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.

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.