Simply Crazy! Masterpieces with Too Much Detail (Western Painting Edition)
They say that "God is in the details," and the same is true for paintings.
Things you wouldn't notice unless you looked closely, but it would be a shame to miss them!!
Let's take a look at the charm of these overly detailed masterpieces.
Hard to believe it's 600 years old! Superb technique
First, I would like to introduce this work, painted in 1434, which is about 600 years ago.
It depicts a marriage ceremony.
To modern people exposed to various visual stimuli, it might look like an ordinary painting.
But please take a closer look. Its precision, especially the expression of textures, is phenomenal even by today's standards.
First, the woman's clothing that catches your eye immediately. The weight of the dress's folds is super realistic! The fur on the sleeves and collar also looks so fluffy you'd want to touch it. The lace on her head even conveys the crinkly texture of the ruffles.
It's not just the prominent parts. The fine details are also meticulously crafted. For example...
The wooden window frame and the exterior wall (far left of the screen)
The pattern of the floor material (the bottom left of the screen is easy to see)
The complex shape of the ceiling chandelier
And so on, it's as realistic as a photograph (or even more so than a photograph)!
There is not a single sloppy part from one corner of the screen to the other. You can even feel the painter's obsession in that level of detail.
The highlight is the mirror at the back of the room (a little above the center).
The mirror image of the entire room is drawn into the small mirror.
Moreover, it's not just any mirror. If you look closely, the mirror image is curved. Yes, it's a convex mirror. The expression of this subtle distortion is amazing!
Reflected here, in addition to the couple, are two people standing in the doorway (one is said to be the artist himself). In other words, the viewer is looking at the couple from a position similar to these two people, creating a sensation as if you are witnessing the scene directly with your own eyes. I take my hat off to the painter's attention to detail.
Precision beyond imagination
Next is this dynamic work.
This work is based on the episode of the Tower of Babel from the Old Testament (below).
Humans tried to build a tower that would reach the heavens. God was angry at their arrogance and punished them. He scattered the language that had been one until then so that they could not understand each other. Because of this, the site fell into chaos, and the construction of the tower was halted.
What is depicted is the tower under construction (according to one theory, the height of the tower would be over 400 meters. That's taller than Tokyo Tower!).
Hidden inside this huge tower are super fine details.
For example, here.
You can see white dots on the screen. They are not even the size of a bean, but rather the size of dust, yet they represent humans! It's an unbelievable smallness.
These tiny people appear everywhere, and their number is said to be about 1,400.
It's not just that it's detailed.
The amazing thing about this painting is that it thoroughly examines "how would you actually build this giant tower if you were to build it?"
Looking at the painting, you can clearly understand the construction process of the tower.
Materials are being transported by ship. The depiction of the ships is also precise.
Kilns for making bricks are set up around the tower.
A crane is being used. Since there was naturally no electricity, it is said that people would get inside the pulley to operate it.
The top of the tower. Scaffolding has been assembled for the work.
It's as if they really went and watched it being built! The level of detail in the stage setting is extraordinary.
The story of the Tower of Babel transcends the realm of legend and becomes compellingly real.
Attention to detail that is too fine within a magnificent landscape
The last thing I will introduce is this magnificent landscape painting.
It is based on the regatta (boat race), a traditional event in Venice.
The artist, Canaletto, was an expert at cityscapes, especially those of Venice.
The Venice that Canaletto paints is full of emotion like a mental landscape, yet it is overflowing with a sense of presence as if you were actually there.
Now, to express the atmosphere of a city well, the depiction of buildings is super important. Canaletto was amazing at this!
He faithfully reproduces everything from the texture of the bricks and stone to the slightly peeled-off feeling of the plaster.
Moreover, even the fine decorations on the pillars and walls are properly drawn. For example, the palace in the foreground features pillar decorations and lion statues on the stairs.
It transcends the realm of two dimensions and has a sense of reality like an exquisite miniature. As expected of a professional of Venetian painting!
Now, let's look at the state of the regatta.
An incredible number of people, people, and more people! The population density is also extraordinary. Just looking at it makes my eyes flicker.
In fact, it is said that thousands of spectators visit during a regatta. You can feel the heat and bustle of the scene, can't you?
This level of detail is thoroughly applied to the very back of the canvas.
Countless fine lines are drawn everywhere, including building windows, bridge decorations, boats, and people. Every depiction is precise and orderly, as if drawn by a machine.
The charm lies in how these overly meticulous details are hidden within the expansive landscapes.
Check every corner
These fine details are easy to miss if you just give the painting a quick glance.
If you look with eagle eyes, art appreciation is sure to become more interesting.
*Please also check out the Japanese Art Edition.