Reflective essay on landscapes

I love this image.  Its general composition feels very balanced in so many ways and leaves me with a sense of enlightenment and power.  There is a strong use of foreground, mid-ground and background, and perhaps even another dimension with the details and aspects of the large building left of center.  This same building helps create a dramatic affect of scale against all the smaller structures in the image, as well as creating a balance with the birds and main character opposite it.  Intense contrast with shadows and lights are used, drawing focus to our hero, the birds and the magnificent building as well.  Use of warmer reds, mostly in the lower left region in contrast with the cooler blues in upper right create a nice dynamic.  The richness of reds however, do overpower the blues a bit, adding to the heat and drama of the image. Details are widespread through the image, but it would seem that it is a bit more pronounced on our main character with the structure he is standing upon and the apposing building towering over the city, especially the clarity of the tower of the building itself.

Steampunk landscape (Unknown artist)

http://www.myfreewallpapers.net/fantasy/pages/steampunk-landscape.shtml

            This photograph has a delightfully balanced  and “picture perfect” composition.  I cannot identify any clear background, foreground, or mid-ground to the image, but rather a continuum as the eye moves back through the scene.  Contrast is strong with the shadows closer to the front against the bright lights further back in the scene behind the bridge.  The subtleness of the aquamarine color on the boats helps them stand out against the larger buildings and elements.  The predominance of reds and browns in the image create a sense of warmth through the stillness of the water.  A building to the left and right of the image make good use of reoussoir.  The detail and focus seems to be held mostly to what would seem the mid-ground, if it had one.

dark city (art unknown)

http://www.bergoiata.org/fe/landscapes2/Landscape%20-%20Dark%20City.jpg

             The general composition of Cloister’s “Cemetery in the Snow” seems to be well balanced in terms of scale, contrast, light and color.  There appears to be a distinct transition and relationship with the foreground, mid-ground and, background; with the emphasis being placed on the mid-ground through the use of a bit of framing coming from the trees (repoussoir?)   A nice use of scale contrast between the clergy in the image and the massiveness of the building in the background creates a sense of dramatic intensity in the scene.  Contrast between the bright lighting in the background and dark colors and shadows in the foreground supports this scenic intensity.   A nice balance of the limited colors used, blue-greens against browns and reds and whites against blacks makes this image pleasing to the eye, as well as the soul.

Casper David Friedrich Cloister – Cemetary in the Snow 1817-19

http://www.shafe.co.uk/art/19thC_Landscape_and_Nationalism.asp