Pieces of artwork are used to display symbolism that helps one to understand different cultures and social circumstances. One interprets the color, the placement, the symbols and the characters in a work of art in order to grasp what the artist is trying to say. In Pawel Kuczynski’s painting “The Wedding,” he shows one the contrast between two social classes both in labor circumstances and what one takes for granted. 

The first thing that comes to eye is the contrast between those in the wedding party, those from eastern Asia, the starkness of the Church, and the liveliness of the grass. Around the painting there is a light brown frame that continues to show the art through itself. The frame is faint making it obvious that though there is a frame around the narrative, it is not strong and should be broken. This scene is a typical societal image or stereotype that should be changed. At the bottom of the picture, the lightness of the frame is especially noticeable against the bright green grass as if the stereotypes of the eastern Asians or lower classes should be thoroughly evaluated. At the top of the picture, it takes a moment to realize that the frame is indeed still present as it blends almost perfectly with the color of the church. Though the Church may have a stronger eye for seeing the needs of the world, it too, is not strongly framed and needs to break its mold. 

Upon breaking the picture into quadrants one automatically finds that the top left and bottom right quadrants are full, while the top right and bottom left are left empty. The wedding people are on the upper half of the image, while the eastern Asian people are strategically placed below them to show they are typically thought of as a lesser people, with few possessions and skills. Not only are they placed lower than the Western folk, but their bodies are in a bent position that, though we know is to pick up the rice, looks as if they are bowing to the white people and are at their service and demand. All the pickers are facing the same way but one who is turned toward the western folk. It takes a nation to stand strong against the oppression of others, but only one to give into another’s needs and demands. The lower half of the picture has bright green grass that seems to loose its brightness as it nears the wedding party. The rice pickers know how to continue to keep the earth plush and healthy while the wedding party only knows how to use its resources and, ultimately, deplete it. The upper half of the photo is a human-made Church, presumably by the Western man, that is darker and more defied with the wedding party and starts to fade the closer it gets to the rice pickers. The inventions and depletion of the earth can only go on and last so long. The whole picture has a stark vibe to it; however, ones eye is drawn to the brightness of the wedding dress and the matching color of the rice, which contrasts with the background. This either confirms tradition in saying it is acceptable to splurge on wasteful products for the sake of tradition, or it shows the contrast between the traditional views of the world: between the western man and the eastern man. In the western world one only thinks of the positive views and celebrations of life, while for the eastern world one sees only a tradition of labor- continually working for the whole world, not just themselves.

The windows and doors of the Church are dark, not lending to one the denomination or details of the faith, to show that not just one person or faith is responsible for the tragic stereotypes of the world. The faces of every person are left anonymous so that one may put oneself in the shoes of any person in the picture- even in the shoes of a different culture. In doing so, one may feel the oppression of stereotypes that weigh on the shoulders of another. The bride seems to feel this oppression or, at least, pity for the eastern world as her face is turned downward, in a sad notion. She is looking at her non-traditional flowers that are organic and natural, foreign like the rice pickers, as she thinks of all the wrong that is done to the world and its people. She does this at what should be the happiest time of her life. Her husband has his hand raised trying to explain or argue that these things are unimportant and not to think of them any longer. The bride, dressed in white- the color of purity- represents the small number of good natured worriers in the world that are trying to take a stand against stereotypical injustice. But she is surrounded by the mass people that do not care enough to immerse themselves in the culture of others, to truly understand what other cultures stand for. As long as this is the case the world will never change. The western people will always be stuck with the mold of the eastern Asian people bent over picking the rice that the western people will maybe eat, but more likely, toss aside, not thinking of the true meaning, need and gift of this rice. 

Though this picture shows the stereotypical images of two different classes and parts of the world, if one looks into the deep past of eastern Asia one will find that they are a well-developed nation who is wronging perceived by outsiders. This picture shows for one the different stereotypes of the world and for another it might show a need for change. It shows that the first class citizens of the world take for granted all one given, even the rice thrown at a wedding. Others are left scavenging for food and starving or working hard with little reward to pick this rice that is freely thrown. Art is spectacular in the way it displays different ideas and symbols to different people throughout time, never ceasing to let be drawn from the piece the need that is most at hand.
