The painting named Ties contains several colors which show many people wearing ties and hence the name. The painting is neither too big nor too small and this brings about the beauty of the painting. Just like other great paintings, this painting presents issues about the modern society and communicates certain messages to people. This paper basically analyses the content of the painting and in particular, the use of different shades of colors.
Colors are the most pronounced elements in the painting. There are dull colors in the shades of black, grey and brown. Black is the most dominant color on the painting and it covers a very large part of the painting especially on the right side. Where black is absent another dull color-green has been used. Grey exists in two areas of the painting; the middle upper background and the bottom left foreground. The shades of grey appearing on the painting have an even tone especially on the left side of the painting where they are not concentrated.
While the right side is dominated by dull colors, the left side is quite different and it features some very bright colors. These colors are more visible s compared to the dull colors on the right side of the painting. These colors include shades of yellow, orange blue and white. There is also a brighter shade of green but it tines downwards from the foreground of the painting. Of all the bright colors used, orange is the most visible and dominant. Orange has been used in one section of the painting. It is the color of the largest tie in the painting and this makes it a special color meant to deliver a message to the viewers. Since it has been used on a large tie, it could signify bright people being the bosses of other people in business. Another bright color-white appears in the same manner as grey which represents dull colors.
This brings about a balance in the painting and signifies a balanced mixture of people working in a business setting. The other colors are mainly colors of ties. They are used to draw shapes such as squares, stripes, circles and fluid-shaped representations on the ties.
Besides the use of colors, iconography has been widely used in the painting. Iconography refers to the use of images and symbols that are traditionally associated with people and subjects such as religion. In this case, the items shown on the painting are definitely ties. Ties are commonly worn on formal and business settings and therefore this painting implies a business or a white-collar work setting. The ties presented in the painting are of different sizes and colors. While the orange tie with black stripes is the largest, the multi-colored tie with a unique fluid pattern is the smallest. In between, there are other shapes and colors of ties. This differentiation could imply the different personalities with different tastes and preferences that are found in any working environment. At the right side of the painting there is a black part that resembles a coat. Black coats are the symbols of formality and they usually represent ties. This helps confirm that the painting actually represents a formal business setting.
The use dull colors, bright ones coupled and iconography are the three most pronounced elements of the painting named “ties” by Shawn Morin. The three aspects are quite visible and they provoke some thoughts in the mind of a person each time they view the painting. While the colors are used to show differentiation, in the issues or personalities symbolized in the painting, the most dominant iconographic aspect is the ties and hence the name of the painting.
