Elizabeth Keth's Artwork Before and After

Initial Response:

When first looking at the art by Elizabeth Keith, I see very soft colors and images of generosity. The subjects in the art are seen as leading and giving. In the example on “The Wonsan Scholar and His Disciples” an older man in a white robe is leading a group of schoolchildren on an exploration away from what appears to be the school building. The landscapes in her artwork, although not the focal point, are very beautiful. The subtle mountains and blue skies help to place the setting. Her artwork appears to be very realistic and accurate of what she is trying to portray. I have the feeling that she was either in these positions at one point in her life or saw them develop in front of her.

After Being Informed of Artist:

Elizabeth Keith, English born in the early 1900s was fascinated with Eastern cultures. She travelled to Japan and then Korea for over nine years. Her incredible ability to sketch and paint provided the platform for her artwork. I was mistaken in the perception that her artwork has “happy” connotations. When reading more about her, I discovered that she was portraying the “tragic” feelings of the period through calm and non-thinking expressions. She created everyday situations with this analysis in mind. This approach was designed to admire the fortitude that her subjects possessed.

She also admired the land just as much as the people and I noticed this in my initial response. She incorporated all the landscapes she saw around her into her artwork. Her ability to do this very well with watercolors is evident in all her pieces. I enjoyed viewing her artwork.