Essay on Formal Analysis of Art

3-1: Compare and contrast the use of lines in the works of Vincent van Gogh and Sol LeWitt. Lines can express many things. Like Vincent Van Gogh artwork lines can express emotion, and feelings of the artist at that time. Vincent Van Gogh “The Starry Night” is example of that. He used loose and free drawing lines. The lines looked as they were out of control and free. Vincent Van Gogh used thick, bold strokes of the paint brushes to show a certain “body” of their own which is known as impasto. It was consistent through he’s artwork so it was like a signature he used. Since Van Gogh was placed at a mental facility. He painted “The starry night”. The swirls in the paint seem anger and full of emotion properly from being placed in this place.

In Vincent van Gogh’s renowned painting, The Starry Night, the vast night sky dominates the background space of the painting. The brightness of the eleven stars, with their yellow celestial glow illuminate the night, blanketing the sleepy, rural village below. Far from the glaring lights of the urban landscape, the pureness of the stars’ radiance floats effortlessly above, lulling the people of the quaint village to sleep. Hovering in the upper right hand corner is a brilliant orange crescent moon, which contributes to the warm mood and aesthetic value of the piece. Mountains, rolling hills and wheat fields surround the cottages as though nature itself is getting a sleepy respite from a long day, much like the townspeople. Toward the forefront of the painting are

When comparing the lines in the Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night painting and Sol LeWitt’s the Wall Drawing No. 681, the lines are the opposite. In the Starry Night painting the lines of the sky are very curvy and flowing, but the lines of the buildings are very straight. The artist in this painting is showing you a vision he has had during the time he was in the asylum. The lines of the sky are erratic, and it shows how the artist was feeling very unstable during the time he painted the piece. You can feel how peaceful the buildings are, but the sky is not peaceful. The artist is fighting with himself, and it shows in the painting. The Wall Drawing No.681 shows very straight and precise lines.

In the contemplation of art, or rather the conceptually intangible definition it currently possess, it is imperative to be mindful that “art” has been utilized as a promotional device, ceremonial item, aesthetically purposed article or perhaps none of these or all. It is because of this vague term that Carolyn Dean, in her text, “The Trouble with (The Term) Art”, makes a case for the consequences of applying the term “art” in societies that lacked such a notion which also accounts for the Western-centric lens the field intrinsically utilizes when viewing non-Western art. The claim is deftly supported by the utilization of expert accounts in the subject, alternative perspectives for what is considered the current norm, and self-examining questions,

The pieces Ann Whitley Russell, done by an unknown artist in around 1820 and Lady Frances Knowles, also done by an unknown artist, in the mid-late 17th century are both examples of portraits that portray the sitters in diverse yet insightful ways to viewers. Both Ann Whitley Russell and Lady Frances Knowles are works of art composed of oil paint on canvas. Although these portraits are different, the aspects of space, color, and composition are all important elements that must be considered while comparing the woman in these two pieces.

The Weyden and Pontormo paintings both are trying to depict a similar story in different styles. In Weyden's piece the first thing you notice different from the Pontormo is the colors. In Weyden's piece the colors pop right out you since he used harsh bright colors for their clothing. Unlike Pontormo where he used very soft angelic colors like the pink and light blue and peachy colors. My eyes are attracted to the Weyden more than Pontormo even if its older because it looks so much more realistic than Pontormo. The drapery in Weyden's piece is very realistic as it falls on the bodies of each human standing or falling. The shadows of the drape make them look real as if you can pick them up directly from the painting. In Pontormo the drapery is more of a flowing feel to it. You can tell where it sits but it isn't as realistic and looks as if they were angels helping God up.

Kehinde Wiley is a New York based artist whose paintings focus on the themes of empowering black men and combining classical and contemporary styles.

Examining the formal qualities of Homer Watson’s painting Horse and Rider In A Landscape was quite interesting. I chose to analyze this piece as apposed to the others because it was the piece I liked the least, therefore making me analyze it more closely and discover other aspects of the work, besides aesthetics.

Nighthawks is an Impressionist painting created by Hopper in 1941. It shows a bird’s eye view of a human lit city diner at night. There are four figures in the painting; a waiter behind the counter; a woman eating; a man sitting next to her; and another man sitting in the shadows who you can only see the back of. They are all seen together and close in the light filled diner, but at the same time they all seem very distant from each other. The painting gives off a sense of isola-tion and mysteries the night holds. Hopper achieves this by his lighting. The light from the diner and from an unseen street lamp shine in such a way as to cast many shadows upon the very same city they light up. Many of Hopper’s paintings portray this mysterious

Nighthawks, was painted in 1942 by Edward Hopper (1882-1967) an artist who was known as “a great master in the ranks of America realists.” (Levin, Gail) Hoppers paintings were first hung in “retrospective in 1933, Hopper played host just three years later to the first major show of surrealist art in New york.” (Levin, Gail) Hopper grew up in Washington Square, and lived there for most of his life. “ Hopper excelled in creating realistic pictures of clear-cut, sunlit streets and houses, often without figures.” (Levin, Gail) “He offers a brand of realism not bound to reality, and the places he depicts are familiar and foreign, comfortable and disquieting,” said the USA Times. The painting resides in the Art institute of Chicago. Nighthawks just like many of Hoppers paintings give a feeling of loneliness, and isolation as well as a feeling of darkness due to the dark hues. The picture leaves the viewer with thousands of words and interpretations with a third person view of an isolated man as he sits in a small parlor and ponders. The painting was created in 1942, which took place during the time of the great depression.

Edward Hopper's painting Nighthawks portrays a theme of greed in New York City set in the 1940's. This painting depicts the isolation encompassed within the lives of greedy minded New Yorkers. This painting displays an emptiness in the atmosphere. Although New York known as the city that never sleeps, this painting suggests differently. The streets are completely vacant which is unusual for such a busy city.

Vincent Van Gogh used the 4 elements of art in his masterpiece “The Starry night” he used lines to create the background and foreground in the picture he used spiral lines to create the humongous Cypress tree in the painting. Van Gogh also used lines to give the stars more attention than what they were getting before. Van Gogh used shapes and forms in his painting, he used geometric forms to present the houses in the back as 3-D shapes. Van Gogh used space in his artwork by making it an illusion to the person looking at the photo. “...look at the cypress tree in the foreground.

Vincent Van Gogh created the piece Starry Night in June 1889 while he was in Saint Rémy seeking treatment in a mental asylum. The painting depicts a small village with whirling clouds, shining stars, and a bright crescent moon above it. The piece is currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art, with three of his other works. He used Paul Gauguin’s technique of using bale of jute for the canvas, causing him to apply paint thickly and to use heavier brush strokes. The painting Starry Night was greatly influenced by the depression that Van Gogh battled throughout his adult life, and is seen as one of his greatest artistic achievement.

One of the very first things that people notice when looking at Van Gogh’s artwork is the lines. The lines are so busy they catch the viewer’s eyes. The lines used in Van Gogh’s Night Café are expressive. These lines are mostly rounded and do not follow determines paths. The swirling direction that makes the viewer see the motion. The lines can make you almost feel the radiance of the lights in the café. You will also find cross contouring lines throughout the picture. Van Gogh used this to show depth and definition to objects. This form of shading gave the image 3D form. For instance, you can find an example of the cross contouring in the details of the pool table. The lines on the floor show the viewer perspective. It shows you were you are

One of Vincent Van Gogh’s most world renowned paintings is his landscape oil painting Starry Night. The painting displays a small town underneath an unusual yet still extremely beautiful night sky. In this night sky, Van Gogh utilizes an array of colors that blend well together in order to enhance the sky as a whole. The town is clearly a small one due to the amount of buildings that are present in the painting itself. In this small town most of the buildings have lights on which symbolize life in a community. Another visual in Starry Night is the mountain like figures that appear in the background of the illustrious painting. Several things contribute to the beauty of Van Gogh’s painting which are the painting’s function, context, style, and design. Van Gogh’s utilization of these elements help bring further emphasis to his work in Starry Night.