7/28/2019 Formal Visual Analysis

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Formal Visual Analysis

This essay will formally analyze The Seine at Giverny (1885) which was painted by ClaudeMonet and can be view at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum. It is a Seascapeand at a scale of 25 1/2 by 36 1/2 inches it gives the viewer the impression of looking out thewindow and it represents the impressionism style. The painting is oil on canvas and despite itsage it is in very good conditions with no evident sign of deterioration. It is framed by an antiquelooking golden Wood frame with embellishments in shape of sea shells and vines all around.

At first glance the viewer cannot see any actual lines and everything looks very blurred andunfocused, but upon closer viewing it is possible to see that there are many implied l ines thatdirect the eyes of the viewer. The main horizontal line in the painting is the horizon line which islocalized in the center of the painting slightly skewed to the left. There are also some horizontallines, in terms of the direction of the brush work, on the left in the reflection of the trees closer tothe painting frame. The display of the painting also represents a horizontal line that determinesthe composition of the painting.

Vertical implied lines are used mostly of the right side of the painting in terms of the height of thetrees. At the point where the two River banks meat the horizon it possible to see two vertical

implied lines that somewhat frame the horizon.

Diagonal implied lines make up the majority of the painting and it can even be said that theymake the images that the viewer sees. The main diagonals can be seen through the shape of thetrees and their reflections in the water as they reach the horizon. They form two convergingtriangles that direct the viewers eye toward the point where the river can no longer be seen.There are also diagonal lines the terms of the brush work. The lines make the slight angle of theleaves directed toward the all different directions. Diagonal l ines can also be seen in water withan upward inclination as the image recedes and in the shape of the clouds pointing downwardtoward the right lower corner.

In the same fashion as many seascapes, where nature is the main focus, the viewer can see thatthere are no figures depicted and that despite some similarities on both sides of central axis thepainting is not symmetric. The viewer can see lot more of the trees on right side of the river bankthan on the left. From the viewers perspective the vantage point of the painting seems to be at adistance somewhat above the water level and slightly to the lower right corner at an off centerposition.