Classic art has influenced many modern-day filmmakers in their work. It is hard to imagine what Hollywood would look like without Leonardo da Vinci, French Impressionism, and other classical works. Classic art has changed the film world, and I believe it is important to analyze how classic artwork influenced modern filmmakers. We will compare classic art piece with how it was implemented in a modern film.
The essay will discuss how some classic artworks became modern films. Some of the films in which classic artwork is used heavily are Kirsten Dunst in “Melancholia, Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight, The Black Knight, Scarlett Johansson in “The Girl with the Pearl,” Owen Wilson in “Inherent Vice, and Gustav Klimt in Martin Scorsese film shutter island. These arts convey a particular emotion, atmosphere, and mood to the viewers. The essay will primarily look at how this art influenced modern filmmakers. Then compare how effectively the filmmakers used the classical work of art to the technique and function of the classic piece of art.
Classical artwork will be considered a classic work produced in any time before now, along with a piece of classical artwork that was later used within a modern-day film. It will also include any work inspired by some other artwork in the past. I will discuss the classic art that I have chosen and the film. I will also include each piece of classical art’s impact on modern-day films. Then I will compare the classical artwork and how it impacted these films.
Gustav Klimt in Martin Scorsese’s film “Shutter Island”
This painting was called “The Kiss” and was done by Gustav Klimt in 1907. It is a large oil-on-canvas painting. The style of this painting is mannerism, which was popular in Italy’s 15th and 16th centuries. The style can be defined as an idealized depiction of figures set against a background with generic or symbolic elements. This is crucial to the movie “Shutter Island” because it sets up the irony that helps the viewer understand what happened before the movie and what will happen in future movies with this character, Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio).
The background of this painting is a mostly monochromatic style common in mannerism art (Florman, 1990). This is crucial because it helps the viewer understand what happened before the movie and adds a gloomy foreboding tone to give the viewer a sense of unease. Throughout the movie, Teddy Daniels feels uneasy because he has been hospitalized at “Shutter Island” for committing a violent crime. He doesn’t remember what happened, but he knows that he could have killed someone and had no control over his actions; therefore, viewers can relate to feeling uneasy throughout this movie. The strict hospital regulations at Shutter Island juxtapose with how Teddy is portrayed in “The Kiss,” which shows him as a content figure who appears to be enjoying himself with his wife.
The mannerism portrayal of Teddy Daniels in “The Kiss” is ironic because it represents someone who has no control over his life and will have no control over his future on Shutter Island (Florman, 1990). He also looks like he is having fun with his wife, which contrasts with the viewers’ experience with him throughout this movie. This is crucial to the movie because if it were not for this painting, viewers wouldn’t be able to empathize with Teddy Daniels throughout his journey at Shutter Island. If viewers did not feel uneasy when watching “Shutter Island,” then the movie would be unable to portray how Teddy feels throughout this movie.
The painting in this movie is the background of Teddy Daniels. At the asylum, he dreamt of a picture called “The Kiss” and was given the job of investigating Teddy’s past (Bruhn, 2013). This is ironic because Teddy was transferred to Shutter Island after committing a violent crime and doesn’t remember what happened. There are different “Kisses” throughout the film (Teddy has one with his wife in his dream), but it all has something to do with Teddy’s past. The background of this painting is important within the whole film because it shows how dramatic everything can be within one character (Bruhn, 2013). The director of this movie, Martin Scorsese, made this film look very dramatic. He made many changes to the book but kept his audience hooked on the movie’s mood.
The visual style of Shutter Island is a dire and dark film (Florman, 1990). The director said that he wanted to portray a dramatic film with a tone of a ’90s film, but he wanted to keep it from looking too old-fashioned. The way the visuals worked together in the movie made it easier for the audience to get inside Teddy’s mind and feel his emotions. They can understand what is happening and what happened in his past because of the background of this painting that Scorsese added in (Florman, 1990). This helps them understand how dark this all was for Teddy throughout his life and how it affected him after being transferred to Shutter Island.
The artwork is significant to modern film because it makes the audience understand Teddy Daniels and how he thinks (Florman, 1990). The viewers, who are in front of this painting, know what happened to him and his past, but they do not know to what extent. They can feel for him and his wife, who is also trying to get back into her past. The viewer can relate to Teddy’s wife because she is also a violent crime victim. She has been transferred to Shutter Island after murdering her past, but she doesn’t remember how she committed the murder or what happened leading up to that night that led her there. Overall, I feel like this painting is what makes this movie a great film to watch for any audience.
In Melancholia, Dunst plays a character named Dunst, who is married to a man named Lars (played by Stellan Skarsgard). Lars is an artist who has developed a certain art style called Melancholia. He draws and creates art in this style, similar to the artwork made by some classical artists such as Vincent Van Gogh. “Melancholia” represents mood, atmosphere, and feeling (Nicolini, 2019). This combination of art style and movie creates a compelling piece of artwork that shows the importance of mood, atmosphere, and feeling when using classical art in movies.
For movies to be successful for the viewer, there needs to be a cinematic feel and an atmosphere. When using classical artwork, an atmosphere that matches the period of the painting should be used as well (Nicolini, 2019). This will not only help with the atmosphere but also provide a specific mood and feeling for the movie. The impact of this artwork and movie is that it can be used in future movies to help create the effect you want the viewer to feel. You can use this art to give your viewers a specific mood and feeling or to emphasize a mood, atmosphere, or feeling. The techniques of this movie are similar to some techniques used in classical artworks.
The visual style of a movie will influence the viewer’s feelings. A tragic film may be able to create a sad atmosphere, but it is not always practical. The viewer may feel that it is forced and does not make them feel the way the director intended. For the viewer to feel sad, they need something, such as visual effects, to help with their interpretation of the film. In Melancholia, classical artwork provides a specific mood and feeling for movie watchers. This film has two main art styles, including “Melancholia” and “Dunst” (Grodal, 2012). These art styles are used in the film to help with mood and atmosphere as well as helping to represent the period that they are portraying. The director of this film chose to use classical artwork as it can be used to show a certain mood, atmosphere, emotion, and feel.
The viewer sees two different ways for this movie which can help create a compelling movie. When using one way how classical artworks were used, you can create mood, atmosphere, and feel. If you use another way of how classics were used, you can use it to show the viewer the feeling that you want them to feel for your character or any characters in your movie. When using these techniques used in classic artworks, you can help the viewer if they are feeling a certain way.
Melancholia was made within the period in which classical artworks were made. It was in the early 1900s, which was a period when classical artwork was produced. The director of the film chose to use this artwork because it can help with getting past the traditional setting of a movie as well as helping with providing a certain mood, atmosphere, and feeling to people (Grodal, 2012). Therefore, this movie uses classical artwork effectively to help with mood, atmosphere, and feel. With some of the techniques used to help with these feelings, this movie can be compelling for viewers who have difficulty feeling something for your characters or the storyline. Therefore, the artwork is very significant in this film.
“The Dark Knight”
The Dark Knight is a successful Batman film that was produced in the period when classical artworks were made. This means that the director of this movie used classical artwork to help with mood, atmosphere, and feel. The first example of classical artwork was when the Joker brought up Batman’s long-lost mother and predecessor, Thomas Wayne. You see a painting of a woman in front of a fireplace as her son looks at her (Carr & Harrison, 2015). This painting is analogous to Thomas Darrow (The Joker). He believes the mother and Thomas Wayne are the same. This is a powerful moment for the viewer because it can create an effective scene within a movie that helps with mood, atmosphere, and feel.
The second example of classical artwork used in this film is when Bruce Wayne looks at his father’s grave as he faces his future (Carr & Harrison, 2015). In this panning shot, you see a painting of his father standing next to his tombstone. In this painting, there are clouds in the background, which some critics have suggested represent Batman’s mask and cape in the real world. This is a strong use of classical artwork in film because it can be used to help with the mood, atmosphere, and feel of the time. This art can also be used to create an effective movie.
The Visual style of the painting that Bruce Wayne was looking at was done on a long exposure. The director of this film chose to use this visual style because it helps with mood and atmosphere as well as helping with the feeling of being trapped within your own body (Carr & Harrison, 2015). This technique is effective because it helps with the mood and atmosphere of the viewer, which helps them feel what is going on. The viewer can relate to this feeling as they had something similar happen to them before.
Overall this movie uses classical artwork effectively to help with mood, atmosphere, and feel. With some of the techniques used to help with these feelings, this movie can be effective for viewers with difficulty feeling something for your characters or the storyline. Therefore, the artwork is very significant in this film.
Scarlett Johansson in “Girl with a Pearl Earring”
Girl with a Pearl Earring is a successful film that was made in the period when classical artworks were made. This means that the director of this movie used classical artwork to help with mood, atmosphere, and feel. The first example of classical artwork was when Scarlett Johansson’s character walked down her school halls to see if she could get an award for their performance at their school play (De Koomen, 2018). You see a painting of “Scarlett Johansson” walking down the hallway carrying a pearl in her hands. This painting is analogous to Scarlett Johansson because it helps make you feel what she would feel as she sees herself on stage before her peers and parents.
Another example is when Scarlett Johansson’s character is in a room as she is talking to one of her best friends about how she plans to get an award for her performance at the school play (De Koomen, 2018). You then see a painting of her being carried off stage by the audience. This is analogous to what she felt when everyone commented on how they thought “Scarlett Johansson” had done well with their performance at their school play.
The third example of artworks used within this film is some classic paintings used as backgrounds within the halls and rooms of the school. These paintings help with providing a certain mood and atmosphere while also giving you a feel for that place (De Koomen, 2018). These paintings have all been done very recently, but they look as if they were made within the period that classical artworks were made. This is a strong use of classical artwork in film because it can be used to help with the mood, atmosphere, and feel of the time. This art can also be used to create an effective movie.
The visual style of the painting that Scarlett Johansson’s character was looking at in this scene was done on a long exposure which helped to create mood and atmosphere and help with feel. The director of this film chose to use this visual style because it helps with mood and atmosphere as well as helping with the feeling of being trapped within your own body (De Koomen, 2018). This technique is effective because it helps with the mood and atmosphere of the viewer, which helps them feel what is going on. The viewer can relate to this feeling as they had something similar happen to them before.
The painting was done on a long exposure so the director could emphasize her character’s emotions at the time. This movie uses classical artwork effectively to help with mood, atmosphere, and feel. With some of the techniques used to help with these feelings, this movie can be effective for viewers with difficulty feeling something for your characters or the storyline. Therefore, the artwork is very significant in this film.
“Inherent Vice”
The film “Inherent Vice” is a successful film that was made in the period when classical artworks were made. An example of classical artwork was when Owen Wilson looked at a painting hanging on his wall as he went out to pick up some more drugs in his car (Taylor, 2020). You see a portrait being done of him smoking weed behind the wheel of his car. This is analogous to Owen Wilson because it helps make you feel what he would feel as he got ready to get some more drugs. The director chose to use this specific artwork because this art helps with mood and atmosphere as well as helping with the feeling of being trapped within your own body. This technique is effective because it helps with the mood and atmosphere of the viewer, which helps them feel what is going on. The viewer can relate to this feeling as they had something similar happen to them before.
The second example of artworks in this film is some classic paintings used as backdrops during all the scene changes from one location to another (Taylor, 2020). These paintings help with providing a certain mood and atmosphere while also giving you a feel for that place. These paintings have all been done very recently, but they look as if they were made within the period that classical artworks were made. This is a strong use of classical artwork in film because it can be used to help with the mood, atmosphere, and feel of the time. This art can also be used to create an effective movie.
The visual style of this film helps to create the feeling that you are trapped in your own body while taking drugs throughout your day (Taylor, 2020). The director chose to use this visual style because it helps with mood and atmosphere as well as helping with the feel of being trapped within your own body. This technique is effective because it helps with the mood and atmosphere of the viewer, which helps them feel what is going on. The viewer can relate to this feeling as they had something similar happen to them before. Therefore, this movie uses classical artwork effectively to help with mood, atmosphere, and feel. With some of the techniques used to help with these feelings, this movie can be effective for viewers with difficulty feeling something for your characters or the storyline. Therefore, the artwork is very significant in this film.
In general, the artworks are used in many different ways throughout the films, whether it be for symbolism or the purpose of characterization. It gives spectators insight into who the characters are based on what makes them unique and special (Moore, 2019). It also helps tell their story by showing their type of person or how they learned from a specific experience. All these classic arts have been used to influence modern films. It is interesting to see how a simple painting of a man in uniform, which is meant to be generic, has become so important for modern cinema.
The artwork defines the themes in these classic films’ visual styles (Moore, 2019). Through changes made by the director and editor, the audience will not always understand what exactly is happening with these characters. The viewer can still feel for these characters and their stories, but they will never know what happened before the movie or caused them to commit certain actions. The backgrounds help viewers relate to these characters by showing viewers a mental state they may not understand but can relate to.
In conclusion, all these artworks have influenced modern movies in one way or another. Each of these films set a new example for other filmmakers. The artwork has a big influence on modern cinema and its visual style. This is because we as humans love to be affected by movies, feel something that can relate to us, and we, as artists, want our audience to relate. We as humans are different from each other, and the artwork shows us how we can express ourselves the way that we choose to express ourselves through art. The background has become an important part of the visual style of different classic films because it helps viewers understand what is happening in each character’s past that relates to their journey through the film.
Phoenix Melville is a British-French director, writer, and artist. Visit phoenixmelville.com.
