This gallery focuses on water, and its ultimate power over all other elements and objects. Its elements have the strength to control fire, earth, and every other thing it sees fit to dominate. This can become a problem for those that rely on water for its survival: humans, animals, plants. These things must simply work to live in harmony with this necessary element, and always be prepared, as it can chose to enforce its dominance at any time.
Earth, Fire, and Water, Z-Bar Ranch, Chase County, Kansas, Larry Schwarm, 1994, From the collection of: Spencer Museum of Art
Captured in this photo is an image of fire (a natural element) with the potential to destroy an entire field's worth of work and resources. Its continuation would swallow the field, thus potentially taking from its owner his livelihood. Directly next to it is a stream. Through simply containing the fire, the photographer captures this element acting as a mere bystander; being one without interference this stream is revealed to show the evil the water plays in the destruction of the field, and in turn, the property owner's life.
Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge, Claude Monet, 1899, From the collection of: Princeton University Art Museum
In this landscape, the water is the driving factor of destruction because of its placement. Its ultimate desire to be crossed, viciously inspired the building of a bridge. However, it also has the ability to ruin the creation made as a means to admire it. Monet presents the viewer with a seemingly low hanging bridge; this presents a possibility of ruin if the river is the flood. From it came the inspiration to build such a structure, but in its days of insipid interest in providing this inspiration, it has the power to rid itself of the bridge.
The Flood, Wilhelm Janson, Antonio Tempesta, published 1606, From the collection of: Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Depicted is the water's capabilities to uproot civilization. Janson does well in showing the advancement of the people, however even in that, they are no match for the reckoning brought forth by the flood. Just as today, as advanced as we think we are, a bad enough flood has the same power to rid us of our advancements. http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/101-videos/floods Seconds: 0:00-1:32
Hot Water Urn, Made by Richard Humphreys, American (born West Indies), 1750 - 1832, 1774, From the collection of: Philadelphia Museum of Art
In this image, the urn acts complementary as a deterrent in the equality amongst each other. It is representative of an object which simply sets apart human from human, it creates a new distinction: human from wealthier human. Water, the choice substance being held, plays the greatest role in this distinction. It, in of itself, is the common divider: poor with dirty water (which can kill them), middle class with clean water (which sustains them), and the wealthy (who disregard the main purpose of water, and instead simply use it as a representation of status).
House and trees, reflected in water, Troller, Norbert, 1940s, From the collection of: Leo Baeck Institute, Center for Jewish History
This piece reveals a contrary look at the topic. It is showing a relationship between humans and their dependence on water to survive. Like the water itself, the humans destroy a natural balance in the woods. They build their home on the edge of the lake, destroy a different life to permit their own. While this shows humans being the catalyst in the destruction, it highlights the emphasis on every environmental factor playing its role in the growth and destruction of the things around it. The reason they present destructive tendencies is to be nearer the water--the ultimate object of their placement.
Ophelia, Sir John Everett Millais, Around 1851, From the collection of: Tate Britain
Here, water is acting as the utmost destroyer; it continues to take until the point of death. Millais shows this as a passive action. The water's stagnation represents the lack of significance this destruction has to the water. It simply passes through the body, taking Ophelia's last breath, just as it would, were she not present. It is a detached taking, unaware of the inflicted harm it permits.
Drowned, Jakub Schikaneder, 1890 - 1900, From the collection of: Regional Gallery in Liberec
We, having reason may seem superior to all other things, however with regards to natural causes, they may ultimately bring us to our end. Schikandeder shows this in is painting "Drowned." This women he has depicted is found lifeless in the midst of a beach; where so many go for entertainment, she has at last laid her head. Even seemingly ahead of everything else, our destructive power (as humans) is just as great as that of the next. In the end, as the water continues to flow we must learn to adapt to whatever situation it decides is fit.
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This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture.
