ART Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

ART - Essay Example This creates a horizontal line that shows stability. On the other hand, the big skull in the middle of the artwork does not only serve as the focus of the piece but it also adds to the height of the structure, giving a sense of balance to the length in proportion to the height. Most of the figures are made from bronze, painted with patina and pigment to create a convincingly natural look especially when seen from afar. The skull as the focal point is not only positioned at the center of the figure but is also exaggerated in size that it is made bigger than the other figures. Comparing the skull to the size of the beheaded red figure or the lion for instance, their sizes are not proportionate to each other although the figures are at almost the same distance from the viewer. This perhaps symbolizes the importance of the skull which probably portrays the farmer or caretaker of the wheat field. The skull looks scary with its eyes colored dark compounded by the dark inscribed lines and d ark disfigured nose in contrast to the lighter shade of its larger part. Such inscribed lines are also vertical and larger in size, giving a more defined contrast to the finer horizontal lines which have high key, showing off white to middle values. The skin on the skull resembles that of a mummified cadaver which is dry and brittle. On the right side of the skull, from the viewer’s point of view, is a dead tree with several branches that makes it look old and beautiful. The branches moving towards different directions add to the beauty of the artwork in general because of the contrast in lines that they depict. Just beside the tree is a polychromatic biomorphic figure of a parrot. The juxtaposition of the skull, tree and bird gives a contrast between death and life. The skull and the dead tree reflect death with their appearances but the color of the bird exudes life. Speaking of colors, the artist used the warm primary colors such as red and yellow as well as the cool prima ry color, blue. Secondary colors such as warm orange and cool green are also used. These contrast the lifeless and dull colors of other figures like the skull and tree. Moreover, the parrot is positioned in such a way that it implies life and movement. The position of its body suggests that it is turned away from the skull but with its head twisted to its side to appear like it is looking at the skull; the bird gives the appearance that it is moving. Towards the right side of the bird is a green amorphous figure holding a yellow pole, another contrasting image using a warm primary color against a cool secondary color. Further on the right side is an anthill with a large egg on top. The amorphous anthill again represents another contrasting element of the artwork considering the its uncertain shape to the spherical shape of the egg. Moreover, the anthill is created in such a manner that has the simulated texture of soil while the egg has an implied texture of the smooth shell of an e gg. Nevertheless, both the anthill and egg are not really monochromatic as they seem at first glance but they actually have different hues which could be noticeable upon careful inspection. On the left side of the focal point are an uncertain image in patina, a mask and a lion. The three images seem to have been deliberately placed where they are to