identity and challenges traditional norms. The balanced triangular composition emphasizes unity, while the contemporary clothing contrasts with the ornate setting, prompting reflection on the evolution of representation in art. In contrast, Dawe’s painting uses muted tones, soft lines, and a naturalistic background to evoke a serene, reflective mood, aligning with classical ideals of beauty and sacredness. Light and emphasis on the figures’ faces and gestures guide viewers to contemplate the women’s emotional bonds and spiritual significance. Together, the design choices in both works shape how viewers perceive honor, beauty, and the divine across different cultural and historical contexts.

• Similarities

  • Both paintings have a person riding a horse on its hind legs as their main subject

  • A lot of the small details are the same between the two paintings. For example, the land on which both the horses are posed is a rocky terrain with names of other leaders engraved into the rocks.

  • Unlike most of Wiley’s paintings, the clothing in this recreation are similar to the original painting, which helps create a sense of power and control that is also conveyed in the original painting

• Differences

  • Wiley replaces the historical European leader Napoleon with a contemporary figure, a modern Black individual, dressed in modern yet regal attire, mimicking that of the original painting

  • Represents underrepresented groups on a style historically reserved for European nobility, representing a shift in power dynamics

  • The bright red background contrasts the natural muted landscape of the original portrait

2. What statement are the paintings making about: Who is beautiful? Who should we honour? Who is sacred?

• In terms of beauty, Wiley’s painting keeps the clean white horse that is usually a symbol of grace and beauty

• While the original painting was meant to show the viewers that Napoleon is an honorable leader and a powerful member of society, Wiley replaces the subject with a black man. In doing so, he hints to the idea that honor and respect is something that everyone, including everyday people, like the black man showcased in his painting, deserve. This choice challenges the societal belief from the Napoleonic era that the only respectable individuals of society are the white men from higher classes.

• Wiley’s painting further pushes this point through the names engraved in the rocks located in the bottom left corner of the painting. Although this design choice was copied from the original painting, Wiley’s rendition of this detail included an additional name: Williams; a common last name amongst African-American people. By placing this name amongst the other leaders’ names, Wiley furthers his message that everyday people deserve the same honor and respect as someone of Napoleon's stature would traditionally get

3. Which "elements of art" or "principles of design" are used? What effect do these have on the viewer?

• Wiley’s use of bright colors for the clothing of the subject help convey that the main focus of this peace is the person

• He also creates a sharp contrast between the background and the subject by replacing the original background with a simplistic red and gold design that compliments the colors of the subjects clothes, allowing the viewer to focus on subject

• This painting is also filled with movement that assists the viewer to understand the power held by the subject that Wiley was trying to convey. The horse’s pose on its hind-legs along with the subject finger that is pointing to the sky help showcase the subject’s grandeur

• The subject's overall positioning in terms of the frame also emphasizes his importance, as he is the first part of the painting that the viewer's eye is drawn to

Works Cited

Dr. Gayle Clemans, "Kehinde Wiley, Napoleon Leading the Army over the Alps," in Smarthistory, September 13, 2018, accessed November 19, 2024, https://smarthistory.org/kehinde-wiley-napoleon-leading-the-army-over-the-alps-2/.

Wiley's reimagined portrait "The Blue Boy" still holds the grand, dignified pose found in classic European portraiture, catching a confident gaze and commanding presence. At the same time, Wiley's figure, however, is a young Black man in a bright orange-and-black tie-dye T-shirt and blue shorts, whereas its inspiration, Gainsborough's original, shows the subject in blue satin as a white aristocrat. It's a change that upsets the conventional understanding of who should hold such sacred space. Where classical portraits of the elite often used neutral tones and refined garments, Wiley works in lively patterns and bright colors, creating an overall more lively and visually stimulating painting. Gainsborough is in sharp contrast with these bright floral motifs and vines in the background that modernize the context, reflective of contemporary culture yet with a sense of elevating his subjects with the same degree of importance seen in classical works.

2. What statement are the paintings making about: Who is beautiful? Who we should honour? Who is sacred?

Wiley's reimagined portrait of "The Blue Boy" completely flips the script on the traditional narrative of who should be celebrated and idolized. Whereas Gainsborough's subject is a white aristocratic boy in grand blue satin, Wiley's is a young Black man in bright, modern attire-a radical statement of Black life and beauty. This shift in Wiley challenges traditional European ideals on who is beautiful, cementing that beauty isn't only one race or social class. The use of a Black subject in such a historically important pose, by Wiley, dignifies and honors those that have been continuously overlooked and excluded from grand portraiture. He places the subject on the same pedestal as the elites, who are usually depicted in contemporary attire and confidence, to announce that even people from humble walks of life-especially the ones who have been continuously marginalized-are worthy of being given honor. The subject's presence amidst vibrant floral patterns suggests the sacredness of individuality and the political power of reclaiming spaces once taken by certain ideals.

3. What elements of art or principles of design are used?  To what effect on the viewer?

• Foreground-Background Contrast

  • The subject stands against a bright, highly decorated background, ornamented with complex floral and vine motifs in several colors

    • By contrast, this subject is highlighted against it, thus he stands out and automatically captures immediate attention.

    • The juxtaposition of the subject with the ornate, classical-inspired patterns in his modern dress echoes Wiley's intention of a blend of the contemporary and the historical.

  • The boldness of colors and patterns in the background further amplifies the feel of vibrancy and life within the painting, making it visually striking and appealing.

• Pattern and Repetition

  • The flowers and vines that Wiley repeatedly used create motion in this painting.

    • These are patterns that radiate around and appear to envelop the subject, thereby creating a dynamic interaction between figure and background.

    • That movement maintains the viewer's eye moving back and forth continuously, keeps them engaged, and reinforces the subject's central role.

  • These decorative motifs give a rhythm and energy, developing visual weight that contrasts with the traditional backgrounds used in classical portraits

• Scale and Proportion

  • The figure in the painting is larger-than-life, dominating the composition and emphasizing the subject’s importance.

    • This enlarged scale is converse to the historical norm of proportionate figures in classical portraits and asserts the prominence and power of Wiley's subject.

    • By giving the subject more visual weight and size, Wiley conveys a feeling of grandeur and importance that is typically reserved for historical elites.

• Use of color

  • Wiley employs bright and bold colors, especially in the subject's orange and black tie-dye shirt and his blue shorts.

    • If such vivid and unusual colors were used instead of the classically subdued tones, it would modernize the portrait and make it contemporary.

    • It becomes immersive with the viewer through the vivid colors and patterns, accenting individuality of the subject apart from traditional, constrained notions of beauty and identity in art.

What makes Wiley’s paintings similar or different to the classic paintings he was influenced by?

• Stained glass, mosaic-style

  • Red clouds at the back to represent blood?

• Positioning & expression

  • The expressions of Kehinde’s “mary” is filled with this sense of anger or stubbornness that we don't see in the original stained glass portrait, the expressions of the original appear to be gentler 

  • Kehinde’s “mary” is looking directly at the audience, making US feel uncomfortable and bringing us into the painting

    • Also shown in the eye at the top (looking at the audience)

    • The original painting has no relation to the audience

  • Kehinde’s person is standing, while the original painting has mary sitting

• Outfits & architecture 

  • Stark contrast between the hip-hop style of the main subject of the portrait and the older more historic style of clothing of those around him

  • The triangle with the eye at the center, at the top of the arch

    • The symbol that depicts an eye, often enclosed in a triangle and surrounded by rays of light, represents divine providence; whereby the eye of God watches over humanity.

      • Again makes the audience feel uncomfortable, as if God’s watching our actions, how our own inaction pertaining to the current suffering of black people is a moral disaster.

• Square segments

• A lot of visual imagery with the subject and his characterization as this almost ‘saviour’ character

  • Crown & halo

    • Kehinde’s halo is much bigger and brighter w/ stars

  • He’s descending to the common people upon a cloud, with a large yellow halo around him

• More active role in saving those afflicted

• Demonstrates key moments of black history

  • Slavery

• Vastly different color palette (warm/saturated vs. cool/muted)

  • Kehnde’s work still contains elements of the original e.g. bright blues and greens in the midst of oranges and yellows

• Different afflictions of the people around “mary”

  • In the original, it’s mostly health-related afflictions that mary is helping with

  • In Kehinde’s, there is a man in chains (call to slavery), a man with physical impairments (seen through the crutch), a blind woman, perhaps calls to issues with belief and faith in god (seen through the nun in the corner, next to the main subject of the portrait)

What statement are the paintings making about: 

• Who is beautiful?  

  • Mary is considered very beautiful in the original painting, not only for her appearance, but for her care for others. Thus, directly comparing her to a black man calls him beautiful. 

  • The painting consists entirely of black people (even the people on the sides), rather than the original “beautiful” white people

  • It references black culture at several points in time with the hip-hop clothing, the man in chains and almost the sense of community (they’re all there together), which again serves to show that black culture and members of the black community are beautiful.

• Who we should honour? 

  • In Kehinde’s painting, he is holding an injured/dead little black boy with his own halo, showing how much we should honour the lives lost (big or small)

  • By putting a halo and clear emphasis on the adult black man in the middle, he shows that we should honour the contributions of black men in society and how they uplift other black people

    • He previously mentioned that black men are not given much by society, and by positioning a black man in this position of power he almost commands the audience to provide honor and respect to this demographic. 

    • Again by positioning this man in a position of power, holding an ill child he kind of sends a message that black men have a lot of kindness and love to share with society

  • He also adds a black indigenous person in the painting, paying credit and giving more representation to this group

• Who is sacred?

Everyone in the painting is considered sacred because they have been featured in a very iconic, biblical, and holy image

The black man in the middle is perhaps the most sacred even in his street clothing 

What elements of art or principles of design are used?  To what effect on the viewer?

• Excellent balance 

• The squares are ever so slightly off, which could allude to a distortion to the original painting’s segments

• Colour

  • Way more vibrant colors

• Lines

  • Strong use of lines (black outlines around almost everything)

  • Changes in line density 

  • Even with the clouds, there’s a lot of movement and a lot of lines there, in contrast to the original piece of artwork that does not show these lines within the cloud, almost signifying this emotion that the clouds have (pathetic fallacy), the movement kind of signifying this sense of anger or frustration

  • Good mix of geometric and organic shapes to mimic the original style

    • Geometric with the architecture

    • Organic with the clouds, the clothes

Similarities

Style and Technique: Wiley infuses his work with traditional techniques characteristic of European Old Masters that include paying great attention to minute detail, dramatic lighting, and rich textures to make highly polished photorealistic portraits.

Compositional Influence: His works often closely emulate the pose, framing, and grandeur of classic portraits. Figures are often in heroic stances, emulating the depiction of royalty or other religious icons reminiscent of the Renaissance or Baroque periods.

Ornaments: Wiley uses ornate ‘mosaic’ backgrounds with complicated patterns, reminiscent of those that were often found in decorative classic portrait art.

Differences

Subjects: Wiley fills classic paintings' aristocrats, monarchs, and religious figures with modern Black and Brown models, generally coming from the everyday environment. This move gestures back to and repositions power relations, elevating historically underprivileged groups. In this painting we see 

Cultural Melting Pot: Whereas the cultural environments of classical art are often rather homogeneous, Wiley contrasts historical European influences with contemporary, frequently urban, sensibilities. This includes bold colors, streetwear, and alternative adornments.

Backdrops: Where classical works tend to be set against naturalistic backgrounds, Wiley's works are set against highly stylized, brightly colored, and often surreal floral or geometric patterning that creates a jarring contrast, blurring the line between figure and setting.

Themes: His work often engages issues of identity and representation, power dynamics tied to race and gender, and a consideration of history that was rarely pursued during the eras of classical art.

2. What statement are the paintings making about: 

Who is beautiful?

Centres Black people in the expression of Eurocentric beauty. Places beauty within contemporary, everyday people and not just historical elitism. Vibrant, detailed backgrounds lend to the subject's glow and individualism.

Who should we honor?

Makes honor democratic through depictions of the ordinary in poses of historical grandeur.  Redefines everyday people as deserving of praise and honor. Questions earlier modes of honoring based on race, class, and status.

Who is sacred?

Places everyday people as god-like or saintly to redefine sanctity. Implies that sacredness is not solely relegated to religious or cultural archetypes. Places Black identity and existence on a pedestal of the divine.

3. What elements of art or principles of design are used? To what effect on the viewer?

Kehinde Wiley utilizes the key elements of art and principles of design in Saint Adelaide, 2014, to create a visually appealing composition. Line is evident in the flower-like, curvilinear shapes in the background. The lines create movement, taking the viewer's eye around the painting. Shape is evident in the organic forms in the background contrasted against geometric shapes in the subject's clothing; this creates a sense of blending historical and contemporary themes. Form and value add an almost three-dimensional quality to this piece, giving life to the subject while her divinity is subtly contrasted. Color plays a bold role: vibrant hues of the background contrast with the subdued tones of the figure for her to pop. Of the principles of design, Balance is achieved through symmetry, lending stability to the composition and evoking classical portraiture. Emphasis is achieved by the central positioning of the figure and the use of contrasts to assert her importance. Proportion provides the subject with heroic or sacred status, while Unity provides harmony, binding the elements together as one, emphasizing her timeless importance.

Kehinde Wiley’s painting (left) and the classic painting (right) share notable similarities and differences, reflecting Wiley’s reinterpretation of traditional art forms.

Similarities:

1. Pose and Stance:

   • The subject in Wiley’s painting mimics the confident, upright stance of the nobleman in the classic portrait, holding a sword in a similar position, symbolizing power and authority.

2. Focus on the Subject:

   • Both paintings place the subject at the center, emphasizing their importance and dignity.

3. Ornate Framing:

   • Both paintings are surrounded by elaborate frames, giving the works a sense of grandeur and importance.

Differences:

1. Clothing:

   • Classic painting: The nobleman wears formal 17th-century attire, with a large ruffled collar and dark, heavy fabrics that signify wealth and status.

   • Wiley’s painting: The subject is dressed in a casual modern tracksuit and Timberland boots, emphasizing a connection to contemporary culture and everyday people.

2. Background:

   • Classic painting: The background is muted and realistic, showing a curtain and a subdued natural setting, reflecting the nobleman’s environment.

   • Wiley’s painting: The background is bold and decorative, filled with vibrant red and gold floral patterns that create a stark contrast with the subject, making them stand out dramatically.

3. Cultural Message:

   • Classic painting: Highlights the traditional ideals of power, wealth, and hierarchy.

     • Wiley’s painting: Challenges these ideas by placing an ordinary person—likely from a marginalized community—in the same position of honor and power, making a statement about inclusivity and representation.

       
       

   What statement are the paintings making about: Who is beautiful? Who should we honour? Who is sacred?

   
   

   • Classic painting: Beauty is shown as refined, tied to wealth and traditional European standards, represented by the subject’s elegant clothing and formal pose.

   • Wiley’s painting: Beauty is redefined to include modern and diverse identities. The subject in Wiley’s painting, dressed in a tracksuit and boots, is shown as confident and stylish, proving beauty isn’t limited to old-fashioned ideas of wealth or status.

   Who should we honor?

   • Classic painting: Honor is reserved for the powerful and wealthy—those born into privilege or elevated by their position in society.

   • Wiley’s painting: Wiley challenges this by honoring everyday people, particularly those from marginalized communities. By placing them in poses traditionally reserved for nobility, he shows that honor belongs to everyone, regardless of background.

   Who is sacred?

   • Classic painting: Sacredness is tied to symbols of authority, like swords and luxurious surroundings, often representing power or divine favor.

   • Wiley’s painting: Sacredness is about the inherent worth of all people. The vibrant floral backgrounds and decorative framing make Wiley’s subject feel divine, suggesting that everyone has sacred value.

     
     

   Which "elements of art" or "principles of design" are used?  What effect do these have on the viewer?

   1. Line

   • Use: Straight lines in the figure’s stance and sword make the subject look strong and powerful. Curved lines in the background patterns add movement and elegance.

   • Effect: The straight lines emphasize stability, while the curves make the image feel alive and energetic.

   2. Shape

   • Use: The subject is a bold, solid shape that stands out against the softer, floral patterns in the background.

   • Effect: This contrast draws the viewer’s eyes to the figure as the central focus.

   3. Form

   • Use: The figure is shaded to look three-dimensional, giving a lifelike feel.

   • Effect: This makes the subject look real and present, like they could step out of the painting.

   4. Space

   • Use: The subject is close to the front, and the background patterns fill the rest of the space.

   • Effect: This makes the figure feel larger-than-life and very important.

   5. Texture

   • Use: The subject’s smooth skin and clothing contrast with the detailed, intricate patterns in the background.

   • Effect: This makes the figure stand out sharply against the busy background.

   6. Value

   • Use: Light and shadow make the subject look realistic and give depth to the sword and other details.

   • Effect: This adds drama and draws attention to key parts of the painting, like the subject’s face.

   7. Colour

   • Use: The background is bright red and gold, while the figure wears muted tones.

   • Effect: The bold colors create energy and excitement, while the figure’s simpler colors make them relatable but still powerful.

Similarities:

Wiley’s work is inspired by the fancy portraits of kings, queens, and religious figures in European art. He uses dramatic poses and rich, detailed backgrounds, just like the old masters.

The subjects are placed in elegant, powerful stances, echoing the grand style of historical paintings.

Differences:

Instead of featuring royalty or historical elites, Wiley paints regular people, often from Black or Afro-Caribbean communities, who wouldn’t normally appear in this kind of art.

The background isn’t just there to frame the person. It’s filled with bright, modern patterns.

His subjects wear modern clothes, which makes the paintings feel fresh and connected to today’s world.

2. What statement are the paintings making about: Who is beautiful?  Who we should honour? Who is sacred?

Wiley is saying that beauty isn’t just about European standards. His portraits show that people of all ethnicities and backgrounds are just as beautiful and deserving of attention.

By painting everyday people in such a grand style, Wiley makes a statement that you don’t have to be rich or famous to deserve respect and recognition.

His work makes ordinary people look like saints or mythological figures, showing that everyone has value and deserves to be celebrated.

3. What elements of art or principles of design are used?  To what effect on the viewer?

Colour → Wiley uses super bright, bold colors that grab your attention and make the paintings feel alive.

The contrast between the patterns in the background and the subject’s skin tone makes the person stand out even more.

Pattern → The floral or decorative patterns in the background are intricate and spill onto the subject, making the art feel connected and dynamic.

Composition:

Scale → Wiley’s paintings are huge, making the people in them seem larger-than-life, like they’re really important.