Artistic judgment of Monet, “Impression: Sunrise,”

Monet, "Impression: Sunrise, " !872,  Musée Marmottan, Paris (above)

Imitationalism and literal qualities

          The painting is fairly realistic with an overall realistic outline, but without much detail. The painting seems at first glance more unfinished and sketch like in a realistic point of view. Then what the painting’s color, shade and contrast looks real, but more in a sketchy, thick painted way. The movement and texture of the large body of water is however not so realistic. As well as the trees and sky. The painting is made with thick brush strokes, therefore does not possess all of the detail to make it look lively and 3D with the movement and texture. Overall the Imitational and literal qualities are decent.

   Formalism and design qualities

            The painting possesses a variety of contrast with warm and or dark or cool colors. The movement and texture however is lacking. The lines in this artwork are plentiful however the shapes are not. Overall not many elements and principles are used and therefore have little variety. The form, texture, color, shape, balance, emphasis, rhythm and variety are extremely lacking. Although you may argue that the lines make emphasis and rhythm, and that the emphasis is the sun, however I think it doesn't have emphasis because the sun is small although the warm color is very contrasting to the cool and or dark colors.  However the line, value and space are exceptionally well used. The variety of lines forms great repetition. Although there are few colors, there is still a noticeable contrast between the orange sun and dark sky. The value using the bright orange contrasting to the dark grey combined with the contrast, repetition of line, proportion and space used create great emphasis. The spacing is used well, so is the value of the darks contrasting to the light. Overall there are some good formalism and design qualities but, overall I would say that they are weak.

Emotionalism and expressive qualities 

 

            The painting makes it feel like it is in a smoggy or polluted atmosphere adding the feel of isolation and depression or just a dark atmospherically feeling. The heavy texture of the brush strokes shows that the air is thick of something and it also depicts poor visibility which is over the bay. Definable this painting doesn't show happiness at all. It is dark, bleak and a greenish type color similar to sewage. The artist may have tried to show the wildness lurking in the water and the danger and beauty of the sun and or perhaps forest fires judging by how dried out and damaged the trees are. You must wonder is something lurking in the water as the artist used very thick strokes of green and contrast from the bay to sky. This painting overall adds an emotion expressing the unprotected purity of nature and the smog and fog and cloudiness and such experienced in sailing on boats. The painting shows that sailing on boats is more extraordinary than some people might think.