The Man with Head of Blue Hortensias - Essay Example

  Modern Art - Formal Analysis: The Man with Head of Blue Hortensias Introduction Formal analysis emphasizes onthe description that is pure to the presented work of art. In formal analysis, there is little or no understanding of the art work. The person conducting the analysis should depict the work in ways that show how the formal components play a part in the development of the final object. Sometimes, formal analysis may require remarks on the importance of what the analyst has observed. Formal analysis is an essential method of putting visual information in order.

It can be further perceived to be an approach that is utilized in translating what is visualized to what is written. Formal analysis can be used to all kinds of art work, from any phase. Gazing at the painting and then taking notes on what is observed can be the best strategy to achieve this (Graham-Dixon 52). The Man with Head of Blue Hortensias is a painting done by Salvador Dali, a prominent Spanish surrealist artist. He had a range of art work that included photography, statuettes, cooperation with other artists, and paintings.

Salvador was recognized for his extraordinary art work. Many accredit his artistic skills to the inspiration he got from the masters of rebirth. This paper will look at the painting depth, iconography, and color. Painting Depth In the painting, The Man with Head of Blue Hortensias, Salvador Dali tries to create depth in a number of ways. First, the male stature is perceived to be seating on a small rock near other large ones with his head bent or seating in a vertical position, depending on the position one is viewing the painting.

The use of slightly bright colors makes the rocks and the male stature appear close. In addition, there are dark clouds in the sky. The use of darker colors helps to make some rocks and the clouds appear to be far away. There seems to be a pathway separating the towering rocks on the left and where the male shape is seated. It appears close due to the slightly brighter color used. The rocks that have been painted in blue appear further away than those painted in brown. This goes a long way in depicting depth in the painting.

Iconography Iconography examines the recognition and explanation of the content of the illustrations. In the painting, the artist paints the head of the male stature using color blue to show how deep he is in thought; this can be associated with the blue painted rocks further in the picture. The use of a slightly white color on the male image indicates calmness and peacefulness being experienced by the male image. Additionally, the painting of the cloud using black indicates the gloomy situation surrounding the male figure.

The many hard rocks in the painting indicate the difficult conditions in which the male figure is supposed to endure. Color In painting, color takes into consideration hue, intensity, and value. Hue refers to the name given to a particular color; intensity considers the potency and brightness of the color; while value looks at the brightness or dullness. The painter uses black, brown, blue, and white colors for his portrait. He uses the colors black and blue to illustrate the dull or difficult situation around the male stature.

In addition, the value of color in the painting is majorly that of darkness, creating a lot of anonymity. Conclusion The contentment derived from the painting, The Man with Head of Blue Hortensias, is the capacity to take hold of the viewer, engage, test, and captivate him or her. Despite all these, early workers of art failed to incorporate enough depth in their work. The formal analysis of this painting can help viewers, and specifically modern art students properly scrutinize art works, help them understand the works better, and help them find out the various styles that have been used by the painters.

Works Cited Graham-Dixon, A.  Art: Over 2,500 Works from Cave to Contemporary. New York: DK Publishing, 2008. Print.