The Mona Lisa
Deconstructive Analysis
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The portrait shows the subject sitting upright and sideways in a chair, with her face and chest turned slightly towards
the viewer: a posture derived from the 'pyramid' image used to depict a sitting Madonna. Her left arm sits
comfortably on the armrest of the chair and is clasped by the hand of her right arm which crosses her front. The
slightly protective position of her arms, as well as the armrest, creates a sense of distance between sitter and
spectator.
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The background landscape behind the sitter was created using aerial perspective, with its smoky blues and no clearly
defined vanishing point. It gives the composition significant depth, although its details reveal a clear imbalance
between the (higher) rocky horizon to the right, compared to the (lower) flatlands stretching away on the left. This
imbalance adds to the slightly surreal atmosphere of the picture.
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Another slightly surreal feature of the Mona Lisa is her lack of eyebrows and eyelashes. This was not a deliberate act
of the artist, as scans indicate that originally she was given both. It is possible that the colour pigment used for these
facial features has since faded or been inadvertently removed during cleaning.
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The general impression created by the Mona Lisa portrait is one of great serenity, enriched by a definite air of
mystery. The serenity comes from the muted colour scheme, the soothing sfumato tonality, and the harmony created
by the sitter's pyramid-shaped pose and understated drapery. The mystery stems from a number of factors: first, her
enigmatic half-smile; second, her gaze, which is directed to the right of the viewer; her hands which have a slightly
unreal, lifeless quality - almost as if they belonged to a different body.
A Starry Night
DECONSTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
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COMPOSITION The night sky depicted by van Gogh in the Starry Night painting is brimming with whirling clouds, shining stars, and a bright crescent moon. The
setting is one that viewers can relate to and van Gogh´s swirling sky directs the viewer´s eye around the painting, with spacing between the stars and the curving
contours creating a dot-to-dot effect. These internal elements ensure fluidity and such contours were important for the artist even though they were becoming less
significant for other Impressionists. Thus Starry Night´s composition was distinct from the Impressionist technique of the 19th century.
The artist was aware that his Starry Night composition was somewhat surreal and stylized and in a letter to his brother he even referred to "exaggerations in terms of
composition. " The vivid style chosen by van Gogh was unusual - he chose lines to portray this night scene when silhouettes would have been a more obvious choice.
In Starry Night contoured forms are a means of expression and they are used to convey emotion. Many feel that van Gogh´s turbulent quest to overcome his illness is
reflected in the dimness of the night sky. The village is painted with dark colors but the brightly lit windows create a sense of comfort. The village is peaceful in
comparison to the dramatic night sky and the silence of the night can almost be felt in Starry Night. The steeple dominates the village and symbolizes unity in the
town. In terms of composition, the church steeple gives an impression of size and isolation.
In the left foreground is a curvy cypress tree which is typically associated with mourning. It is painted in the same way as the sky with fluid lines which enhances the
flow of the Starry Night painting well as its easiness on the eye.
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COLOR Van Gogh´s choice of color in Starry Night has been much debated, particularly the dominance of yellow in this and other late works. Some believe van
Gogh may have been suffering from lead poisoning or a type of brain disease and that this explains his strange use of color in later paintings.
Van Gogh's use of white and yellow creates a spiral effect and draws attention to the sky. Vertical lines such as the cypress tree and church tower softly break up the
composition without retracting from the powerful night sky depicted in Starry Night.
Vincent van Gogh´s choice of dark blues and greens were complemented with touches of mint green showing the reflection of the moon. The buildings in the centre of
the painting are small blocks of yellows, oranges, and greens with a dash of red to the left of the church. The dominance of blue in Starry Night is balanced by the
orange of the night sky elements.
Van Gogh paints the rich colors of the night and this corresponds with the true character of this Starry Night, whereby colors are used to suggest emotion.
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LIGHT Van Gogh´s passion for nighttime is evident in the Starry Night painting, where the powerful sky sits above the quiet town. It seems that van Gogh is
contrasting life and death with luminous stars and a gloomy, peaceful village. The main light sources are the bright stars and crescent moon.
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MOOD, TONE, EMOTION There are various interpretations of Starry Night and one is that this canvas depicts hope. It seems that van Gogh was showing that even
with a dark night such as this it is still possible to see light in the windows of the houses. Furthermore, with shining stars filling the sky, there is always light to guide
you. It seems that van Gogh was finally being cured of his illness and had essentially found his heaven. He also knew that in death he would be at peace and further
portrays this by using bold colors in the Starry Night painting.
In a letter to his brother, Theo, van Gogh comments: "I should not be surprised if you liked the Starry Night and the Ploughed Fields, there is a greater quiet about them than in the
other canvases. " Later in the letter he makes reference to Leo Tolstoys book My Religion and its lack of belief in resurrection. Such fleeting mentions of religion echoed
van Goghs feelings towards the subject at this time; he could neither forget it nor totally accept it. Despite this, his use of the word 'quiet' and reference to Tolstoys
book indicates that the night sky made him feel calm and brought to mind eternity.
BRUSHSTROKE In Starry Night van Gogh´s unique, thick brush strokes are very much obvious and it´s possible that his severe attacks further
dramatized his brush work. However, there is a consistency to his technique that adds even more depth as well as a rich texture to this work of art.
American Gothic
Your turn…
 Look at small details and choices that you wouldn’t
normally see…
 The house in the background—
 The woman’s hair
 Alternative interpretations of symbols and gender
roles…not everything is as it seems upon first glance
The Scream
Try again!
Look at…color, composition,
brushstroke. Artist use these things
like writers use word choice,
diction, sentence structure and
devices…
Freedom From Want
How about now…?
 Remember, small authorial/artistic choices, delve
deeply into the piece.
 Look at subtle choices like body and posture and facial
expressions.
 Look at the non-focal points. These convey meaning
too!!
Guernica
For the final show!
 Last try, together, what have you learned?
 Modern art is tough. Pick it apart. Rely on your
rhetorical knowledge and your knowledge of symbols.
 There is NO SUCH THING AS DONE!!!
The Persistence of Memory
Your final assessment…
Turn in a deconstructive analysis
on The Persistence of Memory
and finish for homework if not
done in class.