For this comparison, I have chosen "La Promenade" by Claude Monet and "The Banjo Lesson"
by Henry Osawa Tanner. La Promenade by Monet is an Impressionist painting from 1875
depicting a man and a woman walking in a park. This painting is drawn using oil paint on
canvas and measures 100.3 x 81 cm. In the Others section we discuss the artwork "The Banjo
Lesson" by Osawa Tanner, an oil on canvas painting from 1893 that measures 49 x 35 1/2
inches. This wonderful artwork depicts a grandfather teaching his grandson how to play the
banjo. Both of these works of art are remarkable examples of their respective movements and
have similarities and differences that make for a very nice and interesting comparison.
This comparison is relevant because both The Promenade and The Banjo Lesson are
examples of paintings that focus on human interactions in different contexts. For example, in
these two works of art, Monet has depicted a romantic moment between two couples, and
Tanner has shown the family bond between a grandfather and his grandson while they are
learning music and playing the banjo. This comparison shows more thinking about how artists
use visual elements and design principles to create some specific emotions and convey their
desired messages and allows these activities and ways of seeing more.
Body:
1) La Promenade is an artwork by Claude Monet that was completed in 1875. The subject
is a woman and a young girl walking in a park with trees and greenery in the main
background, which covers more of the background, and includes additional soft colors to
show the blue blossoms as well as features of a garden that it shows. Also, the figures
do not interact with each other, or they are not looking into each other’s eyes, instead it
looks like each of them is lost in their own thoughts. The man has a somewhat serious
look, while the young girl looks more carefree. These figures are small compared to the
vast landscape around them, which indicates that they are the main subjects of this
artwork in a very open space, and on top of all this, they are wearing fashionable clothes
and hats that show that they are on the surface. They are some of the richest people I.
The time that this artwork shows. The lines in the painting are soft and organic, without
strong contour lines. A clear picture of the background is not seen because the shapes
blend into the background and the intersecting lines of this artwork are created using
color. There are no psychological lines, as the figures do not focus on a specific object
or shape. The medium of the artwork is oil on canvas. The main colors of this painting
are green and blue, which they used the most in the background of this art work, and
pink, yellow and white colors are used in the clothes and a small part of the background
again. The colors are soothing and complementary, creating a calm and peaceful
atmosphere. The texture of the smooth painting is visible with brushstrokes, but not
impasto. The implied texture of the objects in the painting is soft and organic, and the
leaves and trees have a natural texture that makes the image seem more realistic. The
light in the painting is diffused, creating a soft and uniform light throughout the scene.
Chiaroscuro is not used to create dimensions, but colors and values ​create depth in the
scene. Space and depth in the painting are created through atmospheric perspective,
for example the road on which the two couples are walking in the picture, and the
background details as they sink into the distance and seem to go away, become less
detailed and lighter in color, and the reason for the blur. Specifies the context. This
artist has used design principles such as balance and unity by using color and
composition. The shapes in the painting are mostly organic and the foliage has curved
shapes. The function or purpose of the work is to record a moment of peace and beauty
in nature and to create and activate a sense of peace and tranquility in the viewer. The
content of the work evokes a sense of relaxation and connection with nature, as the
figures are walking in a park surrounded by natural beauty.
2) "The Banjo Lesson" is a painting by the American artist Henry Ossawa Tanner,
completed in 1893. The subject matter of the painting is a young black boy receiving a
music lesson from an elderly man, who is presumed to be his grandfather. The figures
are interacting in the painting, with the boy looking up at the old man, who appears to be
teaching him how to play the banjo. Both figures have gentle facial expressions,
suggesting a warm and affectionate relationship.The figures take up most of the space in
the painting, with only a small area of the background visible, which the background
doesn’t have that much view of any stuff and the most focus is on the figures.They are in
a modest interior space, likely the home of the elderly man. The meaning of this painting
focuses on the relationship between the two figures and their love of music, instead of
showing their social status or clothing or being rich or poor. The lines in the painting are
soft and fluid, with no harsh contour lines separating the figures from the background.
The objects are not isolated and clearly delineated, but rather blend with the
background. The lines do not suggest any particular motion or direction, but rather flow
gently around the figures. The medium of the painting is oil on canvas. The colors in the
painting are muted, with warm earth tones dominating the composition. There is no
strong contrast between colors, with the overall tone being soothing and harmonious.
The texture of the painting is smooth, with no visible brushstrokes. The light source in
the painting is not clear, as the painter's space is not well. However, the artist has used
chiaroscuro of light and dark, to create dimension and depth in the figures, with subtle
gradations of light and shadow defining their forms.The space in the painting is shallow,
with no clear indication of depth or distance. The artist has used the principles of unity
and balance in the painting, with the figures and the banjo forming a harmonious whole.
The shapes in the painting are organic and flowing, with no harsh geometric lines. The
purpose of the painting is to show the relationship between the two figures, and also to
show the fact that how beautiful the music can be, instead of making an economical
problem situation. The content of the painting is peaceful and contented, with a sense of
warmth and familial love between the two figures. The painting inspires a sense of
happiness and comfort, with its soothing colors and gentle lines. Overall, "The Banjo
Lesson" is beautiful and kind of sad to show the power of music and the joy of human
connection.
Analysts two arts:
Osawa Tanner's The Banjo Lesson and Claude Monet's La Promenade are two works of art that
use different techniques and styles to convey their respective messages.
In "The Banjo Lesson", Tanner uses a realistic style with a warm color palette to convey a
sense of intimacy and warmth between the two figures in the painting. The figures are placed in
a diagonal composition, with the man's arm and the banjo forming a vertical line that leads the
viewer's eye to the child's face. Tanner's use of color, with warm brown and yellow colors
dominating the composition, creates a cozy and comfortable feeling. On the other hand,
Monet's "La Promenade" uses a different style that uses vivid colors and free brushstrokes to
convey a sense of light and movement. The figures are placed in a more stable composition,
with the woman and child in the foreground and the landscape in the background. Monet's use
of complementary colors, with blues and oranges playing together, creates a sense of balance
and harmony. Using loose brushes gives the painting a sense of spontaneity and movement.
Both paintings use lines to guide the viewer's eye in the composition. In "Banjo Lesson", the
vertical line created by the man's arm and the banjo makes the viewer focus on the child's face,
while in "Promenade", the diagonal line created by the woman's arm draws the viewer's focus
towards The view attracts. In terms of color, both artists use color to convey a certain mood or
feeling. The use of warm brown and yellow colors creates a sense of intimacy and comfort,
while Monet's use of blue and orange colors creates a sense of harmony. Both paintings also
use space to convey their respective messages. In "Banjo Lesson", the painter has drawn the
figures in a very close composition, which creates a sense of intimacy and warmth, but on the
other hand, in "Promad" the figures are drawn with a more open composition and with a little
distance from each other, which It gives a sense of movement and shows freedom. Generally,
both paintings use different techniques and styles to convey their respective messages.
Tanner's realistic style and warm color palette create a sense of intimacy and comfort in "The
Banjo Lesson, while Monet's impressionistic style and vibrant, happier colors create a sense of
movement and freedom in"La Promenade". Both artists use line, color and space to guide the
viewer's eye in composition and convey their respective messages. While these two works
have different themes, they both convey a sense of peace through their content. One is the
sense of peace and freedom, and the other is the peace of intimacy and music. In terms of
visual elements, both works use color to create a calm atmosphere. In La Promenade, Monet
uses a soft and cheerful pastel color palette to depict a couple taking a leisurely walk in the
park. The colors are bright and pleasant, and shades of pink, blue and green show more on the
painting. The soft brushwork and bright color palette create a calm and dreamy mood, and the
calm and carefree mood of the couple reinforces this feeling. Similarly, in "The Banjo Lesson,"
Tanner uses a muted or otherwise neutral color scheme to create a calm atmosphere. Dark
warm browns and light yellows create a cozy and intimate interior, while greens and blues in the
background show an outdoor scene and bring a sense of nature to the indoor scene. The calm
and focused postures of the figures, as well as the warm light that falls on their faces, show a
sense of harmony and balance. In terms of design principles, both works used balance to
convey a sense of calm. In "La Promenade" the couple is at the center of the composition, and
the surrounding foliage and trees create a balanced and harmonious space. The vertical lines
of the trees also create a sense of stability and order. In The Banjo Lesson, the centering of the
figures creates a symmetrical composition, with the banjo acting as a central focal point. The
horizontal lines of the floor and walls create a realistic atmosphere, while the diagonal lines in
the painting of la promenade, the arms of the figures show movement and flow. Overall, these
two works have different themes, but both use similar visual elements and design principles to
convey a sense of relaxation . Monet's "La Promenade" creates a dreamy and carefree
atmosphere with its soft colors and balanced composition, while Tanner's "Banjo Lesson"
creates a cozy and harmonious atmosphere with its warm colors and symmetrical composition.
Both "La Promenade" by Claude Monet and "The Banjo Lesson" by Osawa Tanner are special
and powerful works of art, but in my opinion, "The Banjo Lesson" is more effective in saying its
message and showing a beautiful piece of art.
On the subject or rather the story, "La Promenade '' depicts the artist, a young man and girl
strolling leisurely through a garden, while "The Banjo Lesson" depicts an old man teaching a
young boy. Both works depict everyday scenes, but "The Banjo Lesson" has a more poignant
message about the transmission of traditions and knowledge from one generation to another.
The visual elements used by each artist also vary in effectiveness. Monet's use of color is
remarkable, focusing on impressionistic brushwork and vibrant shades of green and blue to
create a sense of light and atmosphere. However, in "The Banjo Lesson", The use of color is
less, focusing on brown and gray tones to convey the kind atmosphere of the scene. In terms of
the use of line and shape, Monet uses organic shapes with a focus on the curves and shapes of
nature, while Tanner uses more angular and geometric shapes with a focus on the straight lines
and angles of the interior, which in That banjo lesson is held. Both artists use space effectively,
Monet creating a sense of depth and distance in the park scene and Tanner conveying a sense
of intimacy and closeness between the figures in the small room. When it comes to design
principles, both artists use balance effectively, Monet creating a sense of visual harmony with
his composition and Tanner using a sense of symmetry between the figures of the banjo lesson.
However, Tanner also uses the rhythm of colors effectively, with repeating lines and shapes in
the banjo and surrounding objects creating a sense of musicality and movement.
In terms of content, "The Banjo Lesson" is more effective in conveying a message and evoking
emotion. The transmission of knowledge and tradition is a universal theme that resonates with
viewers, and the relationship between the old man and the young boy is touching and moving.
By contrast, "La Promenade" is a lovely depiction of a leisurely stroll in a green garden, but
without the emotional depth and resonance of "The Banjo Lesson."
All in all, both "Promad" and "Banjo Lesson" are impressive works of art, but I believe that
"Banjo Lesson" is more effective in showing its message or creating an attractive and special
work of art and manages to create a concept with stronger roots.
The comparison between Claude Monet's "La Promenade" and Henry Ossawa Tanner's "The
Banjo Lesson" highlights how artists can use the same visual elements and design principles to
evoke different content and convey distinct messages. Through this comparison, we can explore
how artists respond to their respective social and cultural contexts and how their works can
serve as reflections of larger societal issues. In the case of "La Promenade," Monet's use of
color and light captures a moment of leisure and beauty in bourgeois Parisian society. The
painting celebrates the leisurely stroll of a well-dressed couple in a lush park setting, conveying
a sense of romanticism and pleasure. On the other hand, in "The Banjo Lesson," Tanner's use
of light and composition focuses on the intimate relationship between a grandfather and his
grandson. The painting highlights the value of familial relationships and the importance of
preserving African American cultural traditions in the face of discrimination and marginalization.
This comparison allows us to consider broader issues related to race, class, and power
structures. It is said that Monet's painting shows the time of freedom and the pleasure of
different people who were in the upper class and among the French aristocracy and rich families
in the era of social and economic inequality that had reached its peak, which can be an example
of struggle It was considered a class in late 19th century France.
But many believe that Tanner's painting shows the main narratives about African Americans
and their culture in the United States, which faced many challenges when Jim Crow laws were
still in place.
But in the end, all these comparisons showed how art can act as a subject of human conditions
and how it can be used to express and challenge different social and cultural statements and
beliefs in different countries.
We realized that many artists use many skills and visual elements in creating a work to convey
their main message through their artwork, so we can also think and be more accurate in these
artists' methods. Achieving a greater understanding of the broader issues that shape our world.