Critical appreciation of Painter of John Ashbery.

Critical appreciation of Painter of John Ashbery. 

TO JOIN OUR ACADEMY

VISIT THE LINKS BELOW

MA ENGLISH LITERATURE ONLINE ACADEMY BY ASMA SHEIKH

YOU TUBE CHANNEL

1: "The Painter" is a remarkable poem of John Ashbery. The poem is the most representative of Ashbery's poems and it is a key to understanding Ashbery both as poet and artist. The painter like Ashbery is innovator and wants to capture the vitality of life.

 2: The main theme of the poem is that innovator, modern and creative artist are crucified by the traditional and conventional people. The poet tells us that the painter is sitting between the sea and tall buildings. In this poem, the poet has introduced a painter who is confused and baffled as to how to paint his subject Sea. 

3: The poet tries to paint an abstract idea. He expects his subject sea to portray itself on it but it is not possible. Naturally his wish is too childish to be fulfilled. As it is not easy to explore the mysteries of life as well as depth of sea.

 4: The poem highlights two major themes. one is man's limitation in the universe; that every desire cannot be fulfilled. Secondly the poet wants artistic perfection of his painting. He wishes to portray beauty.

5: The poem shows the condition of the artist sandwiched between two contrasting forces behind art; conventional, traditional and superficial approach on the one hand and modern, creative and experimental and innovative on the other. The painter symbolizes the creative modern urge and the people in the buildings are traditional critics who fail the understand the philosophy of life