The first piece of work that I will be analysing is called 'Rise of the Dovey' by John Piper, made in 1943. John Piper was and English painter, print maker and his work often focused on the British landscape. Piper was inspired by turners portrayal of Yorkshires Weathercote cave and began visiting similar locations which lead to his piece 'rise of the Dovey'.
'Rise of the Dovey' is oil on canvas board and when looking at this painting the first thing that I notice is the incredible portrayal and representation of light within this work. I believe that this immediately draws in focus and helps to create a sense of scale throughout the piece, the lighter areas allow the cliff face to stand out and it becomes this looming form that dominates the area. I think that overall this piece has a sense of chaos within it, it's wild and unapologetic and I believe that this can be seen in the use of colour and the brush strokes. The majority of the painting has a very dark and earthy colour scheme, which I think grounds the piece and is in contrast to the large, glorified cliff face. I believe that the use of dark and black shading to create definition and shadows of the mountain and cliffs allow the form of the mountain to stretch to all areas of the canvas and seem as if it takes up all the space. I think that because of this the mountain feels powerful, it demands attention. However, I think that the streaks of light emerging from behind the cliff face add a sense of hope to the work, the moody atmosphere is disrupted and the viewer can see the beginnings of a glorious sunrise. I believe that this contrasts the overall darker and untamed theme of the painting as the sunrise brings feelings of joy and excitement for a new, more hopeful day.
The technique and brush strokes used in this painting create a wild and chaotic scene. the sky is dark and stormy which I think pairs well with the almost barren, ravaged landscape. I believe that Piper has managed to truly capture the essence of the British country side, something free that can't be contained.
When looking at this piece I immediately notice the vibrant and bold colours, and abstract painting style, which greatly contrast the darker colour scheme and more realistic style of the previous work, however, I think that despite the different colour schemes both works have a sense of chaos within them. I believe that these bright colours draw the viewers attention and they remind me of a depiction of a hallucinogenic experience, wild, bright and fun. I think that use of darker colours add contrast and depth to the work that allow the piece to feel more immersive for the viewer. There is something so magical about this piece as if the viewer has stepped into a fever dream. Both paintings include harsher marks and stroke, however, overall Derains piece seems to be mush more fluid. The trees curve gently and even the small human figures seem rounded and delicate, allowing the piece to feel friendly and inviting. These two piece of work greatly contrast each other, however at their core they are both interpretations of landscapes. Piper takes on a more realistic approach, and Derain is more abstract, Piper uses colour to create a moody and harsh atmosphere, whereas I think that Derain seems to use colour in a way that raises the viewers mood and creates a sense of fun and joy.
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