Art Elements Assignment-The Love Letter

  Background
  This piece is called The Love Letter, by Eugene de Blaas. It was painted in 1902, and, although there is no specific location attached, this artist specialized in painting scenes of Venice. Most of his artwork is focused on "period pictures of Venitian culture," (The Worlds Artist)  which leads me to believe that's where this painting was created. I couldn't find a specific background related to this piece, so all I can say with confidence is the time and place it represents.
    From a more general perspective, I really enjoy this piece of art. I think it's something I would own. It's very beautiful, and matches the cottage aesthetic that I would like my future home to have. It gives me a sense of inner calm. The two women seem quietly intimate, and most of all at peace. The colors are subdued yet expressive, and there are no harsh lines that disrupt tranquility. 
    
Analysis
    There are multiple elements that contribute to my enjoyment of this piece. All information about art elements has been taken from artyfactory.com. 

    First, I am very attracted to this pieces use of tone. Tone is the use of light and dark shades in order to add depth to a piece. Blaas has mastered the use of tone in The Love Letter. Some places where this is particularly noticeable to me is the gradient that makes up the brick patterns and the doorway. This use of tone lends a very soft feel to the piece, as opposed to if the artist had chosen to use flat color with no dimension. It sets the entire emotion of the painting. This is a moment of sweet intimacy, not serious ponderance. If the color had been flat, the piece would have appeared sharper and more serious in nature.
    Another element I would like to draw attention to is the use of texture. Texture is a physical sensation or the illusion of that physical sensation. In this painting, the brick is the most strongly textured item. It contributes contrast to the two women who are the subject of this piece. It makes the delicate lines, soft colors, and demure facial expressions all the more obvious. Without this backdrop of rough, broken down bricks, their delicacy may not be as apparent. Texture also heavily contributes to our interpretation of their personality. For example, look at their hair, which appears wispy and soft. If there was no stray hairs represented, if their hair was pulled into a tight, formed bun, or if it was gone altogether, we would likely interpret their emotions far differently. 
    Finally, the most alluring part of this for me personally is the artist's use of color. The background is wonderfully muted, which draws the eye to the subjects of the piece. Even the foliage, which in real life would likely be vibrant, is toned down so it does not distract from the two women in the center. Color acts in a very similar way to texture here, as it both draws the eye to the subjects of the piece, and gives us a hint to the girls personality.The girl on the left, because of her softly colored hair and clothing gives the viewer a sense of calm, and hints at a submissive nature. The pallet of the girl on the right is bolder. Her hair is dark black, with little dimension, and she wears a striking combination of yellow, red and blue. She stands in sharp contrast to her partner, who seems to melt into the background. Just from looking at it, we can tell the girl in yellow is stronger willed, and more outspoken then her companion.

Conclusion
    The Love Letter is a beautifully composed piece, relying heavily on the elements of tone, texture, and color in order to convey the message of the painting. This is a story of soft romance, that stands out from the drab surroundings, and brings light to the world around it. 



Sources
  Artyfactory. “The Visual Elements.” Artyfactory, www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/visual-elements/visual-elements.html.
Blaas, Eugene de. “The Love Letter, 1902 - Eugene De Blaas.” Www.wikiart.org, 1 Jan. 1970, www.wikiart.org/en/eugene-de-blaas/the-love-letter-1.

   The Worlds Artist LLC. “Eugene De Blaas Biography | Oil Painting Reproductions.” Eugene De Blaas Biography | Oil Paintings | The Worlds Artist, theworldsartist.com/artist/eugene-de-blaas.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Post Impressionism VS Art Nouveau

Image
Post Impressionism Post-Impressionism focused on a more stable line work then impressionism, and was heavily subject to artistic impression. Importantly, color was used to invoke certain feelings from the audience, and spark emotions. Essentially, the representation of the subject matter was clear, but the colors used took on a surreal feeling, that was subject to artistic whim. I'm not a big fan of this art style. I find it very jarring to look at, and dislike the strange combinations of color, when applied to the realistic subject matter. I also find it very difficult to connect with what the artist intended, because I don't have a good grasp on colors and what emotions they're intended to provoke. Because of how I process stimulus, these paintings make little sense to me and just seem unattractive. This use of color to grant a glimpse into the artists perspective falls short on me, so I don't particularly enjoy it , although I do have an appreciation for the historic
Read more

Rennisance-Portinari Altarpiece

Image
                                                                                                                                                 Background   This piece is a small portion of a larger work, called the Portinari Altarpiece , painted in 1476 by artist Hugo van der Goes. The full piece is a triptych, which is a large, three-panel piece of artwork that unfolds to reveal the painting within. The work was commissioned by Tommaso Portinari, a wealthy Italian banker who worked within the Medici network.    The altarpiece resided within the Sant'Egido church in Florence, acting as the main altarpiece. It was only opened for holidays and feasts, the outer doors of the piece bearing the painted statues of two angels for decoration. (Howard) I will be focusing on the redheaded girl found at the very top of my post, but have included the interior and exterior of the triptych for your reference and enjoyment.                                       Connections To The Medici Dynasty
Read more

The Harlem Renaissance's Influence on Art

Image
     During the Early Modern era, African American's had a massive influence on the art of the era. This is due mainly to the Harlem Renaissance, which lasted from the 1910's to the 1930's.  It grew within Harlem New York, and was considered a Renaissance of African American art, music, and overall culture.      Due to rapid improvements in this area, buildings weren't filled, and landlords wanted to fill the vacancy's. The middle class black community began to move in, and the area became flooded, due to a "Great Migration" from the south.      Art from this time was often inspired by the artist's African roots, and called back to a time before African's were transported to the USA against their will. It acted as a glue for African American's, bringing them together as one concise cultural push in the arts, something they had been frequently barred from participating in. The Harlem Renaissance, in my perception, is the refusal of white culture
Read more