Museum Art Critique: Surprise Attack Near Harper’s Ferry Essay

When eldest persuasioning the exposure, surprisal Attack Near harpists Ferry, created by derriere A. Mo wholenessy in 1868, the besides thing I found myself able to direction on was the group of almost completely undress custody that appear to be bathing in a river. At premier(prenominal) glance, I was not truly able to grasp the concept tail end the painting or the exact situation that was intend to be portrayed by toilet Mooney, in this specific piece of historical artwork. After looking at at the image more closely and thoughtfully, the first words that entered my mind immediately were fear and chaos. The reach of the Surprise Attack Near Harpers Ferry, with the exception of the smoke in the far distance, contrasts importantly to the utter chaos, fear, and confusion displayed in the portion of the painting where the group of men appear to be fearfully scattering slightly in the water. The background of this painting, the fine colored sky and other scenery including the shimmering water, differs greatly in comparison with the more foc calld on, jolly disturbing image, of what appears to represent franticness and fear that is sweeping all over this group of men.After observing the painting as closely and carefully as possible, the image to be portrayed ca employ a feeling of sadness, as rise as confusion, to sweep over me. After mind more about the paintings meaning, I began to likewise feel a sense of lenity and sympathy toward these men that I couldnt pull down completely comprehend at first. In the painting, Surprise Attack Near Harpers Ferry, the artist, John A. Mooney, places a great emphasis on the surmount matter the landing field matter being the men that were attempting to bathe in the river. Even though the subject matter, the central focus of the painting, seems to just be about this group of Confederate Soldiers, importance is also greatly placed upon the raw emotions shown by these soldiers emotions that make this painting worth critiquing and analyzing in the first place.On a more positive note or view of the painting, Surprise Attack Near Harpers Ferry easily has the ability to grab the commentators tutelage because of the beautiful, shining color of the river and the giving sky despite what realities the men might in short be forced to face in these waters. Additionally, one of the major things to notice about this painting is John Mooneys use of repetition represented by the men in the river. Repetition is noted in the men in the painting, due to their striking, and almost equal similarities in their appearance.Another important principle of bod or formal property, is the use of the antecedent mentioned contrast between the more serious, central focal point or the subject matter also known as the Confederate men in the river, and the more calm and relaxed setting shown by the slide by skies and mesmerizing color of the river itself. Contrast is also seen in the painting by the artists use of different colors that oppose or meshing with one another. For example, John Mooney uses a much brighter/ lighting color on these men, than what he uses for the intense green/blue river and the more cloudy/ darker color he uses for the sky, or for the background cannon smoke. Contrast is used by this artist to draw more attention to the focal point of the painting.