- Zoharks' Journal
- Posts
- Francien Krieg
Francien Krieg brings a cast of "Emotional Entanglement" to the eye, Krieg is an artist whose work can leave viewers mesmerized with her captivating visions. Her mission is to express the human condition, strength, beauty, body, and soul, which is evident in all her works. As a viewer, you can not help but become deeply involved in the emotions depicted in each painting. Which holds a conversation with one another over feelings or emotions displayed with metaphors.
Figure 1: “Lost Battles” An oil painting of 60 x 80 cm PNG file of 3348 x 3316 pixels (
In her artwork, Francien Krieg captures emotions that flow freely but are curated with precision (Figure 1). In her work "Lost Battles," a multi-meaning painting you only wonder if the artist wanted the viewer to grasp the severity of the battles or fights that we go through in life.
The subject in "Lost Battles" comes with a metaphor as boxing gloves could be representing constant rounds of a fight that does not have an end but also highlights strength, alongside the strength comes vulnerability as the older woman portrayed without any clothes on as she is deeply affected by the current weight of emotions. The colors used in the artwork seem to act as a spotlight to highlight something significant to be seen. The illumination of the woman showcases an individual solely engaged within the depths of the painting.
“Personal DNA” painting by Francien Krieg oil painting 120 x 80 cm 2017
When contrasting the works of Francien Krieg to many great artists that can depict the nature of human experiences and conditions, Mary Cassatt (1844 - 1926) was one artist who I believe mirrors the same nature. The titles the artists select have the same effect as the paintings, the patterns between each of their works hold more importance than anything else. On one hand, Cassatt's work (Figure 2) features soft and subtle flat strokes that zoom in on the subject, showing the viewer the main conclusion of what is being depicted. In contrast, Krieg, the master of modulated colors, takes a zoomed-out approach due to the multiple angles needed to perceive the works to find meaning on various levels.
The two artists show human nature in all shapes in forms when it comes to expressions that are very hard to speak about but all of us feel very deeply at least once during our lifespans.
Figure 2: Mary Cassatt “Woman With A Red Zinnia” (1891)
I find the importance of analyzing the artwork of Francien Krieg without an objective point of view it is necessary to look inside to truly reflect on the work by understanding your upbringing, character, and vulnerabilities to truly feel the paintings while seeing. "Lost Battles" to me pays a reference to the time of my uncle passing and watching my mother’s heart being weighed down by the loss as she was trying to care for us and her business.
GN!
On my easel🕺🏻
— Francien Krieg (@francien_krieg)
7:44 PM • Mar 24, 2023
The power that is held in the figure compositions by Francien Krieg in her series “Tribute to Loved Ones” portrayed the vulnerability and influence of the artist's family, who are depicted with tenderness. Tones of paint created scenes that mirror the personality of the human condition and the free circulation of ideas held within the strokes of paint.
The ideas created upon looking at the artist's works show that intent should not be the measure or the question when viewing but finding the understanding of who we are and what has shaped us, a challenge to the “innocent eye”, Francien Krieg allows the assembled bits of displayed emotion to be taken over by the viewer’s mind.
From my experiences of looking at “Tribute to Loved Ones,” I believe the free circulation of ideas forces the receiver to ask themselves questions to make sense of the strokes of paint while being in a state of “Reception Theory”. The context of what is shown and interpreted creates evoking emotional responses and meanings in each individual who looks at artworks produced by Krieg.
“Have nothing to say except what we say to them. They do not speak for themselves; viewers speak for the works, that is, viewers put meanings—depending on their experiences—into the works they look at”
The works I have collected created by Francien Krieg from 2017 forward, have always had a way of really showing the body and soul in an aesthetically pleasing manner that has context without the need for my words, being in tune with what makes all of us human and expressing it in a way that shows a truth, vulnerability, and mirrored connections makes Krieg’s work impactful, so impactful that the context can be felt through the digital forms created from the physical painting
READ MORE:
Reply