I’ll be the first to admit that I can be easily bored in an art museum. It’s not that I don’t like the artwork, it’s that I often feel like I am looking at essentially the same painting over, and over, and over again. Suffice to say this was the case when I first visited the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Maybe it’s because it was 95° outside, and I was already in a cranky mood from the heat, but the Prado and I just weren’t clicking. I would look at a painting and think, “Oh, another religious depiction,” or “more portraits, nice.” That was until I saw paintings by El Greco (Doménikos Theotokópoulos). Although I was not typically a huge fan of deeply traditional religious works, there was just something about El Greco’s style that instantly captivated me.
Analysis of El Expolio “The Disrobing of Christ”
The above painting, El Expolio, or in English, The Disrobing of Christ, is one of El Greco’s most famous paintings. It was painted between 1577-1579 as a commission for the cathedral in Toledo, Spain, where it is now permanently housed. I could not find the location of where El Greco did the painting, but I believe it would be safe to think that it was done in or around Toledo.
Color
The main art element of this work that I find interesting is El Greco’s use of color. Set against a background of dull colors, our eyes are initially drawn to Jesus’s bright red robe. This focuses our eyes on the most important figure of the painting, Jesus. In addition to focusing our attention on Jesus, the color red also evokes emotions. For me, I instantly associate red with power. By painting the robe red, El Greco is restoring power to Jesus even though Jesus is literally getting that power stripped away. Additionally, red is commonly associated with blood. The crucifixion was a bloody event, with, in this instance, the blood potentially being portrayed through the redness of the robe.
Another interesting use of color that pops out to me is the color of the three women’s faces in the bottom left hand corner of the painting – white. The women are Mary, so it is all too fitting that they be painted in a color that is widely regarded to be a symbol of purity.
Color was the art element that initially caught my eye when I first saw El Greco’s other paintings in the Museo del Prado, so I am not surprised that the use of color in The Disrobing of Christ is the art element that is most striking to me.
Tone
Related to color, tone is another element of this painting that is important to note. The background of the painting is darker in tone than the foreground, creating the feeling that the figures in the back are further away in comparison to the figures in the front which are lighter in tone. Additionally, the dark tone of the faces and sky in the back of painting convey the dramatic nature of the content that is being painted.
Evoked Emotions
In addition to the emotions of power and drama that are elicited by either color or tone, I feel a sense of chaos when I look at this painting simply due to the subject matter that is being portrayed. However, at the same time, I feel a sense of peace. The sense of chaos comes from the obviously hectic scene that is being depicted. People look to be screaming, pointing, and physically pulling at Jesus. Additionally, the man on the left side of the painting is looking directly into our eyes, making us complicit in the chaos that is happening. It’s almost as if you can hear and feel the noise in this painting. If the painting only left me with this feeling of craziness and havoc, I would not like it. However, it is the small sense of peace that I feel when I look at it that makes it more appealing. Throughout the surrounding chaos, Jesus is a beacon of peace and serenity. It’s this juxtaposition of calm and calamity that I find interesting and drawn to.
Final Thoughts
Although I enjoy this painting, it is not a work of art that I would desire to have in my home. It is too large (285 cm x 173 cm) to be comfortably displayed at its full dimensions in a regular house. Even if I were to acquire a smaller print of the painting, it is not something that I would hang on my wall. While it is an interesting painting, and one that I enjoy looking at and analyzing, it does not foster thoughts or emotions that I would like as a component in my home.
El Greco continues to be one of my favorite painters, mostly due in part to his unique use of color. It is almost never that I can look at a painting and instantly be able to pinpoint who the artist is, but El Greco’s stark, and almost ethereal use of color is a telltale sign for me.
Citations
“The Disrobing of Christ” Totally History. 2012, http://totallyhistory.com/the-disrobing-of-christ/
Malia's Explorations in Art 200X 
Good evening Malia,
From first look on the piece of art you chose, I could feel the emotion, the colors used in the painting help portray the feeling of betrayal, sadness, and even agony. The artists use of color in this painting tells a story. I also agree that I would not want to have a print of this painting in my home, due to the fact that the emotions painted are very vivid and sad. That is not something that I would want in my house. The artist you chose is amazing, and his work with color really does paint a message (no pun intended) it is a beautiful piece, although I am not into paintings, there are many different forms of art, and I really am enjoying getting to know what you connect to.
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Thanks for your post Malia,
I agree that there is so much chaos that is felt when looking at this picture, and in every corner of the photo there is a different emotion displayed. I look towards the back and I feel a sense of violence and anger. Looking at Christ I feel peaceful, hopeful and grace. When I look at the three pale people at the bottom left I feel sadness and even defeat. I honestly feel that I could observe this photo and continue to find interesting parts of it. One thing I would like to add is the texture in the sky. The texture is very rough and there are parts that look like a streak. It adds on to the feeling of chaos and but the streaks give me a sense of rush. As if the moment was happening all at once with no timeline.
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