Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Duhamel's poem "Art" delves into the complexities of cultural and personal accessibility to art, while reflecting on her own journey from unfamiliarity to intimate engagement with the art world. Through a narrative that spans her early resentment toward esoteric artistic references to a transformative exposure to renowned artworks alongside her husband, Duhamel explores themes of class, education, and the evolving sense of identity in relation to art.

The poem begins with Duhamel's admission of her initial disconnect from the world of celebrated paintings, a sentiment rooted in her working-class upbringing where museum visits were rare and not part of her family's routine. This opening sets the stage for a broader discussion about the accessibility of art and the implicit cultural gatekeeping that can exist in literary and artistic spaces: "Because I was brought up in a working class family / I used to resent poems with references to supposedly famous paintings / which I’d never heard of or seen." Here, Duhamel touches on the alienation that can occur when cultural references in literature assume a certain level of exposure that is not universal.

As the poem progresses, Duhamel recounts how her perspective began to shift after further education and personal experiences, such as writing a poem about Georgia O'Keeffe and recognizing that art can become part of popular culture, accessible through everyday items like calendars and postcards. This realization marks a turning point in her relationship with art, from viewing it as an exclusive domain to recognizing its broader cultural permeation.

Her narrative takes a deeper, more personal turn with the introduction of her husband, whose passion for art and privileged access to it through travel and education broadens her exposure and appreciation. This relationship serves as a conduit for Duhamel's deeper engagement with art history and her reflections on art's power and context. Her visits to Spain and personal encounters with the works of El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya not only enhance her understanding of art but also deepen her contemplation of its social and historical implications: "He took me to Spain and showed me / what his father had shown him on all his childhood trips / from the Philippines to Europe."

Duhamel's engagement with Velázquez's "Las Meninas" becomes a focal point for exploring themes of perspective, representation, and the artist's ambivalent portrayal of wealth and power. This piece, known for its complex interplay of viewer and subjects, mirrors Duhamel's own complex positioning within the art world—as someone initially outside it, who has now found a way to navigate and understand its layers.

The poem concludes with a poignant reflection on identity and memory as Duhamel contemplates a return to Velázquez's work. She considers the random nature of luck and wealth as accidents of birth, echoing the themes of Velázquez's paintings of jesters and royalty. The final image of her smoothing out a crumpled museum admission ticket for her scrapbook symbolizes her acceptance and embrace of her dual identity—rooted in her past but continuously evolving through her experiences and explorations of art.

"Art" by Denise Duhamel is a rich, reflective piece that not only recounts a personal journey of cultural and self-discovery but also critiques and comments on the broader socio-cultural dynamics of art accessibility. It is a testament to how personal experiences can profoundly transform our engagement with and understanding of art, influencing our sense of self and our place in the world.

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