DESCRIBING A PAINTING ● Information on artist and year of origin (image) This is a painting by … (artist), painted in …(year). (artist's name) painted … in … (year). (image) is a famous painting by … (artist).
● Structure:
Where in the picture?
In the foreground ... In the background ...
In the upper part... At the top...
At the bottom... In the middle... On the far left... On the far right... Under ... Near... Next to... In front of ...
Behind ...
Above… Opposite...
On the right of the painting... On the left of the painting...
● Describing the scene: •What is in the picture? • Who is in the picture? •What are they doing? • What is the relationship between the people? •what is happening ? (present continuous) In the painting we can see ... In the painting there is / there are ... The woman is ... ing/ the man is ...ing The people are ...ing The painting shows a scene from a distance of ... It's an image of ….(place, person, scene).
● Impression: The painting … gives the impression of depth. The figure(s) in the painting seem to look at the viewer ... His / Her eyes seem to follow the viewer. The viewer has the impression that the people in the picture are are...(alive, happy) The viewer's attention is focused on … The viewer finds it difficult to withdraw his eyes from … The painting is ... (vivid / happy / expressive) The painting makes the viewer feel … (sad/happy) The painting inspires the viewer to think about …
If something isn’t clear enough : It looks like a ... It might be a ... He could be ...ing Maybe it’s a ...
● Intention: The artist mainly uses … (colours/forms/…) to express Important elements such as ..... are highlighted ... It is clear that the artist wants to criticize / express / show …
● Others (artistic features used by the painter) artificial light bright colours
daylight contrast
subdued light vanishing point
light colours
dark colours
vanishing line perspective
figurative realistic dark background brushes
shadows