8/17/2019 FSU Graphic Design BS — 04 Art History — Visual Analysis

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Christopher T. CalhounApril 27

th, 2014

Student Number: 0004619366

Class Number: 201403-02

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 Visual Analysis

The oil painting titled, The Sisters  is the

subject of this visual analysis. Abbott H.Thayer created the painting during 1884.

(Brooklyn Museum)i  The style of the

 painting appears similar to one of the

Realism period.

The painting is shallowly saturated andcomposed of ranges of color mostly close to

 brown and green, spanning from as dark as possible to very light, somewhat away from

white. The two females featured in the painting form the painting’s subjects. Their

dress is very dark, extending from darkness,transitioning, forming a shape in front of the

 background that becomes lighter in valuealong the painting’s height. Their faces and

arms are most accentuated, as being of the painting’s lightest color values. The painting has a grainy texture and softly

transitioning bands of color. The womenoccupy and contrast a balanced area of

 positive space against the negative void ofthe background.

The composition of the painting is an

arrangement of its elements; the perceivable layers of the painting are positioned in ahierarchy of distance. The furthest woman is less exposed to the atmospheric light, and

then the background is even darker. The furthest woman’s face and the nearest woman’shands align closely with the rule of thirds. The furthest woman’s hand is extended to

near the left border, while the nearest woman leans slightly in the opposite direction, presenting a balance of weight. Both women appear to be looking through something,

such as a window or mirror. The women appear to be contemplating what they areobserving. The furthest woman appears to be somewhat consoling.

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8/17/2019 FSU Graphic Design BS — 04 Art History — Visual Analysis

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Examining this painting thoroughly has enhanced my perception of it. Understanding theconcepts of art and art history has allowed me to realize the various attributes and

definable nuances of the artwork, and then communicate such as a visual analysis bytextually articulating the aspects of the painting. Using known and established concepts

to communicate one’s analysis of a visual artwork allows others to understand my perceptions of the artwork. Also, had I not been prompted to so thoroughly study a

 particular painting, I may have never come to my realization about what I perceive the painting to be actually showing, which could possibly be an intention of the artist,

Thayer. I find the painting to communicate the feelings of its pictured subjects, sisters, asthey view each other, their selves, and their selves in each other, and this concept existing

among the implication of actual physical mirrors. It’s something a bit escaping todescribe, which is why it’s a fine subject to be communicated via a visual image.

 Works Cited:

iBrooklyn Museum. (n.d.). Collections: American Art: The Sisters. Retrieved April 27,

2014, from Brooklyn Museum:https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/459/The_Sisters/image/5110/

image

iiThayer, A. H. (1884). Retrieved from Brooklyn Museum:

http://cdn2.brooklynmuseum.org/images/opencollection/objects/size4/35.1068_SL1.jpg

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