Art - Paintings

Question 1

Subject Matter
Cezanne

Answer 1

The artist has painted apples and oranges spread across a white sheet on top of what looks like an armchair. The jug is painted with a flowery pattern which tells us that it’s quite a rich household, probably also a country home. We’re given the impression it’s autumn and the apples have just been picked as they look quite ripe.

Question 2

composition/arrangement
Cezanne

Answer 2

The composition looks quite messy like it just got thrown together. It looks quite busy and messy and disorganised, this is increased by Cezanne’s use of highly patterned cloths in the background. The white cloth is the calmest part and gives your eye a place to rest and the fresh, ripe fruit on it stands out. You are made to look at the painting as a whole as there is so much going on.

Question 3

Perspective
Cezanne

Answer 3

We are given a sense of depth by the layering of the fruit and the shadows but there isn’t very much of it. We know we’re looking at the painting from above and to the left a little as we can see into the bowl from above. The artist played with perspective a little though as you can tell the different containers are being looked at from different angles. For example the plate seems nearly like we’re looking straight down at it but the jug is only slightly below us and we can see much more of the pattern on the side of it.

Question 4

Use of Media
Cezanne

Answer 4

The artist has used visible brush marks on the background. This creates a very painterly feel. He uses dabs of paint applied with loose brushstrokes. On the fruit he blends the paint more and layers it alot. This creates a contrast between the background and fruits.

Question 5

Techniques
Cezanne

Answer 5

He blends the colour on the fruit. He adds a couple defined lines as specially around the fruit to make it stand out. Their are colour patches on the background to make it look a little messier.

Question 6

texture
Cezanne

Answer 6

The texture on the background is quite rough. This has been done by using thick brush strokes. The cloth looks smooth and crisp. He has done this by blending the paint more and using sharp lines where the shading is. He does this to give some contrast between the background and the white cloth.

Question 7

Form
Cezanne

Answer 7

The shapes of the fruit are all very round and geometric compared to the messy chaos of the green background. The jug, bowl and plate also all have measier form and look quite organic. This creates a nice contrast between them all and draws your attention to the fruit.

Question 8

colours
Cezanne

Answer 8

The colours are all quite bright but very realistic. The red and orange in the fruit makes it look fresh and ripe which is contrasted nicely by the green, earthy colours in the back. The red and green are complementary colours which makes the red pop. All the colours in the back are harmonious to each other and are opposite to the reds and oranges of the front which are also all harmonious to each other. The cloth is off white and creates a barrier between the fruit and the back.

Question 9

line or shape
Cezanne

Answer 9

The repetitive circular shape of the apples and oranges creates harmony in the painting. He has simplified them to make them look like perfect circles which ties the simplicity of the painting together. The shape of the plate, bowl and jug don’t look quite right and the artist has done this on purpose by painting them from a different perspective to the rest of the objects in the painting. This helps make them look more spherical and match the harmony of the fruit.

Question 10

tone
Cezanne

Answer 10

The tone on the cloth is very dramatic , as specially around the bottom where it droops off the armchair, this makes the cloth looks very crisp. He hasn’t put many lowlights on it but their is alot of highlights. The artist also focused alot more on tone on the fruits rather than the finer details. He has done this to make it look more painterly.

Question 11

pattern
Cezanne

Answer 11

Their are 2 different patterns in the background of the artwork, this creates a very busy and messy look. They are both quite geometric patterns which he has done using thick brushstrokes. They also contrast with the plain white cloth in the foreground as it looks much cleaner and neater. The colours in the patterned background are very cool colours which helps make the fruit that’s made up of mainly warm colours such as red and orange stand-out.

Question 12

Scale
Cezanne

Answer 12

The scale is quite small and life sized. This gives the painting a very intimate and homely feel. People looking at it might feel like they’re looking at the real thing as everything is the right size. The sizes of the different objects look right with each other and not out of the ordinary which again makes the painting look homely and intimate.

Question 13

SUBJECT MATTER
Picasso

Answer 13

The artist conveys death by depicting a bulls skull in the left hand side of the painting. He has done this because it represents Spain, his country of birth and the civil war happening there at the time.
To balance out the death Picasso also conveyed the feeling of hope and life through the pitcher on the right as it is suggestive of a curvy woman dancing. Picasso thought women were important and represented life and beauty. The fruit also represents life as it is fresh.

Question 14

composition/arrangement
Picasso

Answer 14

In my opinion the focus point of this painting is the Bull skull on the left hand side of the painting. Its big dark eyes draw the viewer in. The contrast between the dark and the light on it also grabs the viewers attention.
The artist creates a very crowded effect by including many triangular shapes. This can be seen in the background of the painting and in the shadows cast on the table. This makes the viewer feel nearly uncomfortable as the angles look like spikes. He does this because of the civil war in Spain that’s infiltrating all aspects of life.

Question 15

Perspective
Picasso

Answer 15

The artwork doesn’t have much depth although there are light suggestions of perspective. The bottom left of the table is angled toward the centre of the painting which adds depth but not very much. The tree is smaller in the background which suggests an outside but it’s very stylised. This is probably done to help us focus on the objects as the main subject matter.
By using cool colours that recede in the background to convey outside and warm richer colours on the inside, Picasso has given a suggestion of depth.

Question 16

Use of Media
Picasso

Answer 16

The artist used visible brushstrokes on the bull skull. You can see this specially around the eye. He does this to suggest that the skull is rotting which enhances the idea of death in the painting. In other areas of the painting he has blended the paint, such as on the pitcher and the table, This contrasts with the textured background where he has overlaid dry paint to suggest moonlight.

Question 17

Techniques
Picasso

Answer 17

I think the artist has used sgraffito on the skull to make it look like it’s decaying, further referring to the death and awful things happening in Spain at the time.
He also probably used a sponge or the end of a dry paintbrush to paint the tree as it looks nearly fluffy. He does this to make it look like blossoms as this contrasts the death surrounding the skull and further symbolises hope.

Question 18

texture
Picasso

Answer 18

The texture is quite scratchy on the skull, especially around the eyes. This has been achieved by layering, small brush marks and scratching off the top layer of paint, this helps it look more rotten and decaying which adds to the idea of death and gore.
The texture seems very soft on the tree. It;s probably been done with a sponge. This is done to show the safety and warmth surrounding the life of the blossoming tree. In contrast the pitcher looks smooth because under the contour lines the paint has been blended.

Question 19

Form
Picasso

Answer 19

The artist has made the skull seem more 3 dimensional by adding shading on the jaw and by having dark eye sockets against the creamy bone of the skull. But at the same time it looks flat because of the multiple viewpoints it has been drawn from. This draws the eyes in and creates interest,
The pitcher has been given form with the contour lines and changes in colour to suggest tone and form. This suggests that it is curvy, further extenuating the idea that it is a curvy woman which to him signified life. In contrast the fruit has been painted rather flat and quite abstract.

Question 20

colours
Picasso

Answer 20

The colours are very muted greens, blues and white in the background and neutral on the skull. This could have been done to make the painting feel quite sad and cold, representing the sadness of the civil war happening in Spain at the time. These cool colours also recede and suggest the outside and convey a little depth. The neutral creamy colours of the skull make it one of the most realistic objects in the painting.
The brightest colours are on the apples and pitcher. These items have been used to represent life and joy. They are mainly reds and yellows and green which make the viewer feel warm and safe. The red and green are also complementary and therefore have become more intense.

Question 21

line or shape
Picasso

Answer 21

The artist has used a number of triangles and circles on this painting. He has used triangles in the background and circles on the objects. This creates contrast as the triangles suggest anger and pain like the war as well as create unity throughout the painting. And the circles suggest joy and life.
There are lines around some of the objects that help to describe their forms, as can be seen in the pitcher and the apples. The vertical lines in the background give structure to the painting and describe the window frame in the background.

Question 22

tone
Picasso

Answer 22

Picasso has used lighter tones in the background and darker tones on the skull, table and pitcher. This has been done to make a distinction between the outside and inside, the darker tones also stand out and come towards us against the lighter ones.
The artist has also used tone on the skull as specially in and around the eyes. This makes them seem more empty and lifeless. Various tones on the skull also create realism and limited form.
The dark tones of the shadows of the objects stand out especially as they are triangles, they also balance with the lighter tones triangles in the background.

Question 23

pattern
Picasso

Answer 23

There is no particular pattern in this picture although the random scattering of triangles could be perceived as a random pattern as it creates unity within the painting. ,The contour lines on the pitcher also create a liner pattern that suggests the curvy form of the object.

Question 24

Scale
Picasso

Answer 24

The painting is of a medium size. Some of the items would have had to be scaled down but some could have stayed the same size. You would have to get up close to the picture to see the details which can make it feel a bit more personal. This highlights how hidden the events of the war were even though they were atrocious.
The skull is larger than the other objects and this emphasises its importance and creates a focal point. Although because Picasso has drawn it from different viewpoints it appears flattened and smaller than it would realistically have been to the other objects.

Question 25

style
Picasso

Answer 25

The Cubist style is evident in the painting, this can be seen on the skull where Picasso has drawn it from multiple viewpoints, in fact he has drawn it in his signature three viewpoints, front, three quarters and side. The eyes look like they’re looking directly at you but the muzzle looks like it is being seen from the side. This interest and a strong focal point to the painting. The use of repeating triangles and circular shapes are also signs of the cubist style, Picasso was interested in observing the basic geometric shapes.
Picasso has also used a semi abstract style as the fruit is so simplified to basic shapes, this contrasts with the more realistic skull and makes them stand alone with the other styles of painting in the picture.

Question 26

Mood/Atmosphere
Picasso

Answer 26

The mood is quite sad and dark. This has been done by using quite dark and subdued colours. As specially on the table and skull. This has been done to convey the emotions of the war. the same atmosphere that would have been present in Spain at the time. It also conveys how sad Picasso felt about all the death.
The white light coming in from outside and bathing the tree and the skull is meant to represent hope

Question 27

opinion
Picasso

Answer 27

I think this painting is very influential and has had a big impact on people’s perspectives of the war. Many people that have lost family in any war can relate to it which gives it a big audience of people that will like it.
The pitcher and light flowing into the room represent hope and life. He is trying to make people feel like it will get better and although their is war happening around them their is still hope.

Question 28

Influence
Picasso

Answer 28

He was influenced by the civil war in Spain which influenced him to paint “Guernica”. This is the most famous anti-war painting in the world. He was also influenced by this to paint “The weeping woman” This painting shows a woman in anguish.
After his friend killed himself in 1901, Picasso started painting with a monochromatic blue colourpalette as can be seen in “La vie” which features the friend.