Abstract Expressionism
Artist: Jackson Pollock
Elements of repetition: Color and line
Harmony< >Contrast: Middle because there is contrast in the very busy lines, shapes, and the gold color against the black, white, and silver. Also, the repetition and scale of line and color create a balanced composition that is harmonious.
Viewer opinion: Depth gives the effect of a painting, over a painting, over a painting. The smaller lines and shapes are the farthest away, the large lines and shapes float on top of those and the large silver and gold float on the very top. So there is a building up of repetitive pattern and color that is rhythmic.
 |
| Jackson Pollock, Number 12a: Yellow, gray, black, 1948 |
Harmony< >Contrast: There is some contrast between variation of thin and thick line and point, and in the black color on a light background, but it is more lyrical in style and harmonious than the previous painting.
Viewer opinion: There is rhythmic movement and continuance beyond frame. The large, thick, curved line in the center creates a focal point and holds the composition together. I like that the background is not white because it feels more poetic.
 |
| Jackson Pollock, Untitled, 1946 |
Elements of repetition: Color and line
Harmony< >Contrast: More toward the harmonious side of the scale because the lines are parallel and the splats of color are balanced throughout the composition. There is contrast in the use of complementary colors.
Viewer opinion: The balance of color throughout the composition and the emotional drips make me think of water moving, as a waterfall.
Norman Bluhm, Untitled, 1960
Harmony< >Contrast: Harmony in the soft feminine shapes and colors. The contrast is in the complimentary colors of purple and yellow and the repetitive placement of these colors around the outer edges keeping the eye moving around the composition.
Viewer opinion: Voluptuous...beautiful soft round shapes and complimentary colors. The composition extends beyond the frame giving a feeling of floating.
Norman Bluhm, Sooty Lady, 1978
Minimalism
Elements of repetition: Color, line, and shape
Harmony< >Contrast: The painting is harmonious in the balance of geometric shape s and lines. The contrast is in the push/pull of the bright colors.
Viewer opinion: This composition feels balanced and upbeat because the colors are bright and clear and the curvilinear shapes are intersecting in a playful way.
 |
| Frank Stella, Takht-i-Suleiman, 1967 |
Harmony< >Contrast: Harmonious in that the lines are thin and white on the black background. Since the white lines are thinner than the black, the black/white contrast is more subtle.
Viewer opinion: This composition would be very monotonous if it were not for the angular line and the canvas that echoes the same angles accentuating the repetition, rhythm, movement, and pattern.
 |
| Frank Stella, Nunca Pasa Nada, 1964 Artist: Clinton Adams Elements of repetition: Shape Harmony< >Contrast: Harmony in the symmetry of the repetition of the squares/rectangles and contrast in the reverse of color. Viewer opinion: This composition has a balanced yin/yang feeling to it. The soft focus of the squares/rectangles and background colors are calming. |
Clinton Adams, Revelation (Tablet Series), 1961
Elements of repetition: Shape and color
Harmony<>Contrast: Harmony in the variations of a very serene blue and in the repetition of the rectangular shapes. The oval at the top of the frame contrasts with the rectangles and serves as the focal point of the composition.
Viewer opinion: Once again, there is a feeling of calm in the blue color and the soft focus in the composition. The white cloud at the top could be a logo or seal and the folded paper is the letter. I get an informative feeling from the painting.
Post-minimalism
Artist: Magdalena Abakanowicz
Elements of repetition: Shape, line, color, texture
Harmony<>Contrast: Harmony in the repetitive shapes and lines down the backs. Also, the backs are in rows that form lines. They are all the same color and texture and meld with the environment. There is contrast in the physical texture that is rough.
Viewer opinion: I like this particular outside installation because it has a primitive feeling. The shadows cast make them come alive. I have traveled back in time to a gathering of Inca worshipping in Peru.
 |
| Magdalena Abakanowicz, Backs, 1982 |
Element of repetition: Shape, line, color, and texture
Harmony<>contrast: Harmony in the repetition of all the above mentioned elements. The contrasts come in light and shadow. The lighting produces light and dark areas and calls attention to the rough texture.
Viewer opinion: Black cocoons or pods, maybe feminine shapes. This one is hard to read from the picture.
 |
| Magdalena Abakanowicz, Black Environment, 1970-78 |
Elements of repetition: Color, space, and line
Harmony<>contrast: Harmony in the balance of positive/negative space in the composition. Contrast in the variation of colors and between the blurred background and the more focused foreground. Here, the foggy focus is more of a contrast because there is ambiguity in what you are seeing.
View opinion: Dream like quality and feeling of cellular structure or floating DNA strands.
Dan Christensen, Untitled, 1967
Harmony<>contrast: Harmony in the repetition of line, rhythm, and continuance in the pattern. The contrast is in the lighter background.
Viewer opinion: Looks like a colorless DNA code sequence.
Today
Artist: Arno Rafael Minkkinen
Elements of repetition: Shape, point, line, and texture
Harmony<>contrast: Harmony in the repetitive pattern on the stairs and the spiral of the stairs. The perpendicular lines of the handrail curve inward to continue the shape. Even the slant of the reflection of the windows match the slant of the stair closest to it and continue the line. The floor has a lighter value that contrasts with the darker value and line of the stairs, as do the dots on the floor. The floor pattern along with the reflection of the windows and blinds form and X in contrast with the spiral staircase. The hands and feet on the stairs balance the reflected light of the windows creating harmony in the composition. The white frame to the left and the bottom right also balance the staircase from the larger top to the smaller bottom. The darker parts of the floor on the right and bottom right balance the darker value of the staircase.
View opinion: I love this photograph. There is so much going on and it all works balancing the contrasting elements with just enough harmony to retain the meaning, the hands and feet descending the staircase.
 |
| Arno Rafael Minkkinen, Nude Descending a Staircase, Rockport, Maine, 2005 |
Harmony<>contrast: Harmony in the balance of the gondola shapes and reflections. Contrast in the perpendicular line of the masts and the light/dark value of the composition.
View opinion: This photograph has a fang like animal quality. If you let your eyes go out of focus, it just looks like shapes and lines.
 |
| Arno Rafael Minkkinen, Pinhole: Casanova Sends His Gondolences, Venice, 2003 Artist: Nene Humphrey Elements of repetition: Points, line, color, space, and value Harmony<>contrast: Harmony in the multitude of dots or points. There are also pins/lines that contrast each dot. Also, there is contrast in the red and gold colors against the white ground. The value of the lighter and darker colors adds depth and interest (harmony). The shadows also reinforce harmony in the pattern and rhythm created by the visual silence of the spacing. View opinion: This installation looks like the repetitive points on a world map. .jpg) Nene Humphrey, Every Force Evolves a Form (Detail), 2006 Elements of repetition: Shape, line, color, and value Harmony<>contrast: Harmony in the circular shapes and cool colors of blue and purple. The lines contrast the circular shapes and reinforce the focus in the composition by turning inward to the diagonal of circles creating more interest in the work as a whole. The shadow circles in the upper right play off these lines and create balance and harmony. The values of the blue and purple give visual depth to the painting and also creates harmony. Viewer opinion: The varying sizes and values of the circles give a hypnotic and magical quality to the composition. +%235.jpg) |
No comments:
Post a Comment