Van Eyck

Van Eyck portrays reality in absolute realism incorporated in the painting, Man in a Red Turban. The rumor of the painting is that it is actually a self-portrait of Van Eyck himself. As Dhahans says," The most convincing argument is the sharpness and penetration of the gaze which the subject turns on the viewer, as a result of the painter's concentration on his own reflection in the mirror" (188). This statement supports the idea of realism that he is trying to support using oil on canvas. There is heavy contrast from light to shadowed areas portraying three-dimensionality. The painting itself looks very old with cracking occurring in the face and the frame around the piece. The frame is gold with several words on both the top and bottom. The words, "Johas De Eyck Me Fecitano MCCCC 33 21 Octobris" are engraved into the bottom of the frame. The face is done extremely realistic by even incorporating the five o clock shadow into the face. The fur coat is implied by simple soft browns around the neck and shoulders. Under the fur coat there seams to be a white undershirt. Finally the turban contains numerous high lights and shadows to imply reality