"Outbreak uses several different elements giving it perspective. The background clouds are made by crosshatching. It makes them look flat. In contrast, the figures are composed almost entirely of lines. Kathe Kollowitz used foreshortening and blurring of the images in the background. Both of these techniques create perspective and ultimately make the picture look realistic. A large range of values is used in this picture, especially in the large crowd. The high key places are closest to the viewer and therefore stand out. There is not much interaction between the figure/ground. The lines that represent grass seem extremely flat and do not seem very important in comparison to the people. The scene is dark and chaotic. The women looks like a zombie. The figures on the right side seem to be walking on the far left. However as they move toward the left they pick up speed. Finally at the far left they are almost floating like evil spirits.
"Outbreak," and "Goats Before Sheep," although rendered one hundred years apart, seem to convey a similar theme of the relationship between animalistic instinct and human desperation. "Outbreak" appears to be an escape of poverty-stricken people, whose state of despair sees a light of freedom, or something of equal merit. The intertwining of pitch forks, machetes, writhing arms, and pained, desperate faces distort aspects of the group and make them appear to have abstract animal qualities. "Goats Before Sheep" is a more literal rendering of the relationship between animals and people. Whereas "Outbreak" was almost synthesizing the mannerisms of people and animals, "Goats Before Sheep" is a more representative piece of humans escaping a burning ship full of animals. Some sheep are shown in the foreground, drowning, as the crew proceeds to push them away with their rows. The wide range of values in both drawings contributes to the baleful themes of the pieces. Both are allegorical, and the use of foreshortening and high and low keys help establish depth and convey a story-like theme.
Meghan, Great observations and descriptions. Both artists are motivated by deep political convictions. You have captured that feeling in your writing. Nice use of vocabulary. Robin
The concepts of each drawing that Meghan concluded I agree with. I think that in "Outbreak" the people do appear to be impoverished, but empowered at the same time. Each person looks like they are approaching a battle that has personal meaning. The intense movement from right to left by the mass of people is emphasizing the urge to conquer. This strong movement is balanced by the larger, darker, clearer person in the foreground making a strong upward left to lower right pulling or pushing motion. I also agree with Meghan on the animalistic quality of these people. Despite the fact that "Outbreak and "Goats Before Sheep" were done 100 years apart, there are several similarities. The sense of urgency is on the same level because in the "Goats Before Sheep" drawing the people seem desperate to escape this burning ship. The movement of the water in this piece is also intense, similar to the charging mass in the first drawing. Although this piece is has much more crisp and high contrast marks, I think that they are both successful at portraying movement and chaos.
"Outbreak" and "Goats Before Sheep" are not only similar in artistic style, but in overall thematic intensity. While there is a common sense of anxiety and desire in both pieces, "Outbreak" gives off a feeling of passionate rage, while "Goats Before Sheep" portrays desperation and fear. Both are such action packed pieces of artwork; they are twisted and eerie with their lack of color and deranged figures. It is as though a still was taken from scenes of two very chaotic situations. While the two pieces are probably similar in underlying theme, what really connects them is this sense of chaos and disorder. Whether it is seven years ago or one hundred and seven, desperation is a strong emotion, and when portrayed in pieces of art work, creates the same anxious feeling in the mind of the viewer.
Much of what people have already posted I agree with. Otherwise not yet noted, the lack of color and the established gray scale, also, is an interesting choice amongst both artists. The grey scale helps to further set the mood of both "Goats Before Sheep" and "Outbreak." Without the color spectrum, the ideas others have posted previously including fear, rage, anxiety, and overall negativity are more strongly suggested in this technique. “Outbreak” uses more sketchy lines that further imply fast motion of the deranged figures while “Goats Before Sheep” uses more fluid lines, however, Sue Coe uses a higher contrast from a more pure black to white.
An element that struck me about these two drawings is the use of texture and line. Both have smooth, fluid skylines juxtaposed with much more complex foregrounds. Visually, filling the upper half with softer elements helps to balance the much harder lines used in the bottom half. The heavier elements of the drawings are placed at the bottom, helping give the pieces a sense of weight, while the clouds in the upper portion reinforce the motion and upheaval in a much more subtle way. "Outbreak" shows this particularly well, because it also has some less textured elements at the base of the composition, which make the drawing very well balanced.
I honestly cant decide what I feel about both drawings. "Outbreak"'s use of fluid left-leading motion creates such an active composition, while the use of line mirrors the action taking place in the iconography. With the sketchy, thin, active line paired with the leaning composition, the emotion, urgency, and movement of the situation depicted becomes tangible. In “Goats Before Sheep” the iconography at hand would suggest endless movement with those white caped waves and explosive ship, yet the composition seems static with the bold lines and deep contrast of black and white. Instead of capturing motion, the peek inside this shipwreck suggests a snapshot of a frozen moment in time. The spatial definition created by layering and overlap in both utilized applied perspective principles, yet the bold, dark line in “GBS” renders the etching with such a severe contrast of light and darks that there is a marginal tonal scale. Perhaps this is characteristic of the time gap between “Outbreak” and the latter occurring “GBS.” Though both depict moments of travesty and desperation, the methods of expression vary in artistic differences.
"Outbreak uses several different elements giving it perspective. The background clouds are made by crosshatching. It makes them look flat. In contrast, the figures are composed almost entirely of lines. Kathe Kollowitz used foreshortening and blurring of the images in the background. Both of these techniques create perspective and ultimately make the picture look realistic. A large range of values is used in this picture, especially in the large crowd. The high key places are closest to the viewer and therefore stand out. There is not much interaction between the figure/ground. The lines that represent grass seem extremely flat and do not seem very important in comparison to the people. The scene is dark and chaotic. The women looks like a zombie. The figures on the right side seem to be walking on the far left. However as they move toward the left they pick up speed. Finally at the far left they are almost floating like evil spirits.
ReplyDelete"Outbreak," and "Goats Before Sheep," although rendered one hundred years apart, seem to convey a similar theme of the relationship between animalistic instinct and human desperation. "Outbreak" appears to be an escape of poverty-stricken people, whose state of despair sees a light of freedom, or something of equal merit. The intertwining of pitch forks, machetes, writhing arms, and pained, desperate faces distort aspects of the group and make them appear to have abstract animal qualities. "Goats Before Sheep" is a more literal rendering of the relationship between animals and people. Whereas "Outbreak" was almost synthesizing the mannerisms of people and animals, "Goats Before Sheep" is a more representative piece of humans escaping a burning ship full of animals. Some sheep are shown in the foreground, drowning, as the crew proceeds to push them away with their rows. The wide range of values in both drawings contributes to the baleful themes of the pieces. Both are allegorical, and the use of foreshortening and high and low keys help establish depth and convey a story-like theme.
ReplyDeleteMeghan,
ReplyDeleteGreat observations and descriptions. Both artists are motivated by deep political convictions. You have captured that feeling in your writing. Nice use of vocabulary.
Robin
The concepts of each drawing that Meghan concluded I agree with. I think that in "Outbreak" the people do appear to be impoverished, but empowered at the same time. Each person looks like they are approaching a battle that has personal meaning. The intense movement from right to left by the mass of people is emphasizing the urge to conquer. This strong movement is balanced by the larger, darker, clearer person in the foreground making a strong upward left to lower right pulling or pushing motion. I also agree with Meghan on the animalistic quality of these people. Despite the fact that "Outbreak and "Goats Before Sheep" were done 100 years apart, there are several similarities. The sense of urgency is on the same level because in the "Goats Before Sheep" drawing the people seem desperate to escape this burning ship. The movement of the water in this piece is also intense, similar to the charging mass in the first drawing. Although this piece is has much more crisp and high contrast marks, I think that they are both successful at portraying movement and chaos.
ReplyDelete"Outbreak" and "Goats Before Sheep" are not only similar in artistic style, but in overall thematic intensity. While there is a common sense of anxiety and desire in both pieces, "Outbreak" gives off a feeling of passionate rage, while "Goats Before Sheep" portrays desperation and fear. Both are such action packed pieces of artwork; they are twisted and eerie with their lack of color and deranged figures. It is as though a still was taken from scenes of two very chaotic situations. While the two pieces are probably similar in underlying theme, what really connects them is this sense of chaos and disorder. Whether it is seven years ago or one hundred and seven, desperation is a strong emotion, and when portrayed in pieces of art work, creates the same anxious feeling in the mind of the viewer.
ReplyDeleteMuch of what people have already posted I agree with. Otherwise not yet noted, the lack of color and the established gray scale, also, is an interesting choice amongst both artists. The grey scale helps to further set the mood of both "Goats Before Sheep" and "Outbreak." Without the color spectrum, the ideas others have posted previously including fear, rage, anxiety, and overall negativity are more strongly suggested in this technique. “Outbreak” uses more sketchy lines that further imply fast motion of the deranged figures while “Goats Before Sheep” uses more fluid lines, however, Sue Coe uses a higher contrast from a more pure black to white.
ReplyDeleteAn element that struck me about these two drawings is the use of texture and line. Both have smooth, fluid skylines juxtaposed with much more complex foregrounds. Visually, filling the upper half with softer elements helps to balance the much harder lines used in the bottom half. The heavier elements of the drawings are placed at the bottom, helping give the pieces a sense of weight, while the clouds in the upper portion reinforce the motion and upheaval in a much more subtle way. "Outbreak" shows this particularly well, because it also has some less textured elements at the base of the composition, which make the drawing very well balanced.
ReplyDeleteI honestly cant decide what I feel about both drawings. "Outbreak"'s use of fluid left-leading motion creates such an active composition, while the use of line mirrors the action taking place in the iconography. With the sketchy, thin, active line paired with the leaning composition, the emotion, urgency, and movement of the situation depicted becomes tangible. In “Goats Before Sheep” the iconography at hand would suggest endless movement with those white caped waves and explosive ship, yet the composition seems static with the bold lines and deep contrast of black and white. Instead of capturing motion, the peek inside this shipwreck suggests a snapshot of a frozen moment in time. The spatial definition created by layering and overlap in both utilized applied perspective principles, yet the bold, dark line in “GBS” renders the etching with such a severe contrast of light and darks that there is a marginal tonal scale. Perhaps this is characteristic of the time gap between “Outbreak” and the latter occurring “GBS.” Though both depict moments of travesty and desperation, the methods of expression vary in artistic differences.
ReplyDelete