Christina’s World

Christinas Cruel World When I first seen Christinas World, a painting by Andrew Wyeth, I came across a lonely girl, and I wonder. What is she doing lying in the field by herself? Was she laying in the ample grass on a hot summer day enjoying a nice summer breeze? Its hard to tell her age. Is she a widowed married woman to a soldier lost in the war thinking of days long past? Perhaps shes a teenage adolescent, resting in the grass after a long day of chores? Something caught her attention. She sat up, and twisted to liveliness behind her. I follow her gaze, and notice that she is looking toward a plate of Georgian architecture.The front side of the house has the most detail compared to the three other buildings in the picture. I can clearly see the door, windows, and even the ruse of the house. This leads me to believe that Christina is focusing on the front of the house. I see what appears to be a typical farm in rural America, somewhere in a Midwestern grassland state. This far m however, has no livestock, or crops. I see a shed to the beneficial, and a barn about fifty yards to the go forth of the house. If I look closely, birds can be seen flying from the barn. Is this a possible sign of abandonment?Judging between the rough, tall grass and the res sended texture to the grass almost the farm tells me this place is not as deserted as it looks. This tells me that Christinas world has boundaries, and it appears that she is out of bounds. The colors of the painting are very dull and flat. This sole(prenominal) enhances the theme of a desolate and nearly dead farm. The vast field and wide open spaces make this place look very empty. The path take up to the house seems faded by over growth another sign that Christinas world is a lonely place. When I come proficient circle, I set my eyes back on Christina.I begin to wonder, why is she here? Why is she in rough wild grass instead of the smooth tame lawn? As I take a closer look, I notice her rigid hands c lutching the earth. Its almost as if shes clout herself forward as if shes trying to get to safety. Her body is thin and frail. She looks starved and malnourished. Loose strands of hair are flowing in the breeze. Her dress is tap a sign of femininity, but its also faded along with the rest of the scene. The point of view Wyeth gives is as if Im rest right behind Christina. I cant help but feel tempted to do something to help her.I want to get her to safety, give her some food, put her in bed, and get her some medical attention. Would she be safe though? When I look closely I can see a pile of timberland on the side of the house, and a latter propped up on the front. This house needs work done. Maybe this house isnt a sanctuary for Christina. She believably dreads going back, but she has nowhere else to go. I think Christina has accepted her world because she has no other choice. She had to leave the boundaries and explore the outside a little bite before she realized this. May be the outside world rejected her so she begrudgingly turned back.Even though its a warm summer day I sense coldness here. The dark looming house has a forbidden feel to it. The barn is equally forbidden only home to the birds now. It seems Christinas world was left to fade away. When I researched Andrew Wyeth, and his painting of Christinas World I found some interesting facts. Christina is in fact Christina Olsen, one of Wyeths neighbors. She lived with her brother Aravo Olsen in what is now known as the Olsen House located in Cushing Maine. This is far from what I originally thought. There is some speculation that Christina was schizophrenic. This however, is false.On the other hand, Christina did have an undiagnosed muscular disorder. This disease, probably polio, caused her to lose her ability to walk in the late 1920s. This explains why Christina is clutching the ground. She was crawling. It is a fact that Christina regularly crawled around the farm. The Olsen family and farm were inspirations for a fewer of Wyeths paintings. They even let him use the third floor of their house as an art studio. Wyeths father died in a horrible train accident three years before he painted Christinas World. This had a noticeable impact on Wyeths art. His colors became more matte and dull.His landscapes were bare. These traits are highly reflected in Christinas World. If you look at modern pictures of the Olsen House you can see the place is surrounded by evergreens. In the painting, at that place isnt a tree in sight. The landscape is almost bare except for the grass. I would say Christinas World is Wyeths way of expressing his regret for his fathers death. Andrew Wyeth was inspired to paint this picture when he looked out his window and seen Christina crawling around in the fields. Though Christina inspired the painting, it was Wyeths wife Betsy who modeled the torso, and head.The Olsen farmhouse is the most famous model of the painting. It was first built in the l ate 1700s, then later had a third floor annexed to it. The Olsen house until now stands to this day in Cushing Maine, and is a historic landmark. It is owned by the Farnsworth Art Museum. I believe Wyeth was asking his viewers a question in this painting. If your standing behind this woman who is crawling across the field. What would you do? Wyeth is giving us a choice. Hes showing us a cruel, harsh world. Do you help her, or do you pass her by letting her fend for herself?