The paintings from Garden Series of Emily McPhie by Claire Smith is effective at eliciting an emotional response from those that see it because of the use of symbolism. Both paintings have a girl named Emily Mcphie as the focal point, but each portrait shows her at a different age: one shows her as a toddler and the other as a child. Showing her at different ages symbolizes reality and life in the paintings because growth is a central part of life. This gives a feeling of relation and understanding to the audience.
Both paintings show Emily McPhie as a puppet, being controlled by hands from above. This is symbolic of God effecting how a person acts or does. A child readily submits to God, and all people-no matter what age-are subject to God. While a person has agency, they can only act within the bounds that God has provided. This gives a religious feeling to the painting, bringing the existence of God to the forefront of the audience’s mind.
Both the age of Emily McPhie and the portrayal of her as a puppet use symbolism to influence the audience emotionally, giving them a feeling of understanding and a religious connection to God.
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