Paintings – College Essay Example

Impressionistic school placed great emphasis on depicting and representing nature. The different variations of light and colors play a significant role in the era's fashion.

The paintings by Pissarro feature large and rough brush strokes, with minimal drawing lines. The figures in the artwork are created through the use of vibrant colors and the contrast between different shades, rather than detailed outlines. Like other impressionistic paintings, Pissarro's work relies on optical illusions to create shapes and volumes. He uses a subtle color palette, favoring pastel shades and harmonious combinations. This gentle use of color captures the tranquility of the countryside, reflecting the peaceful mood of the autumn scene.

The geese are in motion, contrasting with the stillness of the surroundings. This contrast adds liveliness to the arrangement and breaks the monotony of the landscape. The sky colors and shadow angles indicate a specific time of day, suggesting it is late afternoon. Pissarro, like other painters of his era such as Monet, aimed to capture light effects in the atmosphere. Furthermore, the scene clearly depicts a particular season with a tree adorned by yellow leaves.

The artwork illustrates the shift from autumn to winter by featuring a tree with half of its branches devoid of leaves. Positioned centrally in the composition, the exposed side of the tree becomes the primary focal point, diverting attention from any characters present in the painting. The overall viewpoint is presented from afar.

The painting creates depth by overlapping light and dark colors. The brush strokes are harsh and free, moving in multiple directions. The paint is applied sharply, thickly, and visibly with clear brush marks.

These marks contribute to the texture of the materials depicted, resulting in an overall rough texture that gives the optical impression of roughness. The rough strokes on the leaves of trees and bushes help recreate the texture of dry vegetation.

The treatment of various materials in terms of texture is not as distinguishable as the elements themselves. Leaves, clothes, feathers, and clouds all undergo the same brush treatment. The sky has an equally rough feel to it as the bark of the trees. The scene is perceived from a high vantage point, giving the impression that the viewer is standing atop a low hill and gazing out over the painting. Vincent van Gogh's second artwork, The Rocks, showcases a rugged landscape devoid of any human presence, seemingly capturing a distant location far away from civilization.

Post-Impressionism differed from Impressionism in its representation of nature, adopting a more aggressive approach. The technique employed in Post-Impressionism was similar to Impressionism but with sketchy and fast brushstrokes that were even more pronounced. Although this specific scene does not convey a specific message or philosophical purpose, it possibly depicts feelings of loneliness and wildness. The rough brush strokes used in the painting effectively portray the untamed and rugged characteristics of the landscape, as well as the harshness of the grass, hardness of the rocks, and turbulence of the sky.

The perspective in this case is from a lower point of view, looking up, but in a subtle manner. The focal point of this scene remains a tree that stands alone at the center and captures the viewer's attention. The tree is twisted, inclined, dark, and initially

seems to be average in height. However, without a human figure for scale, the size and proportions of the objects cannot be accurately determined, leaving room for various interpretations. Unlike the previous painting, this work features more vibrant and intense colors.

Van Gogh's artworks demonstrate his love for vivid colors, which was a defining characteristic of Post-Impressionism. This artistic movement stood out from the more subdued Impressionist style by utilizing striking contrasts and intense hues. The painting depicted here is a prime example of how Van Gogh skillfully portrays depth and perspective through the interplay of light and shadow, enhanced by rough outlines around the figures. Similar to his other creations, Van Gogh avoids using traditional lines or drawings to outline shapes; instead, he employs variations in color and elements that contrast with surrounding objects.

The perspective is clearly shown and convincingly portrayed in this painting. However, the time of year and hour are not as obvious. The view is smaller and the artist is closer to the scene compared to the other painting. The brush strokes are thick, hard, and short, with distinct textures on the grass, leaves, rocks, and sky. This roughness of touch adds a defined texture to the overall image.

The rocks have a flat and edgy surface, while the grass surrounding them is shaggy and sharp, creating a sense of hardness. The painting conveys a feeling of freedom and movement through its bold and impulsive brushstrokes, resembling a sketch. It appears unfinished, with visible marks where the paint was applied to the canvas. The overall impression is that the artist worked quickly, possibly trying to capture a

fleeting moment.

Van Gogh's painting style was known for its roughness and violence, with paint appearing to be "thrown" onto the surface without hesitation. His use of color conveyed energy, strength, and determination while capturing the untamed essence. The scene is illuminated, depicting a vibrant day filled with brightness. Unlike Pissarro's work which clearly shows direction, it is difficult to determine the exact time of day based on shadow angles.

The inclination of the afternoon sun, known as White Frost, is clearly visible in Pissarro’s The Goose Girl at Montfoucault. The sky's gray, pale shades indicate a cloudy day where the precise direction of the sun cannot be determined. However, the colors within the painting appear vibrant and intense, appearing as if they are illuminated by bright light. It could be interpreted that this representation reflects the artist's personal touch rather than an exact portrayal of the landscape he observed.

The two paintings highlight the shift from one artistic style to another. Impressionism focused on capturing emotions, an artist's perspective of their surroundings, and freezing moments in time. Post-Impressionism maintained these ideas but experienced a change in its way of expression. The calmness conveyed by Impressionism gradually turned into a rougher depiction, emphasizing and occasionally exaggerating the principles upheld by the Impressionist movement.