Voyagers

Voyagers

Rockwell Kent

Oil on canvas board (1923)

Located in the Rose Berry Gallery, 2nd floor

   The painting “Voyagers” has a powerful effect because of its idea. The color plays a central role in this picture. The blue-turquoise sky, clear straight horizon line, then dark-blue sea, and purple mountains make this painting different and enigmatic.

   It is difficult to determine either there is the sunrise or sunset. I see it like the sunrise, the beginning of a new day, new life. The voyagers float to the light with hope about the future. I cannot see the focal point yet, but most colors are dark in the picture and my look stops on the bright light spot on the left side over the horizon and I see the big figure of the flying man in the sky. First, I need try to analyze all aspects of this painting.

The artist uses the figure-ground contrast emphasizing the size of people standing on the ship and the small ship in front of the huge mountains. We cannot see the whole voyagers’ ship I think because the artist wants us think about people not about the way they are moving. These people, without any clothing, personify the beginning of their new life, their revival without past.

   The painting is very bright, sensible. It has almost all colors of the rainbow except red and green. Therefore, it doesn’t make the picture less noticeable because all colors are saturated. The dark blue water seems cold and dangerous. The unusual purple mountains represent the border between the light and darkness. The figure of the flying man facing to the sunlight becomes orange. The beautiful blue sky is pure, without any clouds on it. The line of the horizon is clear and creates a sense of calm. The wave lines on the sea imply change. The zigzag lines of the mountains create sense of unrest or even danger.

   When I look at this picture, sometimes it appears that the figure of a man flying out of place doesn’t fit. If it was not painted, it would be clear that people are traveling or sailing in the new world, new life is emerging on the horizon as something warm and bright yellow between the mountains. But this figure of the man carries some idea. Why the artist painted this big human body with closed eyes and outstretched hands? Contours of the body, hair, eyes, nose, muscles, ribs, knees are clearly drawn; they are smooth. I think the artist uses the similarity effect to show us the relationship between the voyagers and the flying man in the sky. It is all about the potential of the human spirit. The flying man represents the strong people who don’t know what is going to happen in the future, how it will be. That is why the flying man’s eyes are closed, it represents nescience. Therefore, he is still flying with his outstretched hands to the warm, calm light, to the happiness – his destination. A boat on a background of mountains shows that there is not the only one ship with people going to the sunlight. There are other voyagers who are going to try a new joyful life.

   Despite the fact that the eyes are focused often on the flying man, I cannot say that the focal point is he. Looking at the picture, I suddenly realized that my eyes stop at this bright, yellow light, which is a little left of the picture, between the mountains. It contrasted sharply with the other objects of this picture. I think that the focal point is the sunrise.  

   This painting makes me think about human’s power and courage that help people to be not afraid of trying to do anything, to live how they want.