Art Analysis of the Anonymous

Artist? Unknown. Significance? Unknown. Being or Becoming? Apollonian or Dionysian?

 The artist seems to have a direct intention for the viewer to realize. He is invoking a sense of becoming, inviting interpretation and creating strong emotional responses. The cold and dark hues, the landscape, the flow of the painting, the positioning of the center figure as well as the balance and contrast all have a play in the overall impact and significance of the sophisticated painting.

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This painting is one of those that tries to settle a certain mood that varies within the viewers perspective. The combination of the principles of design as well as the elements of art are heavily equipped to introduce a sort of serene and tranquil sensation; for some it may be more of a cold, dark, and lonely feeling for different reasons I will expand upon. Definitely, right off the bat it is easy to determine this painting as an example of a Dionysian element. There is a central figure looking out into the furious ocean while one leg is raised, the other grounded to the shoreline rocks with a cane supporting him. Waves of an angry ocean crashing into the high risen rocks with ferocity towards a common direction. However, the waves appear smoky and blurred more than a usual wave in nature, suggesting that the "waves" are actually a mix of another element in nature such as a smoke or fog. These elements in the painting don't automatically tell a story. These elements do not create a sense of logical analysis or represent a type of order, on the contrary it is disorder; nature is a disorder that has no linear movement.

Let's start off with the colors. The hues used are cold, winter colors: blues, browns, black, and one summer color which is the figures hair. The colors are important because they influence the mood of a painting or any piece of imagery. Warm colors could've been equipped but that would have insinuated a hot summer day, but these colors create a serene cold winter day. The colors are not intense, they are subtle and soft which tells the viewer to relax, to settle, to have a serene take on the painting. The only darkness is the figures clothing and the rocks he/she stands on. It is a slight use of chiaroscuro which forces the eyes to focus on the top region of the painting, the roaring of the ocean water and the figure standing in silence. Why? Well that is up for the art critic to think of and interpret. Notice how the sky is painted with delicacy and careful use of the light colors to settle a cool day. The painting transitions from delicate to rough and disastrous in nature.

The composition is peculiar because of the spacing, balance, and emphasis. The landscape seems very narrow. Typically landscape paintings are horizontally painting allowing for the entire land to be seen but here it looks narrow and very centered. This is an opening for interpretation such as the painters desire for the viewer to focus on the center heavily. This also suggests a sense of grounding and wondering. The figures legs are grounded to the rocks while the rest of the painting flows naturally. Is it a purposeful contrast between man and mother nature? This spacing creates a movement for the eyes to follow. The up and down narrowness as well as the way the mountains in the background align to the center of the image and person make the eyes draw to the center and really appreciate the linear quality the painting has underneath all the color. Additionally, their seems to be balance within the earthly elements except for one: water, earth, and wind. Fire has been omitted because it represents fury, life, rage and anger, destruction and heat, a polar opposite of the significance behind the painting. The painting paints more of a subtle and wise image. The figure seems to look out into the distance in a sort of appreciation or contemplation to whatever the art viewer may believe.

The abundant space creates depth and a sense of aloneness and an appreciation to the grandeur that is nature. The space invites for the critic to breathe in awe and breathe period. The space in the sky makes the eyes go up in question and contemplation; it swallows the figure and the foggy water. The foggy water takes the rest of the painting leaving just the figure standing showing how little man is and that nature is the biggest force on this Earth with all of its elements.

The painter does a good job in conveying a sense of serenity and silence mixed with contemplation and worry. The redheaded figure staring out into the abyss with a sort of mystery lets the viewer in on the figures perspective; the back is to the viewer which could either mean a sense of neglect and carelessness or a venture into the figures perspective of the silence he/she is trying to convey with their mysterious glancing and contrapposto. The cane on the right side of the figure can represent balance and a cry for help. The figure is damaged and handicap which shows that he/she needs help or is symbolic of man leaning on nature for help just as the figure leans on the cane which rests on Earth.