The Oxford English Dictionary defines art as: “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as a painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power” (Art). With that being said, art can easily be interpreted in a multitude of ways. Each piece of art can provide a different impact to the observer as it varies from one to another. Different people have their own distinct preferences, depending on the particular areas that person finds enjoyable. Primarily, pieces of art seek to dive deep into the audience, by targeting emotions that allow the observer to express an array of anything they feel, such as curiosity, joy, fear, and sadness…show more content… Hand Held proves to be an example of art that is versatile, providing numerous insightful interpretations, including patriotism, diversity, and the importance placed on an individual’s hands. This work of art is innovative in that the idea behind its creation was in part a collaboration series style. This piece of art encompasses two focal themes we discussed in class, such as slavery and the gap between the wealthy and the poor. The individual scenes depict separate entities such as the states, which provides an interesting outlook. This creativity sparks a viewer’s interest which draws the observer’s attention in, while still maintain the image of the United States of America as a whole. This in essence displays a sense of nationalism or patriotism for America. Hand Held entails the prominence one must consider with close analysis and variable interpretations, as these two components are crucial and essential when viewing art of any magnitude. Hand Held is a viable example of art being both figurative and abstract, as real life situations can be portrayed clearly in some of the states, while in others there is only a usage of lines, colors, and shapes as a form of expression. Most importantly, Hand Held is such a powerful piece of artwork in that it depicts an innovative replacement of such a traditional
