Critical Analysis- CS Fine Arts Center

          While walking through the many pieces of art exhibited at Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, the oil on board painting, Once Upon a Time, by Martin Saldana stood out to me. It had a whimsical, child-like feel that immediately drew me to its presence. It reminded me of something one might create while conjuring innocent and fun memories from one’s childhood or past. However, upon closer inspection, it was easy to see the presence of gender was portrayed and interpreted through this artist’s eye. Whether it is a memory from his past, or a spurt of creativity, one can see that the picture is created from, and for the male eye.

            Although, the women in the picture are larger in size and number than the man, they are closer to the home, wearing less clothing, and more emphasis is placed on their physical appearance than the mans.  As Berger states, “ [A woman’s] presence is manifested in her gestures…clothes [and] chosen surroundings…” (Berger, 46).  Based on this, one can assume that the women’s presence is to be that of the wife, mother and caretaker of the home.  Notice how the woman appear to be waiting, standing still next to the home, with smiling faces, and pretty dresses, as though they are eagerly awaiting the man on the horse.  “The ‘ideal’ spectator is always assumed to be males and the image of the woman is designed to flatter him” (Berger, 64).  This instance certainly proves that the painting was drawn with a man’s view of the world versus a woman’s.

            The women are there to be observed, not to take action. They are motionless, while the man is actively riding upon a horse, in nice dress and even a few cattle.  “A man’s presence is dependent upon the promise of power of which he embodies… a mans presence suggests what he is capable of doing to you or for you” (Berger, 45-46). Thus, one can see how his cattle, dress and activity represents his power as opposed to the women; he appears as the breadwinner, the one man of power to three women.

            Beneath most paintings there is a theme, whether it was put there consciously or not. Sex and gender are a powerful force in our society, culture, and behavior as human beings so it is easy to see how the underlying theme of gender roles and identities can be found beneath the first glance of paintings found even thousands of years ago. Women tend to be viewed as the object of beauty, perfection, fertility and lust, as viewed through the lens of a man in many works of art, and as one can see especially in this piece, Once Upon a Time, by Martin Saldana.

Works Cited

Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. London: British Broadcasting, 1972. Print.