31. Exam link. Work in pairs to describe a painting that you like / dislike.

You should say:

What picture it is and who painted it

When and where you saw it

What it looks like

What colours the artist used

What you feel looking at it

And explain its role in the development of art.

Example:

I could start off by saying that I’m very fond of art, especially post-impressionism. One of my favourite paintings is Wheat Field and Cypress Trees painted by Dutch self-taught artist Vincent Van Gogh in 1889, one of the most influential artists in the history of art. He used oils as his medium and canvas as his support for this landscape which measures 28 ½ by 36 inches. The original is on display at the National Gallery in London, England. Actually, I was happy to see this great painting in the documentary film devoted to post-impressionism many years ago but it has an impact that struck me from the moment I saw it.

The first thing I should mention is that the painting is done in an impressionistic style. The painting depicts a natural landscape featuring golden fields of ripe wheat, a dark fastigiate Provencal cypress trees towering like a green obelisk on the right and lighter green olive trees in the middle distance, with distant hills and mountains visible behind, and white clouds swirling in an azure sky above. In fact, the work was inspired by the view of the Les Alpilles mountains from the window of the mental asylum where Van Gogh was a patient.

On top of that I could add some words about its composition. The work isn’t arranged in a balanced or even way. In fact, it is asymmetrical since all the sides are unequal. The horizon is set on the lower third of the canvas and the elements are designed in such a manner that your eyes go throughout the painting straight to the cypress trees on the right – the focal point of the painting. Then the eye travels along the colour contrast of the grass up the right and then to the left where it slows at the subordinate element of the painting, the small rounded bushes. From there the eye moves along the diagonal line of the mountains and stops at the strong vertical of the cypress trees again. This point is the painting’s focus and it is emphasized by being the darkest point on the canvas. There is an asymmetrical balance to the painting created by the tall dark conical shape of the cypress trees and the small rounded shape of the bushes to the left. There is a rhythm in the sky area with the repetition of swirling strokes.

The next thing I should touch upon is the colour scheme of the painting. The artist mostly uses middle tones with the exception of the dark contrasting cypress trees. There is cool colour dominance throughout the piece except for the warm yellows of the wheat field. Van Gogh uses a colour scheme of yellow and blue with green being the dominant colour. The other colour in the painting such as white gives the piece a colour harmony with a limited palette. Arial perspective is evident in the mountains as the cool pale blues push them back into the distance.

On top of what I’ve already said I could add that as I view Wheat Fields and Cypress Trees, it makes me feel that I am there standing in the field feeling the wind blowing in my face. Upon closer inspection one can see the wheat swaying and the clouds rolling. This effect is echoed in Van Gogh’s brushwork as each stroke seems to move. The impasto texture only accentuates this feeling. It’s as if Van Gogh wants me to feel the sensations he felt while painting the landscape. The painting gives you the sense of vague anxiety. It looks evocative as if Van Gogh was trying to convey the meaning “stop and smell the roses”.

To sum it up, I should say that Wheat Fields and Cypress Trees embodies enjoying nature at its fullest being an exquisite piece of painting. It exemplifies a high degree of Van Gogh’s artistic skill. The colour scheme as well as the contrast of colours contribute to the effect of the painting. Unfortunately, this work wasn’t accepted in his time because the public had never seen anything like that but it has had a major impact on the world and art ever since. With his use of expressive colour, texture, and line in the painting Wheat Fields and Cypress Trees Van Gogh took Impressionism to the next level.