Napoleon Crossing the Alps (also known as Napoleon at the Saint-Bernard Pass or Bonaparte Crossing the Alps)(1801) by the French artist Jacques-Louis David

Napoleon Leading the Army Over Alps (2005), oil on canvas, 9’x9’

In short, intertextuality suggests there is no brand-new text, literature or art that all the text exist in relation to others, according to Chandler (2003). There are no ideas, concept, art, text or literature that is not influenced by any other previous of ones.This is because people are inevitable of getting influenced by what we see and read.



When most artists regards intertexuality to create something different, Kahinde uses this idea to inherit old heritages to make his portrait paintings. He depicts black or brown people just like heroes in the past and the way he does this is he places the model in the similar to some famous paintings of past. The interesting part is that the models his painting are dressed in everyday casual that makes big atmospheric contrast to the originals (the paintings Kehinde makes parodies of). I think Kehinde is definetly making good connection to the ideas that originals have, for example, the courage and nobleness of portrayed figures. Also I think that connection gives his painting uniqueness.

Pluralism is post-modern movement that opposes modernism idea of domination of visual culture by single culture or society (European, high, middle class male). According to Caldwell (1999) “Pluralism in art refers to the nature of art forms and artists as diverse...Art can communicate multiple identities within one culture as well as make cross-cultural comparison.” As well as his paintings, Kehinder himself shows pluralism because of his race and sexuality. This is because modernist concept of art is priviledged to the white, high or middle class, educated male. However on the other hand, he is in the high position in this modernist hierarchy because he has high education (received his MFA in Yale University). Nevertheless, his works perfectly representing cross-cultural comparison like Napoleon and a black man who positioned very alike. I think his works are protesting against the past modernism thought which is still wide spread today
“That’s partly the success of my work—the ability to have a young black girl walk into the brooklyn museum and see paintings she recognizes not because of their art or historical influence but because of their inflection.”—Kehinde Wiley (from Interviewmagazine)
. Also he does this to narrow the gap between a different culture to culture.









Reference List


Caldwell, B (1999) Cultural context retrieved 16 Oct 2003 from http://www.public.iastate.edu/!design/ART/NAB.PluArt.html


Chandler, D (2003) Intertextuality. Retrieved October 9, 2003 from http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/S4B/sem09.html


M.I.A . kehinde WIELY(n.d.) Retrieved September 1, 2010 from http://www.interviewmagazine.com/art/kehinde-wiley/3/


Artist statement. (n.d.) Retrieved September 1, 2010 from http://www.kehindewiley.com/main.html