Art is considered as one of the most diverse human activities. Some examples of art-related activities include the production of artwork, historical study of art, critique of artwork, and the dissemination of artwork. Visual arts is one of the oldest forms of art that has been identified and used over the years. This type of art is composed of different components inclusive of the creation of images and objects in several fields such as sculpture and painting. The following paper will look into two paintings from different painters. These paintings comprise, paintings of Willem Van Aelst-Flowers in a Silver Vase and Carle (Charles- Andre) Van Loo Painting. Willem Van Aelst and Carle Van Loo were well renowned painters. The Flowers in Silver Vase painting was painted in 1663 while Carle Van Loo Painting was done in 1753. The two paintings used the same medium. That is, they were painted on canvas using oil (Hempel 230).
Carle (Charles-Andre) Vanloo Painting, 1753
Carle Van Loo is a French artist renowned for his prowess in painting. He is specifically known as a Rococo painter. He is best known for painting elegant portraits for the European royalty as well as a fashionable pieces in the 18th century. He was acknowledged for being one of the leading painters of religious as well as historical subjects in his country during the Rococo period. Rococo painting emerged during the rococo period, which was in the 18th century.
The painting is of children exercising their art skills. Two children, probably young boys are practicing their skills by drawing a girl, who in this case is a live object (Denis 143). The girl is almost naked because only a piece of cloth is passing between her legs and a bigger section of the body is uncovered. While one boy is drawing on a Canvas, another one seems to be sketching the girl on a book. Just as described above about Rococo paintings, there is evidence of soft color that has been used in the painting. Additionally, there are smooth colors that have been used extensively. However, along the edges, the painting is characterized with thick and dark lines.
When looking into the texture of the painting, we can deduce that it is smooth. However, at the base, it is rough. Additionally, we can see that at the background of the painting, it has also been made to be rough. Such instances on most occasions occur to emphasis on a key feature or aspect in the background. A canvas has been used to draw the painting. Additionally, oil was used when the painting was being drawn. Elements of lighting as well as value is evident from the darker background of the painting and also on the brighter parts of the painting. When having a look at the lower side of the painting, it is evident that it has a rough texture (Robert 131).
The smooth lines that have been used to make the drawing have enhanced the beauty of the content of the painting. The children in the painting can be clearly seen from a far distance because of the colors that have been used and the smoothness of the lines. A painter can make a painting look very neat and appealing just with the intention of driving across a certain message. From this painting, we can clearly understand what the message of the painter was (Wilkins, Schultz, &Linduff 173). For instance, the fact that the three children are painting clearly tells us about the era they were in. In my opinion, these children existed within the same era that Carle Van Loo existed (Wisse 85). The background of the painting can be used to deduce where the children were. I can tell that the painter was painting the children in an art studio. This is so because of the dark nature of the background and additionally because of the pillar being observed from the painting. It was characterized with soft colors as well as smoothly curved lines. This type of painting was also a depiction of several aspects such as scenes of love, amorous encounters, nature, light- hearted entertainment as well as the youths. The painting is characterized with a static composition.
Willem Van Aelst-Flowers in a Silver Vase, 1663
This painting was done by hand and with oil on a blank canvas. The painter took his time to do his work and hence the reason as to why it is of high quality. Any individual who happens to have a glimpse of this painting will indeed appreciate its beauty. The painter must have taken his time to produce such an exclusive piece. One can tell from the way the painting has been produced that Willem loved his work. He was able to use dramatic color just to make sure that the painting was more appealing to people and any other interested party. From the painting, we can tell that he used loose brushstrokes. The background has been painted dark just to illuminate the bright colors that have been used in the flowers. One can easily tell that the painting was for a rose flower as evidenced by the red and white roses (Marco & Reiche 137). The fact that it is a vase of rose flowers brings out the theme of love and affection and beauty. The presence of a butterfly on the rose flower also gives emphasis to this particular theme. Willem was also able to use strong perspective effects, heavy impasto, broken and agitated draperies while producing the painting. There is also intensive use of tenebrism and chiaroscuro.
A pattern has been used while making the drawing. The painter should have used linear but instead made use of patterns to make the drawing. There is overlapping of the flowers in the painting hence making the painting real and appealing. Open form being one of the baroque styles has been used to exemplify the painting hence projecting the painting out to the viewers. Three dimensional forms has been used in this painting. When one observes the painting, he or she gets the illusion that it is a real piece of art. The composition of the painting is static (Jon 113).
Comparison
This painting by Carle will be compared to the painting that was done using the baroque style. Baroque style of painting was brought into existence because of the influence from the Roman- Catholic Counter Reformation on the western culture. This style came into use with the intention of describing anything as bizarre or irregular. Some of the similarities existing between the two paintings are discussed below.
First of all, it is important note that the two styles of painting existed during the 18th century. Additionally, both paintings utilized the same medium to express their messages. They were painted on the canvas using oil. The use of the oil on the canvas was solely done to produce a classic painting. This is despite the fact that they have different subjects. From the two paintings, it is evident that there is a thin background that has been painted before anything was added. Both painters seem to have used colors and color effects to perfection. They have enriched colors by moderating their use of light and darker varieties. There is some presence of glare in the paintings hence the appealing effect to the viewers.
Contrast
However, some contrasts exists between the two paintings. For instance, the painting under baroque style has very dark edges. This is contrary to the other painting that has lighter edges. Many colors have been used in the Flower in a Silver Vase painting when compared to Carle’s painting. Willem has been able to combine the primary colors and secondary colors to come up with such an exquisite piece of art. Additionally, Willem’s painting covers most part of the canvas. However, when Carle’s painting covers only a section of the canvas. Willem’s paint has a three dimension composition while Carle’s painting has a two dimension composition. When we look at the flowers in the silver vase painting, we get the illusion that is a real object. This is contrary to Carle’s painting which clearly comes out as a painting.
In perspective I would choose the painting on the flowers in a silver vase. The painting is more appealing to many people by virtue of the fact that it is more beautiful. Any rational person will go for Willem’s painting. Not unless an individual is a real artist who might choose Carle’s painting on the grounds of it being an art. I believe that Willem’s work is more successful than Carle’s work. The main theme of Willem’s as evidenced by how the painting was produced is love and appreciation or beauty. This the painting one take it to the spouse who will be happy receiving it. Rose flowers symbolizes love and affection. Therefore, I believe that the painting on the Flowers in the Silver Vase is more successful.
Conclusion
Summing up, both painters seem to have used colors and color effects to perfection. In the paintings, we can observe that the two painters have enriched colors by modulating their use of light and darker hues. Luminosity is also vivid in the paintings hence bringing about the inner lighting. The two paintings have also used different shades of color to bring out different theme.
Works Cited
Bussagli, Marco, and Mattia Reiche. Baroque & Rococo. New York, NY: Sterling Pub., 2009. Print.
Denis, D. The Art Instinct: Beauty, Pleasure and Human Evolution. New York: Bloomsburry, 2009. Print.
Hempel, Eberhard. Baroque Art and Architecture in Central Europe: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1965. Print.
Robert, H. The Case for Disruption: Reflections on Baroque. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2000. Print.
Thompson, Jon. How to Read a Modern Painting: Understanding and Enjoying the Modern Masters. New York: Abrams, 2006. Print.
Wilkins, David G, Bernard Schultz, and Katheryn M Linduff. Art Past, Art Present. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1997. Print.
Wisse, J. The Reformation in Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2002. Print.
