Arnold Mesches Essay, Research Paper

Arnold Mesches uses a direct and outspoken type of art to present the work, Art

In Public Places I. He is an abstract expressionist who’s work has become less

literal in the past few years. Mesches started exhibiting in 1945 with the support

of his wife. Meshes has a very original way of making his work. He takes a very

famous painting, paints it on the canvas, then he blends over it by scratching and

scraping. Then he paints over the old one with one of his own. Thus, creating a

whole new painting.

Art In Public Places I is a perfect example of this. In the background he

has placed the March of Liberty, a painting with the Statue of Liberty and people

marching. After blending and scratching that, he placed two people being hung.

There is much significance to these two people because they are Mussolini and

his mistress. Hanging upside down, and by their feet, signifies that freedom has

come because Mussolini is dead. Mesches also shows that freedom is here to

stay becuase of the Statue of Liberty, with all the people around it. The statue

has always been a sign of freedom, so when Mesches placed this in the

background, he knew exactly what he was doing.