Analyzing Fantin-Latour's Painting

A particular element important to this painting is the use of lines. The most noticeable lines being those belonging to the mysterious paintings frame. The detailed edging and golden inner frame point directly to the table and the pitcher of wine. The directionality of the painting suggests an implied line defining the corner of the room, also, leading the eye toward the table. The lines in the tablecloth lead the eye toward the azalea bush, the table top, and the tablecloth’s edging. Lines belonging to the objects upon the table all have circular edges. The circumference of these objects leads the eye around each piece to capture detail. The branches of the azalea bush point upward toward the table while the leaves seem to point away. Brush strokes that create the wall also add faint horizontal lines to draw the eye back to the painting. Overall, lines appear to be a central element in Fantin-Latour’s painting.
In understanding the use shape in this piece also …show more content…
The highlighting colors include faint pink, yellow, orange, and golden. The remaining colors have very dark values of red, blue, and green; though, not quite black. The background wall utilizes a small range of values in the dark greys, blues, and red. Although the bright white tablecloth takes up nearly half the painting, overall the painting seems to have majority of dark tones. This allows the previously mentioned contrast of lines and shapes to be heightened by a strong contrast of colors.
Even texture has a faint relationship to contrast. The tablecloth and objects upon the table all appear to have smooth textures. Meanwhile, the wall and frame have rougher, woody textures to contrast. The azalea bush has a textural relationship within itself. The flowers and leaves resemble smooth and natural textures. However, the stems of the azalea bush are jagged, thin, and broken giving it an unhealthy appearance in the small and dark area of the dining