Week 9: Space and Art

Lascaux Shaft Scene from Lascaux, France.

Human beings have this inherent desire to explore a world beyond us. Recorded history led us to believe that astrology began with the Ancient Greeks (12th-9th century BC), but recent analysis discovery of cave paintings like France's Lascaux Shaft Scene (17,000 - 15,000 years ago) says otherwise. Humanity has been looking up into the stars for hundred, and it could easily be seen in through the illustration of a rhino with a Taurus constellation. Before written language was even created, art became the mode of language that expressed our curiosity into the unknown. 

Joseph Wright of Derby's A Philosopher
Giving a Lecture at the Orrery

Previous to Nicholas Copernicus’s scientific declaration, art depicted Earth as the center of the universe. Revolutionizing the established earth-centric ideal, I found it interesting that paintings of the Age of Enlightenment shifted the focus to the Sun in the middle. This portrays the influence of astronomy on the desired image. The very idea of space exploration and imagery comes from the raw mind of an artist illustrating their perception of the universe.

Sherlock - Figuring Out a Fake Painting

In fact, the only scientific evidence of the past was portrayed in illustrations. Even artists themselves may not even notice they’re doing it, but only simply interpreting and transferring the influence they see on the night sky. As a big fan of the British show Sherlock, one of my favorite scenes was when Sherlock spotted a fake Vermeer painting under 10 seconds based on an exploding star. The key concept of the scene was a “Van Buren supernova,” a fictitious supernova inspired by Dr. David Van Buren’s discovery of a starburst galaxy. In the show, the painting was created in the 1640s, but apparently only appeared in 1858. This got me thinking more about how art historians date paintings based on the subject matter. Scientists from Texas State University used “forensic astrology” to date many of Claude Monet’s paintings. They were able to find the exact date and time Monet painted the Étretat: Sunset based on the sky, but others have critiqued its ultra-precise dating as unable to be questioned. In other words, too good to be true. 

Claude Monet's Étretat: Sunset

Ultimately, space and art had made me more critical of images portrayed. When it comes to art, nothing is ever an accident. Every detail has a purpose, and by looking at the background like the sky, you’re able to determine a whole set of astrological discoveries. When artists of the past are unconsciously recording scientific evidence, an observant eye is important to notice such minute details. I’m influenced to look at things more closely and see the influence of art on science and science on art.

References

“The Cliff, Étretat, Sunset (Work of Art).” The Cliff, Étretat, Sunset – NCMALearn, learn.ncartmuseum.org/artwork/the-cliff-etretat-sunset/.

“Figuring out a Fake Painting in Just 10 Seconds - Sherlock.” YouTube, YouTube, 4 May 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwREUYN4UtQ.

“Newly Discovered Supernova May Help Explain Starburst Galaxies.” NASA, NASA, www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/newly-discovered-supernova-may-help-explain-starburst-galaxies.

Nguyen, Jennifer. “Archaeologists Figured out That Some of the World's Oldest Cave Drawings Don't Just Depict Animals - They're Constellations of Stars.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 20 Dec. 2018, www.businessinsider.com/ancient-cave-drawings-are-constellations-of-stars-2018-12.

“Nicolaus Copernicus (Article).” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/big-history-project/big-bang/how-did-big-bang-change/a/nicolaus-copernicus-bh#:~:text=Nicolaus%20Copernicus%20fulfilled%20the%20Renaissance,and%20understood%20Greek%20and%20Italian.

Vesna, Victoria, director. 8 Space Intro 1280x720. YouTube, YouTube, 29 July 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dPAmpBiVHY&ab_channel=UCOnline.

Vincent, Jame. “How Sherlock-Style Forensics Allowed Astrophysicists to Date This.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 27 Jan. 2014, www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/how-sherlock-style-forensics-allowed-astrophysicists-date-monet-masterpiece-9087773.html.

“Wright of Derby, A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery (Article).” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/later-europe-and-americas/enlightenment-revolution/a/wright-of-derby-a-philosopher-lecturing-on-the-orrery.