HOMEWORK #8

FORGIVE ME - I gave you guys the wrong artist's name in class - I was rushing to get through!!! Do a Google Search for the artist "MARC CHAGALL" and you will see artworks by the same artist we critiqued today. Choose an artwork by this artist, upload the image to YOUR OWN NEW POST (just like in Homework #5) and then complete as FULL FORMAL CRITIQUE. This time I WILL be grading you based on using complete sentences and proper grammar. Remember to FULLY develop Steps 1 & 2 (Description and Analysis) before jumping to the Interpretation and to REFERENCE the colors, objects, and Elements of Art you mention in Steps 1 & 2 when telling me your Interpretation. Here is the type of sentence structure and format I want to see:

DESCRIPTION: In this painting I see the colors Green, Red, White, Blue, Yellow/Gold, Black and Brown. The most prominent colors are Red, Green, and White. I think the other colors were used as accent but don't seem important to me. The color green could represent envy, greed/$, growth, environmental issues, or being sick. The color red is usually associated with heat, love, a warning, blood, and evil. The color white is usually used to symbolize purity and innocence. The objects I see in this artwork as a man with a green face, a tree/plant in his hand, a goat/cow, a woman milking a cow, a farmer holding a scythe, a woman who appears to be upside down in the middle of the road and a skyline of some sort of town in the very background. It makes sense that the use of green here has a connection to growth and life because this appears to be a farm scene where produce and other goods are grown. However, it could also be used to show greed because some farmers do not have any reverence for the souls or feelings of the animals and only see them as a source of income. It also makes sense that the red in this painting represents blood because of the blood that is spilled on farms to make a living and feed that village/family. The big areas of white are mostly centered around the animal so I believe the artist was using it to represent the innocence of the animal who is sacrificing their life for the good of the farmer.

ANALYSIS: Although there are many Elements of Art and Principles of Design at play here, the ones that catch my attention first and stay with me even when I am not looking at the artwork are the use of Contrast, Color, Shapes and Proportions. The artist has shown contrast of color here to show the difference between the Farmer and his intentions and how these are very different than the sweet innocence of the animal. The colors all seem to be symbolic and mostly stick out in your mind because they are so randomly placed. Had this painting used realistic colors and values, it would not have as strong of a message. The shapes here also bring some consistency to the artwork and give it a dream-like quality. The shapes are simplified, most of them are curvy and not angular and I think it is also very symbolic that there appears to be the faintest outline of a circle in the dead center of the painting - also playing in to the meaning of the painting. Finally, the artist has chosen to skew the proportions on the objects so that they no longer look realistic. This enhances the dream like quality of the painting and also matches the use of shapes to tie all of the objects together.

INTERPRETATION: Based on the colors, objects, and most prominent Elements of Art, I would say this artwork is making a statement about living on a farm and the "rural" life. The colors green and brown have a direct connection to this type of setting and, although the red may represent blood shed from the animals on the farm, neither the farmer nor the animal seem to be sad or angry. The expressions on their faces leads me to believe they both understand that this is just part of the circle of life and they have respect for one another. I believe the farmer was painted green because he is the one who is "growing" the animals - even though he eventually kills the animals to feed himself and make a living, the animal would not survive on it's own without someone (the Farmer) to feed it and nurture it from birth to death. I also came to this conclusion because of the "tree of life" that the farmer is offering or feeding to the goat. Overall I think this is a nostalgic painting that is reflecting positively on the life of a farmer and the relationship they have with their animals and sacrifices that both make to keep the circle of life going.

JUDGEMENT: I really don't like this style of painting very much but I can appreciate the thought that went behind it. It is definitely eye catching because the bright green and red make you want to look at it further and the high contrast of the colors and values is not something you see everyday. Overall it may be a great painting to hang in a museum and/or highly contemporary home, but it is not my cup of tea!