Max Ernst

beyond painting

 

The artist manipulates pictorial space by using a combination of vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines. The diagonal lines on the top right imply space and movement and give a sensation of the objects falling downwards whereas the vertical lines in the bottom left flatten pictorial space and appear static.

Along with diagonal lines giving the work depth, value plays a great role here. Contrasting colours makes a deeper pictorial space both in the figure and the ground.

 

Since cool colours usually appear to recede in space while warm colours push forward, the orangish-red  figure seems to be closer to the viewer compared to the cool blue sky and water. The scale of the two figures as well as the horizon line between the water and the sky further add more depth to the painting.

Louis Bourgeois:

An Unfolding Portrait 

With cool colours receding back and warm colours pushing forward, the painting incorporated pictorial space through colour. Shape also adds depth to the painting with the change in the size of the shape/pattern.

Collection Galleries

1880-1950

Linear perspective or the idea of horizon creates depth in this painting along with colour – cool tone in the background(sky) and warm tone(floor) up close. Complimentary colours, blue and orange as well as the dark shadows being caste by the statues add value to the piece. Shape also plays a role, with the scale of the arches becoming smaller with distance.

The most evident use of complimentary colours (blue and orange) creates pictorial space as well as size of the fruits being smaller in the bowl compared to the ones on the table itself. Value creates depth too, due to the great range of colours being used.

The introduction of a change of value and line along a horizontal is giving the impression of a horizon that instantly implies space in this painting. Along with that, the cool colour being used in the background pushes the brownish warm figure forward.

Besides linear perspective, several other attributes add to the pictorial depth of the painting. These include the wide array of colours used, value of contrasting colours, size of the buildings in the distance as well as the overlapping shapes that create the illusion pf space.

Linear perspective or one point perspective creates immense amount of pictorial space in this painting. Diagonal lines as well as the scale of the people decreasing as they move further away from the viewer’s eyes adds to the existing depth.

The horizontal line between the sea and the sky gives the impression of a horizon, thus adding pictorial space to the painting. The scale of the boat far off in the distance along with the blurry overlapping buildings further add to the depth.