Art Analysis Using the Art Elements

Analyzing art is something anyone can do and most likely does without even noticing it. Often, people can say whether they like a piece of art but cannot explain why they don't. This is something that I could not even relate to until I learned about Art Elements, which are line, shape, tone, color, pattern, texture, and form. There is also another way to describe why a specific piece of art is not for the viewer's enjoyment, and that is the emotions the art elicits in the viewer. 

Tiziano Vecelli (1488/90-1576) also known as Titian, was known for his paintings that focused on landscapes and color while also telling a story. All of his work was done in Venice, where he was an Italian Renaissance painter who paved the way for Western Art. Many of his artworks focus on religious moments, but there are some that are portraits or centered around Greek Mythology. One of those paintings from Greek Mythology is Orpheus and Eurydice, which was painted in 1508 and will be focused on from this moment on. 

The painting Orpheus and Eurydice is considered to be based on a story where the man Orpheus was a musician of the lyre and a hero. He meets a woman named Eurydice, falls in love, and marries her. Eurydice is then in the woods and bitten by a snake, which ends her life. Orpheus, full of despair, goes to the underworld and makes a deal with Hades where he can bring Eurydice back to life on one condition. He must not turn around and look at Eurydice until after they have left the underworld. However, shortly before the end of the journey, his resolve breaks, and he turns around to ensure Eurydice is still behind him. At this moment, she is taken from him, and they are never reunited again.  

                                         Titian Vecelli, Orpheus and Eurydice,1508/1512, oil on canvas, 39 x 53 cm, 

                                         photo courtesy of Hypercritic                        

Colors and tones: In the painting, there are different hues of reds, browns, and black. The colors create an illusion of depth and distance, creating a dark atmosphere. It is important to note that while most of the colors are dark, the women are dressed in a light off-white shade, giving the impression that the artist is alluding to innocence. There is also a stark contrast in the forefront of the painting, where the people are running through what seems to be the underworld, and the background is the world of light following the story of mythology. 

Shape: Throughout the art, the shapes are natural and realistic, flowing seamlessly. The curves of the hills near the front of the painting draw the eyes further within, making the scenery seem to extend far beyond the canvas. However, curves are not the only shapes that catch the eye. The structures and even the cave are triangular, making the art seem taller, leading the eyes toward the tips and exploring the details. 

Texture: Similarly to shape, texture gives off the optical illusion of verisimilitude, which is the appearance of being real. On the ground, there are little strokes of grass and leaves on the bushes and trees. The clothes adorned have wrinkles, giving them a worn-in appearance. These all point to a realistic texture. 

While viewing the painting, it can evoke a feeling of grief and desperation. A sense of panic follows throughout, from Eurydice being bitten by a snake creature to further down the painting and Orpheus and Eurydice running out of the underworld. The only calmness felt is in the background, where the land of light is. While it relies a great deal on knowledge of the myth associated with it, it can still be appreciated without it, as it is a beautiful piece of art that has been seen for several centuries. It would be a remarkable sight in a darkened room with a wall of black curtains surrounding this painting to ensure that the different colors and tones stand out to their full potential. 

                                                                        Bibliography

Bowra, C. M. “Orpheus and Eurydice.” The Classical Quarterly, vol. 2, no. 3/4, 1952, pp. 113–26.        JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/636821. 

Camaroto, Micaela Emanuela. “Orpheus and Eurydice: The Seeds of Titian’s Style.” Hypercritic, 8        Nov. 2022, hypercritic.org/collection/titian-orpheus-and-eurydice-the-seeds-of-titians-style-1512. 

Primeo. “Titian Paintings & Artwork Gallery in Chronological Order.” Totally History, 18 July 2013,    totallyhistory.com/titian-paintings/. 

The National Gallery, London. “Titian.” Titian (Active about 1506; Died 1576) | National Gallery,  London, www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/titian.