In the background of the Art Critic, straight lines are brought together from their various angles to suggest the corner of an art museum, while many contour lines work together to create the organic shapes that make up the scene. Specifically, this painting depicts a young man who is leaning forward to inspect a portrait of a woman and looking through a magnifying glass to examine a brooch clasped close to her chest. Light and shadow are used to create the illusion of depth on the young man’s form; he almost appears to be three dimensional as he gazes at her portrait. The colors on the woman’s portrait are bright, involving the primary colors at a greater intensity than anywhere else in the painting. In addition, the value of the woman’s
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For example, the diagonal line created by the young critic’s back, neck, and head as he leans forward points directly at the expressive face of the woman in the portrait. In addition, the magnifying glass that the young man is holding to inspect the painted brooch creates another line pointing up to her, and yet another implied line is found in the direction of the critic’s gaze, which points straight through the magnifying glass at the brooch. The eye is further drawn to the woman and her brooch because of the higher intensity colors surrounding her. Not only does her picture frame glow brighter, but her skin is lighter than any other depicted person in the scene. Focus is drawn to the brooch as the value of her skin is at its lightest directly surrounding it. Another aspect that marks the importance of the woman in this painting is the fact that her face is in much larger scale compared to the other faces …show more content…
For example, the yellow color of the second largest organic shape is intensified by the complementary purple color of a smaller organic shape in the bottom right corner. Changes in color value also have a dramatic effect on this work of art. One result of this is that the large yellow and green shapes appear to take up solid space, and an illusion is created in that the warm-colored yellow shape appears to be closer than the cool-colored green shape. Despite its complexity, this work achieves a sense of balance in two distinct ways. First, there is a faint suggestion of a horizontal line near the bottom of the piece that helps to stabilize it, and second, the large green and yellow shapes of similar sizes balance each other out at opposite corners. Another principle of art that this piece demonstrates is movement. One method that the artist uses to achieve this is through the artistic element of line. Specifically, the fast brush strokes that begin thicker near the top and evolve into thinner, wispier lines catch the eye’s attention and send it downward. In addition, the drips of paint that run down sections of the piece have this same effect and suggest a fluid
For example, the diagonal line created by the young critic’s back, neck, and head as he leans forward points directly at the expressive face of the woman in the portrait. In addition, the magnifying glass that the young man is holding to inspect the painted brooch creates another line pointing up to her, and yet another implied line is found in the direction of the critic’s gaze, which points straight through the magnifying glass at the brooch. The eye is further drawn to the woman and her brooch because of the higher intensity colors surrounding her. Not only does her picture frame glow brighter, but her skin is lighter than any other depicted person in the scene. Focus is drawn to the brooch as the value of her skin is at its lightest directly surrounding it. Another aspect that marks the importance of the woman in this painting is the fact that her face is in much larger scale compared to the other faces …show more content…
For example, the yellow color of the second largest organic shape is intensified by the complementary purple color of a smaller organic shape in the bottom right corner. Changes in color value also have a dramatic effect on this work of art. One result of this is that the large yellow and green shapes appear to take up solid space, and an illusion is created in that the warm-colored yellow shape appears to be closer than the cool-colored green shape. Despite its complexity, this work achieves a sense of balance in two distinct ways. First, there is a faint suggestion of a horizontal line near the bottom of the piece that helps to stabilize it, and second, the large green and yellow shapes of similar sizes balance each other out at opposite corners. Another principle of art that this piece demonstrates is movement. One method that the artist uses to achieve this is through the artistic element of line. Specifically, the fast brush strokes that begin thicker near the top and evolve into thinner, wispier lines catch the eye’s attention and send it downward. In addition, the drips of paint that run down sections of the piece have this same effect and suggest a fluid