Portrait Of Eugene Chen Analysis

This painting is titled “Portrait of Eugene Chen”, by Georgette Chen. The medium of this painting is oil on canvas and the subject matter is Georgette Chen’s husband, Eugene Chen. The size of the painting is 92 x 91.5 cm and it was painted in 1940.

The artist uses colours and objects to reveal about Eugene Chen’s character. He is portrayed as a serious person. The colours used are earthly colours and on the whole, the painting looks dull. He is frowning and his eyes are looking elsewhere. This makes him seem to be deep in thought. The dark clothes, his neat hair and round rim spectacles gives him a prim and proper look, hence representing his stern character. Eugene Chen is posed with a book and round rim spectacles. This reveals that he

Although she painted this artwork in the 1940s, which was not the period of Post-Impressionist, her painting was very much similar to those of Post-Impressionist. One key idea of the Post-Impressionist is that symbolic and highly personal meanings were very important. Georgette Chen did not paint Eugene Chen in a professional setting or him in a stiff pose, but rather of Eugene Chen sitting on an old bamboo chair which was common in every household at that time. Eugene Chen was also painted sitting on the edge of the chair, and not in an unnatural position. Hence, this made the painting see more personal, which is similar to the style of Post-Impressionist. In addition, Georgette Chen used numerous items to symbolise each of her husband’s characteristics. Just like what was mentioned earlier, the book Eugene Chen is holding and his spectacles symbolises that he wish to appear as a knowledgeable and intellectual person. She also used his scarf, sitting position and clothes to symbolise that Eugene Chen is an introvert, a humble and serious person. This reaches out to the viewers more in a personal way. Hence, her painting is very much similar to the style of