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Jacques-Louis David, Oath of the Horatii, 1784

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Jacques-Louis David, Oath of the Horatii, 1784

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Andre Fletcher

Focus: Space

Light is used skillfully to create a sense of drama in this Neoclassical painting depicting three Roman brothers swearing fealty as their father holds three swords in the air. A small group of related women and children are also shown bearing witness. David’s use of strong, even light in the foreground not only emphasizes drama in the scene, but also allows the viewer to see each subject clearly. Even facial expressions can be seen, adding to the emotion of the scene. Instead of creating a deep recession, David uses light, or the lack thereof to focus attention. The darkness of the shadows in the arches create a background that pushes the viewer's eye towards the light in the foreground. The arches also provide a framing element, each one encapsulating the three subjects of the work; The father, the oath bearing sons, and the woeful women and children.

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Johannes Vermeer, The Love Letter, 1669-70

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Johannes Vermeer, The Love Letter, 1669-70

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Tanvi Simhadri
Focus: Light

The majority of the painting is shown in dark lighting while the face of the woman illuminates in comparison. The main source of light approached from the left side hinting that it is natural light through a window. Though this part of the painting Is the lightest, the light is very faint. The viewer's perspective is through an adjacent room where there is no lighting while the doorframe frames the woman receiving the letter. This separation of light and dark is the method of chiaroscuro. The woman an is surrounded by dark lighting which could foreshadow the darkness of the news she is about to receive in this letter from her partner overseas. The artist draws attention to the center of the painting reflecting the light off of the white hat and dress in contrast to the remainder of the painting.

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Antoine Watteu, "Pilgramage to Cythera", 1718

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Antoine Watteu, "Pilgramage to Cythera", 1718

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Maggie Letvin
focus: space/composition

My favorite style of art from the last week is the Rococo; I love the themes, colors, and free, relaxed style.

In "Pilgramage to Cythera", the space and compositon depicts the story in the painting, and guide the eye in what seems to be a sort of chronolgical order. On the far right, the couples are farther apart from each other and the people in the couples are physically futher away than the figures in the lower left of the painting. On the right side there are three organized coupling of figures and although they are sitting or standing near each other, it is easy to tell that there are two figures. As we move down, everyone becomes closer, and some of the couples seem to merge as more of one intertwinned figure rather than two distinct figures. The figures at the bottom are crowded, intertwinned with angels that float in and above the other figures. The transition towards the closeness of the figures seem to a reveal an increasing level of comfort, as the couples seem more confident and more expressive of their love. The composition guides your eye down the hill, but in a way that allows you to wander around, a feeling that conveys a relaxed, romantic mood.

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Jean-Honoré Fragonard, The Swing, 1767, oil on canvas, 81 x 64.2 cm

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Jean-Honoré Fragonard, The Swing, 1767, oil on canvas, 81 x 64.2 cm

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Jia Li

Focus: color

"The swing" has a strong color contrast. In the picture "The Swing," people must first be attracted to the woman swinging in the middle. Because the woman on the swing is wearing a silk dress in a bright color of pink, and the scene surrounding the woman is dominated by trees in dark greens, dark blues, black, and a little bit yellowish-brown. Under the woman were two people and two angels, and their bodies and clothes were mainly blue, black, and dark green. On the most left pillar stands an angel. The color of the pillar and angel is primarily dark green and black. In addition, the swing woman's skin is mainly white and peach pink, while her legs are wearing white socks. The woman on the swing was also bright in overall skin color and leg color, while others in the scene were darker, such as the man on the far right who had a dark grey skin color. When a bright color appears in the middle of an entire dark image, it attracts the viewer's attention.