Art for Heart`s Sake Interpretation Essay Example For Students

Art for Heart`s Sake Interpretation Essay The text under interpretation is a short story Art For Heart`s Sake by Reuben Garrett Lucius Rube Goldberg (July 4, 1883 – December 7, 1970), who was an American cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer, and inventor. He is best known for a series of popular cartoons depicting complicated gadgets that perform simple tasks in indirect, convoluted ways. Goldberg was a founding member and the first president of the National Cartoonists Society, and he is the namesake of the Reuben Award, which the organization awards to the Cartoonist of the Year. Goldberg produced several series of cartoons all of which were highly popular. Among his best works are Is There a Doctor in the House? , Rube Goldberg`s Guide to Europe and I Made My Bed. The given extract introduces the readers to a story of a wealthy man called Collins Ellsworth who is treated for a disorder which causes irresistible desire of buying things, more commonly referred to as compulsive shopping or oniomania. The man`s obsessive condition leads him to unfortunate results and health problems. Knowing this, Mr Caswell, his doctor, suggests trying some art therapy. This therapy seems to be effective at first, and Caswell`s client even evinces interest to painting and the general drift of affairs in art galleries. subsequently Ellsworth executes a nonsensical unskillful work, which, to everybody`s astonishment, he later exhibits at the Lathrop Gallery. That picture gets the 1st prize of the Exhibition. The story ends with a revelation of the method that helped the old man win the prize. From the point of view of its composition, the story may be divided into four parts. The first part is an introduction starting with a dialogue between the old man and the male nurse. Which annoys the latter very much as the patient is a very disagreeable man, who refuses to follow doctor`s orders. Here we get acquainted with Ellsworth with his inherent disrespect for the people around him. Whether it is a male nurse or a doctor, who are with him in order to help, the businessman pulls no punches. It was not the first outburst of Ellsworth. So, instead of trying to demand an apology, the doctor suggests a new way of getting rid of old man`s problems. That`s where the 2nd part of the story starts. In this part we get to know that doctor considers busying his patient with art to be a way out. The idea of Caswell is to bring a young student Frank Swain to the patient. When Swain arrives to Ellsworth`s house, he starts the therapy, suggesting that the man should try to paint a vase. The old grump starts unwillingly. The first attempts do not meet success, but the practice leads to progress as the vase on the painting gradually develops resemblance to the one on the mantelpiece. Ellsworth asks Swain for more hours and seems to forget about his obsession. He becomes curious about what`s going on in art galleries. Some idea arises in his head. The third part of the extract is connected with the events in the Lathrop Gallery. There was an exhibition in it, which as a lifetime dream of the mature artists. And the newly-made artist Ellsworth aimed at showing his amateurish awkward painting there. The male nurse, Koppel, is sure that if it happens, the old man will become a laughing stock. But the doctor orders him to forbear from interfering in Ellsworth`s business not to ruin their achievements. The painting is accepted, but luckily for the worried fellows, it hangs in a corner where people can barely see it. This part also tells us about the events that took place two days before the closing of an exhibition. Swain, Koppel and the doctor witness a strange follow-up to the story. the old man receives a letter which surprises the people even more: the First Prize of the Lathrop Exhibition has been awarded to Ellsworth`s painting Trees Dressed in White. Euopean Art In The Wake Of World War 1 EssayHe would dwell on the rich variety of colour in a bowl of fruit, he proudly displayed the variegated smears of paint on his heavy silk dressing gown. He would not allow his valet to send it to the cleaner`s. he wanted to show the doctor how hard he`d been working). As Ellsworth gets acquainted with the world of the Museums and Galleries he`s being caught by its charming mysteries. The revolution of the seasons is portrayed with the wonderful metaphor: the spring sun cloaks the fields and gardens with colour. The old man`s idea, as he reveals in his startling announcement, is taking part in the exhibition. In order to do that he creates an ugly picture, which imperfection is described with the epithet god-awful smudge. That exhibition is a lifetime dream of the mature artists, so old man`s participation in it was shocking and out of place. Trees Dressed in white was not just bad. As the simile from the text imparts, it is like a salad dressing thrown violently up against the side of a house. The male nurse wants to stop Ellsworth, not to let him become a laughing stock, but the doctor insists on letting him finish, as they`ve got too far to lose everything. Luckily, the place where the picture hangs is inconspicuous. The metaphor a raucous splash on the wall reminds us about picture`s ugliness. It`s all is followed up by the ironies, which retell that the masterpiece was noticed by the people and as some guys stopped next to the Ellsworth`s strange anomaly, Swain fled in terror. When the letter from the Gallery arrives, Ellsworth requests somebody to read it, as his eyes, ironically, are tired from painting. The news is announced: the Gallery gives Ellsworth the first prize. The reaction of the characters, excluding the old man is quite predictable. While Koppel and Swain, overwhelmed by surprise, try to regain their ability to speak, the doctor congratulates the old grump, which is not easy, or, as the epithet says, is a supreme effort. In the end the reader gets to know that there was no miracle in Ellsworth`s win, that the old man owns a Gallery now. His last remark (Art`s nothing †¦ I bought the Lathrop Gallery last month) crowns the story, proving the point that nothing has changed in him.