compare and contrast artwork

Order Description

This is the instructions for this compare and contrast of 2 artworks.
The 2 artworks are:
-View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm—The Oxbow
by Thomas Cole

-Poppies
by
Claude Monet

This is what my professor wants in this essay:
“What I want you to do for this assignment is to look at the works and describe what you see.

In this assignment you will also be dealing with meaning. How do the subject and the formal means of the work create meaning?
Now to begin your description, start with the subject matter. This may be representational and depict people, places or things. Or it may be abstract, where the
subject matter is actually elements of design, lines, shapes, masses etc. Try to be as specific as you can. “The Virgin Mary” is a better description than “a woman in
old time clothes”. This goes for any depiction, specific places, particular objects, the more specific the better. Don’t forget to include things you might think are
obvious.

Where does the subject matter come from for the artist. Is there a text, (bible story, mythology, history)?

What is the media of the work? Oil paint, Marble, charcoal on paper or some more esoteric media like lipstick, chocolate syrup, or elephant dung. How is the material
used? Are there special or common tools in use or processes that produce specific or accidental results. What is the surface of the work like.

Now that you have described what is depicted it’s time to describe how the work is formally constructed through the use of the elements of design and the principles of
design. Look for points, lines, shapes, masses, textures, values and color. How are the elements used. Take into consideration the importance of the element, which
elements are most important.

Lines, what are their directions, sizes, color, weight

Shapes, are they geometric, biomorphic, hard edged, soft edged, a combination of these.

Masses, how are they created, are they geometric, biomorphic, etc.

Texture, what are the actual textures of the materials, are there implied or illusionistic textures.

Color, is there an overall color scheme, are the colors naturalistic, blended, broken, or solid.

How are the elements arranged? How is unity created, are there repetitions? What are those repetitions? Is there variety? Is there a certain perspective or point of
view? What is the scale of the work, life size, smaller, monumental. Are certain things emphasized, is there a hierarchy as to how your eye moves through the picture
or is the more a sense of an overall field. What type of balance is used, symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial? How is the work composed? Do the elements or subjects
arrange themselves into larger groupings or shapes.

What type of space does the work involve. In 2 dimensional work how is the illusion of 3 dimensions created? Overlap, transparency, placement, a sense of light and
shadow, linear or atmospheric perspective. In 3 dimensional work, is there space within the piece, how does the work interact with the space around it or it’s site.

Are there art movements or theories which influence the look of the work? Are there any particular precedents (works the artist is referencing)? How does the work
conform or deviate from these ideas.”