The drawing of Florida Scene by Thomas Moran is highly influenced by nature. In the art, he predominantly exploits organic shapes. The landscape in the south has curving and irregular forms as observed in the sky, ocean, and vegetation. The trees in the art have long curving branches. Numerous wildflowers and green shrubs lie beneath the trees. The natural and shallow pond is surrounded with some aquatic weeds. The palm trees bayonet-shaped leaves face towards the sea. Above, the clouds are seamlessly changing shapes. The art takes the perspective of the atmosphere to indicate the illusion of depth. The image provides the sense of the tropical climate in the Sunshine State. The palm tree curving towards the sea dominates the art. The tree is located in the center of the image. An ocean, passengers alighting from a boat, and a large ship are seen in the background. The objects appear less distinct and bluer than the other objects. The palm tree is drawn completely having its branches in full size. The most dominant colors in the image are colors such as blue and green. There is an analogy in the colors due to the variation s in pieces close to each other in the picture. Tinted white color is used for the clouds. The objects in the background have intense colors with little contrast between dark and light.
Analysis, Interpretation, and evaluation
Thomas Moran balances between variety and unity in Florida Scene. The natural elements in the image such as the sky, ocean, and trees belong together. The quality of the image would probably go down were Moran to exclude cloudy sky, the sea, or the trees. The components are essential in the definition of the landscape of Florida. There is the repetition of the placement of the low-lying dark green shrubs from the right hand all the way to the left side of the image. There is an excellent variety observed in the picture with the placement of varying vegetation species such as an oak tree, palm trees, weeds, flowers, and shrubs. The individuals from the boat are wearing different apparels and walking each in his direction. The art is balanced asymmetrically with no similarity between the right and the left side. Most of the activity is taking place on the left side of the picture while the right side comprises of the palm trees planted on a hill. The land has a magnificent landscape which is instrumental in the balance of the fascinating aliveness in the people. The palm tree in the middle of the image receives the first attention as it is the focal point of the artwork. The clouds lack intensity in color as they are of lesser interest in the image. The visual elements in the picture are repeated as the round organic shapes dominate the work. There is a repetition of the curving clouds and the green shrubs.
Born in England, Thomas Moran came to receive the honor of being one of the most significant artists in Hudson River School. He received massive competition from Heade Martin Johnson and Church Fredrick Edwin. In his art, Thomas Moran desired the exploration and the painting of places with no cultivation. He started on a journey heading towards Florida in early 1877. On his way, he visited Fort George Island lying near Jacksonville at the mouth of St. Johns River. His work is an illustration of Florida's landscape. In the background, the art showcases a ship that lets people of and the people seem to be grateful to be standing in the solid ground. It can be assumed that the people are probably from the Caribbean Islands in search of jobs. It can also be eluded that individuals in the art are straight away from Fort George's orange groove where they worked. There is no desolation on the island as there is work, transportation, and people. There is a harsh and unforgiving environment in Florida. The sandy soil that the image reveals is not ideal for the plantation of vegetables. Majority of the people inhabiting Florida are misfits. Some of them are either foreigner who have arrived from work, criminals who are running away from the North, while a handful is struggling the life in the rough environment.
The art by Thomas Moran has value in its depiction of the natural landscape. It is worth considering his work because he uniquely depicts the harsh atmosphere. The art has been crafted skillfully and easily triggers the memory of the environment in Florida. Through the picture, Moran manages in capturing a moment of historic permanence during the moments of series of changes in America. He uncovers the natural beauty of the land in a very skillful manner.
The Weeping Woman by Pablo Picasso
Museum: Frye Museum, Seattle, Washington
Title of Exhibition: Weeping Woman
Date of Viewing: 24 November 2018
Year of the Drawing: 1937
Description
The background of the picture completely different colors and lines the focus of the painting is the woman. The woman demonstrates her elegance as she wears an accessory from top to bottom. The artwork's first impression is the disproportionate face of the woman. The face of the woman has lines but no curves. The art exploits the use of colors such as green, blue, yellow, black, purple, and red. The painting has more lines with few curves. The painting portrays a sad and suffering mood.
Analysis, Interpretation, and evaluation
Pablo uses different colors with varying impressions. At the bottom of the woman’s face, there is light purple that depicts sadness. The woman being an important character in the life of Pablo, the yellow and green colors in the other half of the face must be a depiction of other solid emotions he has towards her. The many lines used in the creation of the picture can imply that the woman probably has a very strong physical complexion. The eyes look depressive or quite as the woman is crying as she is suffering.
The image is used to present to the audience the pain common in most woman. Through corrosive tears, the woman has pulled out her flesh. Pain and hurting can also be seen from the handkerchief she is trying to force into her mouth which looks like as shard of glass. In many occasions, Pablo Picasso has worked towards expressing a woman's behavior thus showing their constant tears. Primarily, the artwork conveys suffering.
The artwork has the value of the invocation of pain. Pain is depicted through the colors in the picture and the shapes. The actual face of the woman is also somber. Every single fully understands what he is fully trying to portray as at every point in their lives; they come to experience. It is the colors in the image that draw value.
An Afternoon at La Grande Jette by George Seurat
Museum: Frye Museum, Seattle, Washington
Title of Exhibition: An Afternoon at La Grande Jette
Date of Viewing: 24 November 2018
Year of the Drawing: 1884-1886
Description
The art depicts a group of people surrounding a lake. The people are in old style clothes. The women are in large skirts. A few of the men have top hats. In front of the left side, a man wearing a sleeveless is sitting in the front side wearing a baseball hat. On the right side, there is a man and a woman. A man and a woman are on the right side of the picture. Around them are some animals including a dog. Some people are watching the water while sitting down. Though it is not raining, some women have umbrellas. A group of the people is under the shade.
Analysis, interpretation, and evaluation
In the art, there is contrasting dark and light colors. The creation of space in the art is achieved by the people and the beach going back. The painting exploits the pointillist style with no real lines. In the art, there is texture both in the grass and in the dresses. There is the explicit use of varying colors in the art such as the grass and the clothes. The shady area and the sunny areas have different colors to depict the difference.
The painting is that of a group of people gathered to have a view of the water in a nice day. Most probably it is a weekend due to the high number. Most likely the people are in a picnic. It can also be assumed that the people are watching a boat race as there are some boats in the water.
The image has value in the explicit use of different colors. The image depicts a sunny day from the difference between the light area and the shaded area. Through the skill of painting, the author has been able to create value through a unique texture and the many different colors.
