The Relationship of Society and Politics

An interpretation of a piece of art can be applied to yourself and also to the society viewing it. In this paper I am going to discuss how John Berger and Leo Tolstoy talk about issues relating to art, how they are similar and different in their arguments. To do this I will use ideas contained in Berger’s essay “Ways of Seeing” and Tolstoy’s essay “What is Art” to interpret Joseph Pennell’s …

…love for his woman but not necessarily her love. Berger’s underlying message is that the painting is of a certain time, and place and the model in it is having her intimacy frozen for all time. The fact that she is frozen in time lets you relate the gestures and the setting to own life. For example it makes Berger fell as tough the woman is looking back at him causing an unforgettable moment.