‘According to Kenneth Clarke, Rembrandt van Rijn was one of the great prophets of civilisation, whose paintings were invested with a profound psychological truth and sympathy for the human condition’

In answer to the above prompt, I created a critical analysis of famed Dutch artists Rembrandt Van Rijn’s skilful portraiture. In my 1,500-word analysis, I utilised 6 of, what I deemed to be, some of van Rijn’s most influential and thought-provoking depictions of the human form.

Van Rijn, born in 1606 to a household of nine children, has left behind a legacy of the worlds most prolific collections of portrait art. Many of the Leiden born masters portraits were of himself, documenting the different phases, both joyful and tragic, of his professional career.

In my essay, I drew influence from such famed Rembrandt self-portraits as Self-Portrait with Dishevelled Hair. An exercise in Caravaggio’s chiaroscuro, the portrait depicts the artist virtually enveloped in shadow and unruly hair. Rembrandt, as an artist, was known to experiment with many unconventional materials and mediums. In this particular portrait, Rembrandt experimented with the wooden end of his paintbrush to create sgraffito, accentuating the curls of his unruly hair. Continuing to outline Rembrandt’s personal and artistic life, I attempt to deduce the inner workings of the artists' creative mind, studying, in great detail, the Dutch Golden Age artist’s use of light shade and gaze to represent the seemingly mundane in revolutionary works of deep emotional resonance relating perfectly to Clarke’s statement detailing van Rijn’s works as having a ‘sympathy for the human condition.'

Outline the relevance of the Theory of Island Biogeography (TIB) to the design and management of nature reserves. Briefly discuss the advantages and disadvantages of wildlife corridors

The above question relates to the Theory of Island Biogeography (TIB) which is deemed to be one of the key biogeographical concepts of the 20th century. Developed by scholars, MacArthur, and Wilson in their 1967 publication, The Theory of Island Biogeography, the theory details that the common denominator of all islands is isolation, a key factor in evolutionary change.

Two images of a large tree in different growth stages with a person standing nearby for scale.

In answer to the above biogeographical essay question, I began by providing background on the Theory of Island Biogeography and all 3 hypotheses proposed by its developers MacArthur and Wilson in 1967. Following on from my introduction, I then began broadening the area of study by including knowledge I acquired surrounding the SLOSS debate (Single Large Or Several Small). The SLOSS debate is the name given to the heated biogeographical dispute between Geographer Jared Diamond, and Ecologist Daniel Simberloff. The dispute relates to the essential question of how to design a conservation area and how big should it be? After explaining in detail the differences in approach to nature reserve design, including factors such as reserve shape, inhabitants, and edge shape, I then continued in my discussion by presenting the importance of wildlife corridors in biosphere reserves to aid in habitat connectivity. The inclusion of corridors such as rivers, roads, or hedgerows to link separate reserves together may negate the isolation of populations resulting from habitat fragmentation increasing productivity and gene flow.

I concluded my essay by detailing, with the aid of biogeographical publications, that it was discovered that there was no one overarching answer in relation to the species-area curve. Currently, only one prediction of the Theory of Island Biogeography seems reliable which states that the number of species on an island will decrease directly with its reduction in area. (O’Rourke, 2021).

To compare and contrast, with reference to specific nuances within the artworks, the similarities and differences between the following artworks’

The following exert details an example of one of three visual assignments I completed as part of my BA Art History Year 1. The purpose of these assignments is to provide the viewer with the critical skill of ‘looking’, which is largely taken for granted when writing a critical analysis of artworks in an essay style format. I, the student, was given 48 hours to write a well thought out comparative analysis of 4 pairs of artworks. The word limit for each pair was capped at 450 words, further highlighting the importance of visual analysis over factual information.

The first pair of images I was asked to compare, and contrast was:

Paul Cézanne, The Large Bathers (1906).

Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907).

In my analysis I focused heavily on both artists depiction of the ‘female nude’, alluring to the power the figure holds within the artwork and the influence the artists received from past masters such as Titian.

The second pair of images I received included:

M. Duchamp, Fountain (1917; photograph by Alfred Stieglitz).

Mierle Laderman Ukeles, Four actions of Maintenance Art (1973).

Interestingly, both Duchamp's 'Fountain' and Ukeles' 'Four Actions of Maintenance Art' take on a modern mode of art practice, departing from traditional form, line, and colour constructions. I focused heavily on this ‘breaking the mould’ concept in my analysis of the two 20th century artworks.

The third pair I was requested to compare, and contrast was:

P. Mondrian, Composition with Grid: Checkerboard Composition with Light Colours (1919).

Jackson Pollock, Full Fathom Five (1947).

A pair which, at first glance, seem similar in style, paradoxically present works which represent the different representations of freedom in the art world. One flooded with geometric rigour and lineage, the other, a flurry of colour and expression in a never-ending flow of shapes and movement.

Finally, I was asked to compare and contrast the works:

A. Rodin, The Gates of Hell (1880-90).

J. Chicago, The Dinner Party (1974–79).

In my analyses of the final pair, I chose to focus primarily on the differences between the works. Mentioning the chaotic, impersonal nature of Rodin’s ‘The Gates of Hell’ diametrically opposed to Chicago’s homage to women throughout history in ‘The Dinner Party.

Academic Writings

I've had the privilege of delving into an array of captivating subjects and disciplines during my tenure as an Arts student at UCC. Below, you'll find concise samples of select pieces from both academic projects and personal pursuits.

If you're interested in exploring further, I invite you to engage with my Art History dissertation titled 'Italy through Northern Eyes: Examining Claude Lorrain's Engagement with Italian Landscape,' or my Geography dissertation titled 'Has the COVID-19 'Quietus' Altered the Species Frequency of Urban Irish Birdlife Prevalent on University College Cork Campus?' Simply reach out via the contact tab above.