El Greco

A few weeks ago, I learned about the art work from El Greco.  His style is called mannerism because of the elongated forms and irregular usage of color. The figures are also usually tightly enclosed in a space.  Although all of his subjects are Christian themed, I actually really enjoyed this style of depiction.  It is so different from his era and I think it takes a lot of courage to step outside the lines especially with the topics he chose to depict.  Another element of mannerism that I find interesting is the contradiction of positions for the amount of weight placed on limbs.  In his Resurrection, figures are being thrown every which way and in unnatural poses.  This is very different from the realistic depictions we have learned in class and it gives the painting an uneasiness.