Essay --

Formal Analysis Paper Claude Oscar Monet (1840-1926) was a French jaguar cognise for his use of bold color and unusual subject matter. In the 1860s, Monet joined like-minded artists such as Edgar Degas to create the movement that became known as Impressionism. Edgar Degas (18341917) was also French but born to a wealthy family. He bene watchted from traditional training and was not comfortable with the label impressionist due to this training. This paper intends to analyze Claude Monets The Walk, Woman with a Parasol(fig. 1), and Edgar Degas The Little FourteenYearOld Dancer (fig. 2), through a consideration of composition, use of color, perspective, and brush strokes. Capturing the natural play of high spirits and shadow was a signature theme in all of Monets work. In this painting, he positions the light to the right of the woman and boy which leads the viewers eye up. He then uses shadows in the parasol, the womans face and on the nation to lead the viewers eye back d own the painting. The deliberate placement of the light and shade is an effective tool that he uses with a igniter touch in the boys clothing, the clouds and notably the grass. This piece showcases Monets use of color, which was another one of his signature themes. He uses cool colors to give the painting a tranquil feeling and to help emphasize his subjects, the woman and boy. He stays with the cool color pallet with use of blue in the sky, the womans clothes, the grass and the boys clothes. He then incorporates warm colors into the piece with the use of white in the clouds, and in the models clothes, the parasol, and even in the grass. Monet employ the highlights of yellow and white to serve as focal points as well as natural highlights... ...al cloth. While the corset appears to be tailored loosely, the tutu seems to fit but it lies limp against the figures legs. Despite the use of mixed media, the dancers tights are actually sculpted, not fabric. The ballet slippers ar e actual berth coated with wax the same wax covers the entire sculpture, preserving her and the fragile elements. In Monets painting, The Walk, Woman with a Parasol, the viewer is led through a journey of expressive brushstrokes, color, and the playfulness of light and shadows. He successfully uses his impressionistic brushwork to grasp the viewers attention and keeps their interest with his balancing of warm light and the shadowing cool colors. Degas uses his knowledge and study of the human figure to grab the viewers attention he then follows up with his go-as-you-please use of bronze and mixed media to keep their intrest.