Visual Analysis of Paintings

Visual Analysis of Paintings

VISUAL ANALYSIS PAPER

1. Rembrandt van Rijn, Landscape with a castle, oil on panel, c.1640

Falling on the foreground is a man holding scrolls and some on the ground. Ideally, scriptures were used as writing materials before the period of industrial revolution after which better writings materials were brought up. Therefore, this painting, at a glance brings the theme of art, through reading and writing. There are large paintings of real colours in the foreground and throughout the picture. This colouring defines the actual application of perfect contrast. The front presents the older man, perfectly fit in old-time attire and barefoot, a clear reflection of the old-time lifestyle. The man has grey hair on the head, correctly defining his age. He must have taken some good time in existence. Behind him is a bird, calm and undisturbed. The bird gets painted in maroon colouration—also, broken stones lying on the foreground. The papers being held by the man are white. The choice of the oil colouring that perfected the natural skin colour of the man was an indication of perfection in the art. The yellow lining of the linen also sends a message of contrast.

The man generally depicts a humble and straightforward look with a tender touch on the scrolls. The presences of the scriptures also bring out the theme of education. The man must have been a scholar. This image also brings the timing of the painting, the period when writings were done in scrolls. The humility of the man is indicated on his face, painted with a natural human complexion.

Furthermore, the bird is unmoved, completely relaxed behind the man. This step indicates his calmness. Moving backwards to the middle ground is a scene of the green and serene environment.   Green natural trees leave calm showing the softness of the wind. There is an actual depiction of the beauty of nature. Besides, there is uneven slope downwards, probably a depiction of a landslide. There are gabions constructed in the middle ground, an indication of a possible occurrence of soil erosion. The slope is brought out entirely with a clear difference in altitude. This step further credits the perfection of art.

On the background lies hills which appear at the far distance. Down the hill, probably on the windward side is a blue painting which indicates a water body. It happens to be the source of water for the human and animals in existence within the setting. Besides the water body lies a building. This depiction can either be a church or a residential area of the man lying on the foreground.  The use of light and shadows of the images brings out the theme of liveness and hope.

Further on the front is a bright sky-blue with a mixture of cotton-like cumulus clouds. The colour choice is made so well perfecting on contrast and simplifying the setting of the painting.  This painting is an indication of a whole community with basically all the requirements and a perfect relation between humankind and animals.

1. Nicolas Poussin, John on Patmos, oil on panel

In the second painting, it can get said to be so much different from the first one. First of all, the choice of colour does not bring out the perfect contrast depicted in the first painting.  Unlike the first painting which brought out the theme of education represented by the presence of scrolls, this painting brings out more of agriculture. On the foreground is a portrait of a locomotive, it is more of a tractor used in farming both in the old times and even in the current life settings. Besides, there are also trees on the foreground just as in the first painting. There is a change in altitude and relief based on the middle ground. The land rises, an indication of a slope. The slope of land also provides perfect conditions from farming. This depiction further justifies the stand on the activity taking place within the setting of the painting. On the background, there is a building, large enough to be a worship centre but can also depict a residential area.

The sky gets covered with nimbus clouds which are dark in colour. These are mostly associated with rainy conditions.  Considering the weather that is, being cloudy and more specifically the rain-bearing clouds, the area must be receiving a lot of rainy seasons which are perfectly fit for agricultural activities. This step further justifies the theme of the painting. However much the colour contrast is not as good as in the first painting, it is good enough to clearly show the little differences between the different features of the art. This painting must have been done it the period before the industrial revolution when the economy was mainly agriculturally based.  Unlike in the first painting where the main source water appeared to be a water body, it is most probable that rainwater is the primary source.  In conclusion, the two pictures have notable differences due to the different settings and colour contrasts used.