Monday, August 23, 2010

Ever wondered how to understand and discuss a drawing?

Here's a brief guide:

1) INTRODUCE THE DRAWING IN GENERAL TERMS
•What is the title of the drawing?

•What is the name of the artist?

•What is the year the drawing was done?

•What is the medium? (ie the materials used to produce the picture, for example charcoal on paper, pen and ink etc)

•What is the subject matter or general theme of the work? (eg is it a figure drawing, a map, a portrait, an autobiographical work, a picture about nature, a drawing of the city etc?)

•What is the purpose of the drawing? (eg Is it a diagram that explains how something works? Does it record accurately record the appearance of something? Does it express the artist's emotion or memory? )

2) DESCRIBE THE DRAWING IN DETAIL
•How is line used? What does it do/express?

•How is tone used? What does it do/express?

•What can you say about shape and/or form in this picture? What is the effect?

•Is texture a feature of the drawing?

•What can you say about the composition of the drawing? What is the effect of this type of composition on the overall drawing?

•Is rhythm important in this picture? If so, say more about it...

•Is the picture balanced? Explain...

•Is perspective used in the picture? If so, describe the way that the illusion of three-dimensional space has been created.

•Is the picture harmonious? If so, in what way?

•Are there any strong contrasts in the picture? Say more...

3) INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION
•What is the mood of the drawing? Justify your answer using information from your responses above

•What does the drawing express? Justify your answer using information from your responses above

•In your opinion, why is this work interesting/moving/ clever/ imaginative/thought-provoking/......?  Choose the adjective(s) that best fit(s) the work, and then justify your conclusion in terms of specific features and qualities of the drawing.

CHAN Chung Ngai talks on deGoyaMalaMuujer(WickedWoman)1801-03

1) INTRODUCE THE DRAWING IN GENERAL TERMS

•What is the title of the drawing?
Mala Mujer (Wicked Woman)


•What is the name of the artist?
Francisco Goya (Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes)

•What is the year the drawing was done?
1801 - 1803

•What is the medium? (ie the materials used to produce the picture, for example charcoal on paper, pen and ink etc)
Ink on paper


•What is the subject matter or general theme of the work? (eg is it a figure drawing, a map, a portrait, an autobiographical work, a picture about nature, a drawing of the city etc?)
a figure drawing (a witch with a baby)


•What is the purpose of the drawing? (eg Is it a diagram that explains how something works? Does it record accurately record the appearance of something? Does it express the artist's emotion or memory? )
The work is the one of a series of prints titled Caprichos depicting what Goya called. Its purpose is about the depiction of some black social activities. (Goya: ...the innumerable foibles and follies to be found in any civilized society, and from the common prejudices and deceitful practices which custom, ignorance, or self-interest have made usual.)



2) DESCRIBE THE DRAWING IN DETAIL


•How is line used? What does it do/express?
Soft and repeated line used, it express the characters in the picture with realistic style.


•How is tone used? What does it do/express?
The witch in the picture is with a dark tone, and the baby and the background are with a bright tone. It expresses the witch looks evil with the dark tone of her dress and, in fact, the witch looks more evil in contrast with the bright tone of the baby and the background.


•What can you say about shape and/or form in this picture? What is the effect?
The shape of the characters in the picture are realistic. The realistic style is more persuasive that you may believe the event happening in the picture.


•Is texture a feature of the drawing?
There are the facial skin texture and the fold of the dress of the witch expressed obviously by the light and the shading.


•What can you say about the composition of the drawing? What is the effect of this type of composition on the overall drawing?
The witch's head is the center in the picture as the focus of the picture at the first sight. It makes you follow the witch's eye line of sight, and you will see the baby. The baby's hand and hip are grabbed by the witch, and you will see the hands of the witch. The composition of the picture invites the audience to see step by step.


•Is rhythm important in this picture? If so, say more about it...
I would like to say that the picture invites the audience to see step by step is the rhythm of the picture which is important. The rhythm makes the picture more interesting and active.


•Is the picture balanced? Explain...
Not too balanced, about the composition, the characters are at the low part of the picture in contrast with the high part of the picture which is empty. On the other hand, the witch is also unbalanced who slope to the left. It creates the unstable feeling to the audience.


•Is perspective used in the picture? If so, describe the way that the illusion of three-dimensional space has been created.
The cups and plates are little bit behind the witch and the baby. The way to create the perspective in the picture are three. First, it is making the cups and the plants look small. Second, it is making the color of the cups and the plants look light. Third, it is making the line of the cups and the plants look soft. The second and third ways that it is because the further the perspective is, the lighter its line and the color are.


•Is the picture harmonious? If so, in what way?
The picture is quite harmonious, at least not disharmonious. The color of the picture is black and white which is neutral, and black and white are harmonious with each other.


•Are there any strong contrasts in the picture? Say more...
There are big contrast bewteen the witch's dress and the baby about the tone. The witch's dress is dark and the baby is bright. The tone of the characters also show their feature and situation in contrast. The witch is evil because she looks dark, and the baby is innocent because he looks bright.


3) INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION


•What is the mood of the drawing? Justify your answer using information from your responses above
The drawing is with a dark mood. It is because the witch in the picture is with a dark tone, and the baby and the background are with a bright tone. It expresses the witch looks evil with the dark tone of her dress and, in fact, the witch looks more evil in contrast with the bright tone of the baby and the background. The evil witch is killing the innocent baby.

•What does the drawing express? Justify your answer using information from your responses above
In the picture, the evil witch is killing the innocent baby. In fact, the work is the one of a series of prints titled Caprichos depicting what Goya called. Its purpose is about the depiction of some black social activities. The witch in the picture represents the rulers. The baby in the picture represents the people and the justice. The rulers are imperious, hypocritical, corrupt. They are killing the people and the justice at that time.

•In your opinion, why is this work interesting/moving/ clever/ imaginative/thought-provoking/......? Choose the adjective(s) that best fit(s) the work, and then justify your conclusion in terms of specific features and qualities of the drawing.
The work is imaginative because the character in the picture, the witch, is created by superstition. Moreover, the witch in the work symbolize the 19C Italian rulers, and the baby in the work symbolize the people and the justice at that time. The symbolization is imaginative.

CHAN Man Kit (Kelvin) talks on Balazs Kicsiny's KicsinyCalendar2001detail

1) INTRODUCE THE DRAWING IN GENERAL TERMS
•What is the title of the drawing?   
 The title of the drawing is KicsinyCalendar2001detail.

•What is the name of the artist? 
It's drawing by Balazs Kicsiny.
.
•What is the year the drawing was done? 
The drawing was done in 2001.

•What is the medium? (ie the materials used to produce the picture, for example charcoal on paper, pen and ink etc)  It's use the ink.

•What is the subject matter or general theme of the work? (eg is it a figure drawing, a map, a portrait, an autobiographical work, a picture about nature, a drawing of the city etc?)
The picture was used to make a calendar.

•What is the purpose of the drawing? (eg Is it a diagram that explains how something works? Does it record accurately record the appearance of something? Does it express the artist's emotion or memory? )
The purpose of the drawing is that the Kicsiny want to draw what he feel in the December and make it in calendar.
2) DESCRIBE THE DRAWING IN DETAIL
•How is line used? What does it do/express?
The line in this picture is not a important part. We can see that the contour line very clear and the line is soft and thin. Also, the line almost vertical line when he draw the coat of the person. Only focus on the line of the hand which on the floor, the line a very soft and little bit blurred.
•How is tone used? What does it do/express?
In this picture, the tonal contract is very strong.It amost draw with black, white and gray colour. The lightness part of the picture is the white colour which used to draw the snow. And the darkness part of the picture is the black colour which used to draw the coat. On the other hand, Kicsiny use the gray colour to blur the background and draw some layer of the coat. Furthermore,Kicsiny use the flesh color when he draw the hand.
•What can you say about shape and/or form in this picture? What is the effect?
In this picture, It mainly focus on the body shape of the person in the middle of the picture. It also focus on the hand on the floor. On the other hand, the shape of the snow is irregular and differential.
•Is texture a feature of the drawing?
The texture is one of the feature of this picture. As we see that, the texture of the snow is soft and light, you can feel that it is snow rather than only a spot. Secondly, Kicsiny fill the coat with black and gray colour and it can make me feel that the texture of the coat is so tough.
•What can you say about the composition of the drawing? What is the effect of this type of composition on the overall drawing?
The compositon of this picture that I think is part of the street during chrismas eve. The person in the picture look like a missionary and he just open a bible want to deliver a sermon. Also, there have a hand in front of the missionary, this composition is interesting and draw our attention on the hand.
•Is rhythm important in this picture? If so, say more about it...
The rthythm is not play a important role in this picture. However,the snow is falling down in a regular rhythm to create movement in the picture.
•Is the picture balanced? Explain...
No, the picture is not balanced. Although the face of the person is seems like balance, the coat and the hand which on the floor is asymmetrical. Also, it is more snow spot in the right hand side of the picture, it is not visually balanced.
•Is perspective used in the picture? If so, describe the way that the illusion of three-dimensional space has been created.
No, perspective is not used in the picture.
•Is the picture harmonious? If so, in what way?
The picture is not harmonious.It's because some strange part display in the picture.The person is smiling and look at the book which the surface is covered by snow.  Also, someone is covered by snow in front of the person and the person ignore that guy. The atmosphere of the hold picture is not harmonious.

•Are there any strong contrasts in the picture? Say more...
Yes, there are strong contrasts in the picture. The black and white colour create a strong tonal contrast in this picture. The line of the hand and line of the coat also have the contrasts. 
3) INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION
•What is the mood of the drawing? Justify your answer using information from your responses above
When I saw this picture first time, I think this picture is peaceful and the person's face is very nice. However, when I analysis the picture deeply, I think the atmosphere is strange. I wonder why someone is covered by snow in front of the person and the person doesn't care about that. It's unbelievable!
•What does the drawing express? Justify your answer using information from your responses above
The drawing want to express that the missionary just only focus on his bible and want to deliver a sermon, he will not care anything even someone need help. The picture is to make a dig at some missionary's behavior.
•In your opinion, why is this work interesting/moving/ clever/ imaginative/thought-provoking/......?  Choose the adjective(s) that best fit(s) the work, and then justify your conclusion in terms of specific features and qualities of the drawing.
I think the adjective "thought-provoking" is the best fit of this picture. It's because there are some meaning behind the picture.

CHAU Nga Sze (Alison) talks on da Vinci's "Virgin And Child With Cat"





1) INTRODUCE THE DRAWING IN GENERAL TERMS
It is Virgin And Child With Cat by Leonardo da Vinci, which was finished at around 1480.
This is a work of pen and ink.


•What is the subject matter or general theme of the work?
It may be a figure drawing.


•What is the purpose of the drawing? (eg Is it a diagram that explains how something works? Does it record  accurately record the appearance of something? Does it express the artist's emotion or memory? )
It seems to be a draft of a painting but actually there is no painting of Virgin and Child with cat.
Leonardo worked on a number of drawings like this theme.


2) DESCRIBE THE DRAWING IN DETAIL
•How is line used? What does it do/express?
The drawing is dominated with lines. The use of lines help to suggest the space, the gesture and the movement. The thin lines also help to create a background for the figure. We can see that there are many reworked lines, it just like to correct the position of the subject.


•How is tone used? What does it do/express?
The drawing is in black and white. The tone of gray is dominated in the drawing although the lines are in black. Because the ink wash was gray in color, the drawing will not be too dark or too bright. And the gray color has moderate the contrast between the background and the foreground.


•What can you say about shape and/or form in this picture? What is the effect?
da Vinci use lines to create the shape and the composition of the drawing. The lines is calligraphy-like with both thin and thick forms. The reworked and overlapped lines create the sense of movement, the movement of twisting and turning. da Vinci use lines to relocated the pose and gesture of the figure. Furthermore, the thick and repeated lines help to form the shape of the subject.


•Is texture a feature of the drawing?
Texture may not be a feature of the drawing.


•What can you say about the composition of the drawing? What is the effect of this type of composition on the overall drawing?
The figure forms the shape of pyramid-like, which suggest the sense of stability. However, it somehow has the feel of incline as the left bottom corner just include few lines so that it is not so balance to some extent. But I think daVinci use the background, the round-topped window, to help to maintain the balance.


•Is rhythm important in this picture? If so, say more about it...
Yes. The lines create the movement of the figure. They are also rhythimatic, especially at the part of Virgin's hand and legs.


•Is the picture balanced? Explain...
Somehow it is balanced as the above mentioned it is like a shape of pyramid. The body of Virgin seems to be balance with the child and the cat through the use of lines on Virgin's clothes and the body of the cat.
Also, the head of Virgin looking right balanced with the child and the cat looking left.
On the other hand, again as I mentioned above, when we do not look at the composition with the background, it seems to be not so balance due to little lines on the left bottom corner. So it make the figure become tilt.


•Is perspective used in the picture? If so, describe the way that the illusion of three-dimensional space has been created.
A round-topped window was sketched to indicate an interior setting. Ink wash was also applied in the drawing to create the three-dimensional form of the figures.


•Is the picture harmonious? If so, in what way?
Hard to say it is harmonious or not. Because the lines create the sense of messy but the movement is not too strong. Also, the tone is moderate with little contrast. But in my own opinion, I think it is a harmonious work. Firstly, it may because of the subject of the picture. Secondly, I think the ink wash also help to create the harmony of the work.


•Are there any strong contrasts in the picture? Say more...
The contrast in the picture is not too strong. There is gradation of tone.


3) INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION
•What is the mood of the drawing? Justify your answer using information from your responses above
Some sense of depressed may be created in the drawing. Because the head of Virgin seemed to look down but on the other hand turn left, just like she has some worries. Also, the child graspping the cat which struggle to escape also suggest this sad mood.


•What does the drawing express? Justify your answer using information from your responses above
da Vinci made a number of drawing for this theme, may be he was trying some new form of expression through working on these series of work. Although it liked a draft, but the proportion of the bodies is still perfect and accurate, it is uundoubtedly the superiority of da Vinci. He is good at anatomy. So I think da Vinci still want to express the perfct proportion of body in the drawing even though it is not a painting. May be it is also the practices for him.


•In your opinion, why is this work interesting/moving/ clever/ imaginative/thought-provoking/......?  Choose the adjective(s) that best fit(s) the work, and then justify your conclusion in terms of specific features and qualities of the drawing.
The drawing impressed me first by its use of lines. It is quite interesting to create sense of movement by using reworking of lines. Then, the drawing seemed to be a draft, but it is a finished work. The simple light and shade can create such a three-dimensional perspective. I really appreciate with the skills and style of da Vinci.
In addition, it help me to think that our lecturer always encourage us not to afraid of drawing wrong, adjustment can always be made during the process of drawing. From this work, I think I get the meaning of this idea because there are many reworked lines. When I working with the sketch of life drawing, I also work with repeated lines and adjustment are always be made in order to draw the subject in more accurately way. But I did not create the sense of movement that da Vinci created in his drawing, so that it is really a good drawing.

Reference:
The British Museum:

CHEUNG Chun Kit talks on


INTRODUCTION

-What is the name of the artist?
The name of the artist is Jans Vredeman de Vries (1527 - 1606).

-What is the year the drawing was done?
The drawing was done on 1604-1605.

-What is the medium?
The drawing was using burnishing.

-What is the subject matter or general theme of the work?
It is a drawing about the human experience with perspective.

-What is the purpose of the drawing?
The purpose of the drawing is to express the human experience.

DESCRIBE THE DRAWING IN DETAIL

-How is line used?What does it do/express?
we can see that there are many straight line, it seems that make the drawing in proportion, even showing the space.

-How is tone used?What does it do/express?
There is one color tone (lines only). But the density line make the drawing will hard.

-What can you say about shape and/or form in this picture?What is the effect?
It is a three-dimensional form that we can see a room has height and depth, and it make the room more real.

-Is rhythm important in this picture?If so say more about it....
Rhythm is important in this because the dead thing is hard and regular, but the human being is curve, not in straight line. Therefore, the room is something repeat in rhythm such as windows.

-Is the picture balanced ?Explain...
The picture is a bit balanced. Because the room is in regular shape.

-Is perspective used in the picture?If so,describe the way that the illusion of three-dimensional space has been created.
Yes. The drawing strongly show the perspective, and it is a main theme that the artist want to show out.

-Is the picture harmonious?If so ,in what way?
The picture is harmonious in the feeling. Because the artist use the single tone of the color (one color tone) and the straight line (smooth line) to create a harmonious atmosphere.

Are there any strong contrasts in the picture?Say more...
There is a strong contrast between the dead and alive things by using straight and curve lines.

INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION

-What is the mood of the drawing?Justify your answer using information from your responses above.
The mood is sad, stressful, dead.
The artist uses one color to draw the picture. As we can see that the whole tone is one color in general. Also, there is a obvious people laying on the floor, it seems that he is dead. Moreover, there are too many doors and windows make an unsafely feeling.

-What does the drawing express?Justify your answer using information from your responses above.
The drawing expresses the artist's human experience. All internal architectural environments took on a murky, and lack of detail after the sun had gone down. It was not uncommon to find oneself in a room that was both spatially unfamiliar and even possibly dangerous.

In your opinion,why is this work interesting/moving/clever/imaginative/thought-provoking/......?Choose the adjective(s)that best fit the work,and then justify your conclusion in terms of specific features and qualities of the drawing.
In my view, it is a sad drawing because the unusual room, the “sleeping” person.  But the drawing is still very interesting, because the lines are helping to make the room in a reasonable space. In my opinion, I think I like to draw some relate to spacious.

CHEUNG Ka Yan talks on

CHOI Ka Man talks on Bellmer


1) INTRODUCE THE DRAWING IN GENERAL TERMS
•What is the title of the drawing?
  This is a untitled drawing.

•What is the name of the artist?
  The name of the artist is Bellmer.






















•What is the year the drawing was done?
The drawing was done in 1961.


•What is the medium? (ie the materials used to produce the picture, for example charcoal on paper, pen and  ink etc)
The medium are pencil on paper.

•What is the subject matter or general theme of the work? (eg is it a figure drawing, a map, a portrait, an autobiographical work, a picture about nature, a drawing of the city etc?)
This is a abstract drawing of a female figure who is energetic because there are so many repeated feet in the drawing. Those repeated feet produce feeling of action and depiction of movement. And the women looks like laying down and she is in an inversion way.Also,the female figure is really sexy that because of her alluring body shape,erotic lips and buttocks.

•What is the purpose of the drawing? (eg Is it a diagram that explains how something works? Does it record accurately record the appearance of something? Does it express the artist's emotion or memory? )
This drawing actually can show Hans Bellmer's style. He started to create erotic drawings, etchings, sexually explicit photographs, paintings, and prints of pubescent girls from 1950s. And we can feel that he tried to depict the figure's sexuality and alluring by those curvilinear lines.
And I think this drawing does express Bellmer's emotion. It reveals


2) DESCRIBE THE DRAWING IN DETAIL
•How is line used? What does it do/express?
The line in this drawing is clear and thin. And there is some soft-repeated line. Also,there is some sharp line that depicted the main contour of the figure. These different lines bring contrast in the drawing. Principally, line in this drawing is curvilinear. And the line contributes a feeling of movement as the line is continuous. This can make the drawing look like animation.

•How is tone used? What does it do/express?
In this drawing, the color tone is black and white. Although it has a bit contrast, the tone is still harmonious. Bellmer used black color to show the shadow and the dim part of the female figure's body,and he left the space of the paper,to use white color to show the bright part of the figure's body shape.Therefore,even the figure is a bit abstract(not in a actual form),it still looks three-dimensional and has convincing body shape.

•What can you say about shape and/or form in this picture? What is the effect?
The female figure's body is distorted in this drawing.We can hardly distinguish the parts of the figure's body shape.But this can offer us place for imagination.I think this is nice to have this effect in a drawing.It can encourage audience to think more and become more creative.
This drawing's shaping is quite special.The most remarkable element is the repeated feet.It seems like moving.Also,the shape,the line and the form of the figure are mostly soft.And it gives an elegant feeling.As a whole, the drawing depicts the effeminate,sexy and alluring of a women.

•Is texture a feature of the drawing?
Yes,though Bellmer did not depict the detail texture of the female figure's skin.The drawing is in a smooth texture as the paper is glossy and the blurred shadow.
•What can you say about the composition of the drawing? What is the effect of this type of composition on the overall drawing?

The composition of this drawing looks like spread,but it is focus actually.And it is quite simple at all that there is no background.It focuses in the upper middle,that means the "repeated feet".Because that is the most complicated part in the drawing which attracts people to focus on that.

•Is rhythm important in this picture? If so, say more about it...
Yes,it is important to have the feature of rhythm.As there is some repeated line(not only the feet actually).This kind of rhythm can show movement of the figure.And this can make the drawing becomes more distinctive as it is one of the main feature of the drawing.

•Is the picture balanced? Explain...
No,it is not really balanced though the figure was depicted in the middle on the paper. As I said,the drawing has a focus point in the upper middle of the figure.We can feel that Bellmer wanted to concentrate the part of the "repeated feet".Therefore,this drawing is not in a balanced form.

•Is perspective used in the picture? If so, describe the way that the illusion of three-dimensional space has been created.
I would like to say "half".As the figure in this drawing is quite abstract,there is no perspective used in those abstract part.However,some parts of the figure do has used perspective,like the legs,feet and the buttocks.These figures are in three-dimensional as the shadow depiction.

•Is the picture harmonious? If so, in what way?
Yes,it is harmonious.As almost all of the elements and features in this drawing are match.Soft color tone,soft line,gentle and soft female figure......they group together and contribute a harmonious atmosphere in this drawing.

•Are there any strong contrasts in the picture? Say more...
Yes,there is one big contrast in this drawing.
The "repeated feet" is the focus of this drawing.It is much more detail,complicated and real than the other parts of the figure.The other parts in of the figure are more like spreading out.This is the strongest and the only contrast in this drawing.


3) INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION
•What is the mood of the drawing? Justify your answer using information from your responses above
I think the mood of this drawing is quite complicated.The whole drawing is harmonious,that means this drawing is soft,calm and elegant.There is not many contrast at all.
However,the main feature-"repeated feet" produces an energetic mood in the drawing.It seems like in movement.
Therefore,I think the drawing has two mood actually.When we first appreciate this drawing,we would find this is soft and calm.But when we look it longer and deeper,we might find it full of movement(but the movement is still elegant in my opinion).
Although some said Bellmer's drawing is erotic,I don't feel this in this drawing.I just feel kind of appreciation of female alluring body shape.
I think the mood of a drawing is related to audiences' point of view and imagination.So I have the opinions above.

•What does the drawing express? Justify your answer using information from your responses above
The drawing expresses the beauty,sexuality of a female figure.Bellmer also depicted the elegant movement of the female figure in this drawing.
Still, some may say Bellmer's drawings are tend to express erotic message.And there are really exist some erotic drawing,but I just believe this drawing is quite neutral and I just focus on the movement,the beauty......of the female figure.
......devoted an artistic lifetime to creating sexualized images of the female body--distorted, dismembered, or menaced in sinister scenarios. In this book Sue Taylor draws on psychoanalytic theory to suggest why Bellmer was so driven by erotomania as well as a desire for revenge, suffering, and the safety of the womb. Although he styled himself as the quintessential Oedipal son, an avant-garde artist in perpetual rebellion against a despised father, Taylor contends that his filial attitude was more complex than he could consciously allow. Tracing a repressed homoerotic attachment to his father, castration anxiety, and an unconscious sense of guilt, Taylor proposes that a feminine identification informs all the disquieting aspects of Bellmer's art. (Jahsonic,Hans Bellmer (1902-1975))
one of his erotic drawing

his significant feature:overlapping and curvilinear line

his famous life-sized pubescent female dolls

•In your opinion, why is this work interesting/moving/ clever/ imaginative/thought-provoking/......?  Choose the adjective(s) that best fit(s) the work, and then justify your conclusion in terms of specific features and qualities of the drawing.
I think this drawing's success is due to its interesting.It is not an actual subject.It gives audience room for imagination and it inspire me quite a lot.Abstract drawing can express much more.Although the figure in the drawing is distroted,it brings opportunity to audiencese to have more creativity on appreciating this drawing.Therefore,this is a successful drawing.

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(1)Jahsonic,Hans Bellmer (1902-1975),
http://www.jahsonic.com/HansBellmer.html

CHONG Lai Wa talks on vanRijn " A Girl Sleeping " 1655

Rembrandt van Rijn " A Girl Sleeping " 1655

  
1) INTRODUCE THE DRAWING IN GENERAL TERMS


The title of the drawing called "A Girl Sleeping ", it was done by Rembrandt van Rijn in the year of 1655. It was a figure painting about the dream. The painting is about external, focused on the sitter in front of us, but there is an internal other that fascinates us: the unconscious self we see in dreams, which rebel against measurement, cities and grids. As we can see from the painting, which depict a girl was lying prone on the couch, fast asleep in a dark environment. The painting expresses the artist’s unconscious and conscious mind. On the unconsciousness aspect, the painting reveals the artist’s irrational mind and instinctive about the blurred image which he would have viewed. On the consciousness aspect, Rembrandt shows his rational mind and intellectual to represent the girl through those skillful line and proportion.   


2) DESCRIBE THE DRAWING IN DETAIL
As we know the painting called “A Sleeping Girl” in terms of Dream. This reveals the artist’s status of unconscious and conscious mind. Here are the analyses of the painting.

The drawing expressed itself in a frugality of line and fluid simplicity. As we can see with the tip of the brush and only a few broad strokes Rembrandt rapidly and skillfully outlined the girl’s sleeping body. The lines are various in quality, there are smooth and rough, continuous and broken lines in the drawing. Such as we can see the drapery of the clothes was presented in a loose way with broken lines and rough strokes. The hand and the leg were also presented in a blurred way, as to express the feeling of an abstract imagination. But there are also some smooth and continuous line of the couch and the body of the girl. The lines were much concrete and real. This helps to shows the entirety and clarity of the figure. The lines are all in different directions and shapes, such as vertical, horizontal, diagonal and curved strokes as to show a fluid rhythm.   

I n term of the shape and form, the artist also used the white of the paper to create not just the form but also the atmosphere surrounding the girl. Above her head, a thin wash sets off her figure by suggesting the darkness of a corner of the room. Drawing with brown ink together with rapid, wildly calligraphic strokes, and adding quick expressive shadow that helps to create volume and light of the figure. The figure is mainly a two-dimensional object, since the skin was presented with powdered ink in a dustiness way. But we can somehow interpret the figure as a three-dimensional object, since the light and dark contrast, the shadow such as the shadow between the hand and the couch, the leg, helps to create a depth and height of the object. The overall tone of the painting was calm and serene. It helps to create a peaceful atmosphere.

In term of the texture and composition of the painting, the dry brush strokes and the powdered graphite show that the roughness of the paper. This special texture helps to show the status of the dream, which was vague and indistinct. Also the drawing was constructed by few rapid, wildly calligraphic strokes, and quick expressive ink washes that create a fast rhythm of the object. That was very important, since the movement helps remind us about the unconscious situation of mind of the artist.

The drawing was not presented in a balanced way as we can see it through the use of light and dark contrast. The composition on the right top corner was much lighter with nearly white paper color, but the composition on the bottom left corner was quite dark, such as the shadow from the girl’s hand and the couch as well as the shading from above the head. Those compositions not only create weight and volume to the object, but also to the overall composition. The painting tend to be weight heavier on the left hand side as together with the inclination of the girl, Thus we can say that the composition appear bottom heavy with weight to one side, it is not visually balanced.

The drawing was constructed in a harmonious way. We can see the artist creates the unity through the use of balanced proportion, the color and tone, those match the theme of the painting “Dream”. The body proportion was presented in a balance way, the girl was lying on the couch, which gives us a sense of weakness and soft. The simple color used in the painting was mainly black and white, white colors construct brightness of the girl’s clothing, and the dark brown color creates dullness of the environment. The colors help to form an imaginative space which related to dream. Thus we can see the drawing was about simple, free and harmony as whole.

The drawing was an ink painting; it was compose by black and white color. So there are strong contrasts between black and white. Such as there is the lightness part on the right top corner, only appear the color of the white paper, and the darkness part was located on the shading of the hand, the foot, above the head and the black hair.
As we can see the contrast make the dark strokes stand out from the white paper with clarity and brevity.   



3) INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION
In my opinion, “A Sleeping Girl” was full of poetic grace. The painting was a combination of the style of Chinese caligraphy and the Japanese ink painting. These elements should be seen in the traditional chinese art rather that in the western art history. So I think the painting was very elegant. I think it is very difficult to capture a poetry distill page of emotion and meaning into a few lines, but the artist was very successful in compressing his fascination with the visual world into a few intensely meaningful ink lines. Its quick, broad wash and intimate scale tell us more about the artist that he wants to touch the girl’s skin and hair and also showing his fear of waking her. Although there is no smile on her face, we can see silent and peaceful. The mood of the painting was about warm and calm. As we can see the aritst try to shoe the status of dreaming, we are hug by the warm color and the comfortable environment. I think it is quiet depent on the viewer's feeling, if a person who was upset or not on the mood, then he or she may feel lonely and cold toward the picture. However if a person who are more sensitive or positive, she may feel warm and comfortable ! 





CHOI Yuen Shan talks on

CHU Shuk Yee talks on Kentridge Birds 2003



1) INTRODUCE THE DRAWING IN GENERAL TERMS
•What is the title of the drawing?

 The title of the drawing is "Birds".


•What is the name of the artist?

The artist isWilliam Kentridge.


•What is the year the drawing was done?

The drawing was done in 2003.


•What is the medium? (ie the materials used to produce the picture, for example charcoal on paper, pen and ink etc)

The medium is charcoal on paper.


•What is the subject matter or general theme of the work? (eg is it a figure drawing, a map, a portrait, an autobiographical work, a picture about nature, a drawing of the city etc?) 

The drawing is about birds. Birds are standing on a floor, but some are on a railing. It seems that the place it depicted is not about nature place, but in a city or somewhere with human contruction. I guess it depicts birds were standing over a window. The painter stayed at a house or somewhere with a curtain.
•What is the purpose of the drawing? (eg Is it a diagram that explains how something works? Does it record accurately record the appearance of something? Does it express the artist's emotion or memory? )

I guess this drawing is not about depicting the nature, it reflects an idea or memory from the artist. The birds are not really realistic at all, but we can still recognize what they are.

2) DESCRIBE THE DRAWING IN DETAIL
•How is line used? What does it do/express?

Line quality is almost thick, rough and jerky. Some lines are blurred and smeared, they may be wiped by finger or rubber. The smeared line seems messy, but the direction of line is regular and in order. In addition, line have horizontal and vertical crossing. It creates a linear perspective for the picture. We can see the depth of field. However, we can recognize that line is mostly dark and pressure, such as the shape of birds. The black birds were drawn with heavy and definite line. It may express different type of birds or make contrast to stick out birds from the blackground.But, some lines are light and broken on the floor to express the perspective.

•How is tone used? What does it do/express?

Its tone is contrast. We can see that the picture is simple. The light and dark contrast is obvious. We can distinguish birds from light and dark contrast. The heavy and dark line adds colour and tone on some birds. There are just two birds without adding dark tone. This drawing might focus on the two light tone birds. One looks like lying down on the floor, another seems looking at the opposite side. The dark tone birds look as if facing to the lying bird. The tone briefly stands out the theme of this drawing and bring viewers to focus on the main character of this picture.


•What can you say about shape and/or form in this picture? What is the effect?

The shape is energetic and direct. Everything on the paper is done with thick, rough, straight line as well as strong, powerful brushstroke. It makes use of the space and contrast to stick out the main characters, the birds. What is more, Kentridge used rubber or finger to wipe the drawing as well as kept using line for the whole drawing, they are a kind of expressive form for Kentridge to express the atmosphere of the picture. The line have an intension to lead viewer to the key point.

 

•Is texture a feature of the drawing?

I do not think that the drawing has texture to let people to have any feeling or experience. It was drawn by charcoal on paper. So that, it is a totally flat surface. However, the tone might influence viewer to visually feel the texture. For instant the bird with dark tone, appears more realistic and having texture.

•What can you say about the composition of the drawing? What is the effect of this type of composition on the overall drawing?

The composition of the drawing is obviously standing out the key point, the bird whick is lying down. As we can see, it has a square frame at the centre. Birds are included in this frame, I guess the frame is a window or a field that the painter saw. Moreover, Kentridge put line in as an essential form in this drawing. The line somehow expresses the atmosphere and builds up the composition. Line also lead viewers to focus on the centre. A plenty of  emanated lines are used in the picture to concentrate or disperse viewers' field of vision. 

 
•Is rhythm important in this picture? If so, say more about it...

Yes, this picture has invested rhythm in and as an important element to express the perception of this drawing. The repetition of straight and definite lines as well as the black and white tone create movement in this work. They project the relation between the figures and the background, as well make them to be harmonic. The rhythm of line also unites the picture to create a sense of completion.

•Is the picture balanced? Explain...

The composition of this picture is quite visually balanced. The figures on the drawing are equally placed. It makes the drawing being symmetrical and looks comfortable. In fact, the use of line helps balancing the picture. Lines point at the same direction. The combination of vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines are quite accurately used to create a sense of balance.

•Is perspective used in the picture? If so, describe the way that the illusion of three-dimensional space has been created.

The combination of line and figures creates linear perspective and the illusion of three-dimensional. We can see that objects at the foreground are bigger than objects at the background. What is more, the birds are drawn with light and dark. They do not look like two-dimensional surface only. Although the use of colour on this drawing is lacking, it still has an appearance of depth and distance from the black, white and grey tone.  

•Is the picture harmonious? If so, in what way?
The tone, form, composition are all important elements to make this picture harmonious. The black and white tone was drawn by chacoal. And that, line is the major form to be used here.
•Are there any strong contrasts in the picture? Say more...

The strong contrast in the picture must be the dark birds and the background. The dark birds are almost dark and with thick shadow on their body. On the contrary, the background is quite clean and empty. It is easy for viewers to concentrate on the dark birds.

3) INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION
•What is the mood of the drawing? Justify your answer using information from your responses above
In my opinion, the mood of this picture is quite strange. It has a sense of mystery and sadness. It maybe due to the tone and smeared lines. They create a dramatic  atmosphere, it seems that the black birds is praying for the bird which is lying down on the centre. I can feel the slient environment with no voice. Birds are as if feeling sad and depressed. It is because their head seems looking down. The smeared and blurred lines are disordered, to increase a sense of disquiet. Moreover, I can feel that Kentridge took those birds to express a mood from some people or just his own feeling.


 •What does the drawing express? Justify your answer using information from your responses above

I guess the drawing expresses a negative feeling. Kentridge took use of animals to represent someone's feeling or a specific situation. Actually, I can feel the death and pain from the composition and tone used in this drawing. The field of vision of this drawing is limited by the frame. The frame might mean a kind of limitation and pressure or a stage for performance. The birds are making a performance on the stage to act as actors. They are praying for the dead bird and feel so sorrowful.
•In your opinion, why is this work interesting/moving/ clever/ imaginative/thought-provoking/......?  Choose the adjective(s) that best fit(s) the work, and then justify your conclusion in terms of specific features and qualities of the drawing.

In my point of view, I appreciate the connotative meaning behind this drawing. It is a picture which is not just simply depict the realistic objects from the reality. The shape and shadow of birds are abstract, just like a paper-cut silhouette, however, they completely expose the psychological perception from Kentridge. The birds are representable in the picture. Although their details are not very well, it can show emotion from their body language as well as gesture. In order to increase the atmosphere of this drawing, Kentridge made some smeared lines to add conflict between regular and untidy lines. For the sake of establishing a agitation feeling. It is a clever technique to be used on this drawing to stand out the atmosphere.