Critique 1

Describe:
This is a vertical piece that has an area of light blue tones descending from the upper right hand corner of the piece. This blue toned area curves from left back to the right side of the piece as it moves downwards. The outline of this area is nonlinear and has an organic randomness to where it stops while still following a basic flow downward. The downward motion ends at the objects in the foreground. The horizon line is gives a feeling of great depth because it is less define than the objects in the foreground of the piece. The colors of the main part of the piece are browns while the color of a focal object in the foreground is bright. The darker figures that border the lighter areas have a glow around the edges. The movement is also slow.

Interpret:
The tone of the piece is very calm and tranquil. The characters in the foreground are very small compared to the rest of the painting. The bright colors and how the light illuminates them gives them importance as the focal point in such a vast looking landscape. There is a biblical theme with the Madonna and child surrounded by angels whose attention is on the child. How large the sky is shows the importance of what is above compared to the landscape that only takes up the bottom third of the page. The yellow, gold lighting makes the picture warm feeling. The movement not being fast makes the characters feel welcome in the environment.

Evaluate:
I like this piece because it gets the point across that the figures are important that are in the foreground without them having to be the biggest thing in the picture. The bright colors of the characters and the movement towards the characters shows that they are important to the entire piece since the background bends and points to them. The lighting also gives importance to the characters because of the contrast of shadows on the characters.