Art critique

A detailed Summary of Art critique

I have always enjoyed scenic landscape paintings. One piece of artwork that really caught my eye was the "Two Watermills and a Sluice" painting found at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. This particular painting was created by the Dutch artist Jacob van Ruisdael in 1653. Ruisdael created the painting using oil on a canvas. The paintings dimensions are 26 x 33.25 inches.

Captured in the painting are, as the title reveals, two watermills. One of the watermills is more centrally located than the other. In fact the second watermill is only shown partially, as the rest of the structure seems to disappear off the canvas to the right. Between the two watermills is an actively flowing expanse of water. A very large tree is an easily noticeable landmark that is positioned just to the left of the central watermill. The painting seems to embody a very simple theme, yet it is still visually captivating. There are various amounts of foliage painted in great detail shown in the foreground of the painting. There are also delicately brushed clouds in the sky. The clouds on the left and the right portions of the canvas are darker, making way for brighter, wispier, clouds resting in the center of the sky. There is a man in a resting position with h

My overall impression of "Two Watermills and a Sluice" is very positive. I was intrigued with the painter's ability to capture and create a, real life seen, so vividly. The painting had an effect on me, making me feel as if I had just walked past this image or place in reality. The painting really does an outstanding job of pulling the viewer in and almost transporting a person right through the boundaries of the canvas or perhaps eliminating those boundaries all together. I don't think that I have anything negative to say about the painting. I think that I enjoyed it whole heartedly, that is why I chose to write about it. Speaking for myself I would rather view a landscape or natural image much more so then any portrait. A painting like this radiates a certain mood and exudes serenity. I look at the image the painter has created and I find myself deep in thought, reminiscing about boyhood adventures in places just like that of the painting. Perhaps the artist created the painting for similar reasons; the landscape he was either creating or trying to replicate certainly must have evoked some kind of personal emotions. Why else would someone invest so much time in an endeavor unless it touched them in some special way?

When looking at the painting the viewer's eyes are drawn from the lower left of the painting towards the center in a sweeping motion. Starting where the river begins on the lower left side by lighting the center of the river with softer colors surrounded

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1001
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Arts