Symbolism & Composition in Art

"I shut my eyes in order to see.”-Paul Gauguin

Symbolism is an artistic movement and style using symbolic images and indirect suggestion to express mystical ideas, emotions, and states of mind. It originated in late 19th-century in France and Belgium. Symbolism in art rejected Realism, Moralism, Rationalism and Materialism in many ways. A symbol is a mark, sign or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship.

What is the artist's main intention? Intriguing ? Pleasant beach and picnics? What is the foreground and what is the background? Sky and the beach? What are the main colours? Has colour used realistically or used to convey emotion? What is the main focus in this picture? Fruits , Sand, palm trees? Do you see the symbolism in the painting? What elements of art were used in this image? Space, Colour, Texture, Lines, Shapes? What is the main composition? Curve lines? Horizontal lines? Do you recognise the visual texture and the pattern? Does it look abstract or realistic? Perhaps both? Does the painting generate an emotional reaction in you? What is the overall mood of the painting, and is this suitable for the subject? Why the tones are very import? The range of tones that can be produced varies.

Tahiti and Picnics, (1891- 92), Paul Gauguin

#primitive #simplified, #shapes, #subject #colours, Elements of arts ( line, shape, form, colour, texture space and scale ) are organised and composed according to to the principles of art Art ( balance, contrast, focal point, emphasis, movement, What elements of art are being used in this painting ? Values: Light and dark tones of fruits. If the this painting was only painted with only mid-tones risks being flat and dull. Value or tonal contrast creates visual interest or excitement in a painting. Contrast : The horizontal and vertical lines are used extremely to create contrast.