Many mansions Art by Kerry James Marshall Analysis

Viewing the world is a fundamental part of being human. Understanding and dissecting all of the visual elements in an art piece can help us better understand the world around us and encourage us to use our imagination to give it a personal meaning. Many Mansions is an acrylic painting created by Kerry James Marshall in 1994. Being 9 ½  feet wide and 11 ¼ feet tall, this work would be overwhelmingly large to look at in person. Depicted is a city, a garden, and three human figures working in that garden. In the background, there are birds carrying a banner, foliage, street signs, two gift baskets, and even a playground. All the elements of form contribute to conveying the overall aesthetic of this work, which is chaotic, varied, and somehow simultaneously cheerful and miserable. 

Firstly, Marshall uses perspective and color to convey a chaotic energy in this work. The composition seems to be asymmetrical as there are more figures on the right side than the left, and the buildings and gardens are off center. There is no clear line or balance at first glance. The arrangement of elements is very dense and there seems to be so much going on in the background that the eye doesn’t quite know what to focus on first. The many subjects, colors, and objects crammed into the scene give this work a chaotic feeling. In addition, there is a wide array of bright and dull shades of green, blue, red, and even yellow. There seems to be no real pattern to where the colors are placed in the piece, which adds to the random and busy subject matter and makes the viewer not know where to focus their eye first. 

Secondly, by using subject matter, different painting techniques, and a wide array of color, Marshall gives this piece variance and almost a random quality. Most of the elements are repeated in twos or threes, but they are all varied in content. From the three figures working, to the two wrapped gift baskets in the foreground of the piece, to the cartoon-like birds holding a banner in the background, the subject matter in this piece is extremely varied and does not seem to fit together. The line textures and colors used are all extremely varied in texture, width, and appearance. Many elements seem to be filled in and solid, while other elements seem sparsely painted and appear to be dripping. It is almost as if Marshall painted childlike organic lines and shapes overtop of an already finished depiction of workers and a garden. This combination of painting styles makes the piece fascinating to look at and leads the viewer’s eye around the painting, wondering what they will see next. Additionally, the vertical lines in this piece are all very sharp, leading your eye directly upward and giving rigidity to the painting. However, there are also many lines with curves, loops, and soft edges, including the two banners that are near the sky. This, along with several abstract lines seemingly painted directly on top of the painting, add variance and give the work a more of a soft, childish feel. 

Lastly, with a sharp sense of contrast between the subject matter and color, this piece is simultaneously cheerful and miserable. The formal elements of this piece work through opposition with the subject matter to communicate meaning in this piece. The bright, happy colors in the garden cause tension with the three figures who are working miserably to take care of it. They are in black and white and have very serious facial expressions with furrowed brows, conveying hard work and possibly discontentment. The cloud hanging down above the two characters on the right seems to be dripping, giving the viewer a sense of gloom or sadness, while on the left side the shining sun can be seen against a bright blue sky. The rigid, colorless form of the three men parallels their facial expressions and tired posture. While most of the objects are three-dimensional, the depiction of the playground in the background is done by using geometric, two-dimensional lines.

In conclusion, all the formal elements of this piece, including perspective, color, subject matter, and symmetry, help to convey its overall meaning. This piece is exciting and child-like, while at the same time depicting very dark and contrasting subject matter. The viewer can imagine many scenarios of what is occurring in this scene, and each formal element contributes to this dissection and analysis of the story. Just simply being able to view each individual detail can teach us so much about what the artist is trying to convey. Every detail is intentional and helps to tell a larger story. The beautiful thing about art is being able to adopt it and make it our own. Analyzing things like color, shape, and subject matter, which is something we normally don’t give a second thought to, helps us to grow in interpreting art for ourselves.