Le_Moulin_de_La_Galette_and_a_Sunday_Afternoon

cm Compare/Contrast Paper September 25, 2011 The artworks “Le Moulin de la Galette” and “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” are two similar but completely different compositions. These two pieces of art showed the way of life and the direction art took in the impressionist time. Impressionism was a late nineteenth century style characterized by the attempt to capture the fleeting effects of light by painting in short strokes of pure color. During the Impressionist period art was mainly landscape scenes or scenes where members of the middle class enjoying their leisure-time activities. In this essay you will read a formal analysis of each of the two pieces and a comparison and contrast as well. “Le Moulin de la Galette,” by impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir was said to be the most wonderful painting ever during the period. Renoir was among the best figure painters during the era. Renoir depicted an afternoon dance which captures true Parisian culture. In his masterpiece men and women with expressions of gaiety converse, dance and enjoy their time. Renoir mainly focused on the effect on light in his painting. All of the figures in his painting have light shun on them from the sunlight through the trees. Renoir liked contrasting colors with small feathery brushstrokes to produce a very vivid effect. The bright colors he used made an illusion of movement. The color pallet that he chose was very thought out and it contributed to how beautiful the artwork turned out. The painter tried to stay away from dark colors with the exception of the people’s clothing and worked with lighter colors. Everything in his painting seems to come alive. It is an overall a very pleasant painting. The painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” by Georges Seurate is a soft, laid-back, structured piece of art. It illustrates Parisians enjoying an afternoon in a local park. He wanted his painting to be very optical. This composition was painted in small brushstrokes and also uses complimentary colors. This painting is more controlled and uses a technique called pointillism which is an application of pigments in small dabs or dots of color. If you look up close to the painting it looks as the whole painting consists of a collection of dots of vibrant hues. From far away it just comes together with each color complimenting the other. His application of color was influenced by the color theories by scientist Herman von Helmhultz and Michel-Eugene Cheureul. The influence gave his art an intellectual appeal. Overall, it is a beautifully balanced painting. The similarities between both artworks is that both they both share the same framework and concept. They both convey Impressionism. Both paintings have complementary colors. Also, both painting use techniques of small strokes. Both pieces of art are very nice to look at as well! The artworks differ because Renoir’s painting,“Le Moulin de la Galette” uses small feathery strokes and “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” uses small dab-like strokes. Le Moulin de la Galette is much more detailed and people are depicted everywhere. The formation of people and their expression also stand out much more that the other painting. Renoir’s artwork captures light and the overall piece is vibrant and fun. “The Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” is a softer more structured painting. The figures aren’t detailed and seems as the figures are alone even when in pairs. It is like time has stopped because there is no sign of movement in the painting. It is opposite of traditional compositional elements. Both pieces of art traditional or non-traditional made a big impact in the art world. Le Moulin de la Galette started off the impressionism time and A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte was post-impressionism. These influential masterpieces will live on in art history until the end of time.