Wheatfield with crows painting analysis

1 September 27, 2020 Wheatfield with Crows by Vincent van Gogh Formal Analysis Wheatfield with Crows is one of the significant pieces of art by Van Gogh which is believed to be his last work. Vincent Van Gogh was a painter in the 19th century, and he embodied the style of and the principles of the post’s expression movement. It is a painting created in July 1890, and it can be found in the van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. This artwork is believed to be his last one before he committed suicide, which also occurred in 1890 in this artwork. The artist made an expression of his darkest suspicions. Some people believe that the dark birds flying from the horizon towards the foreground detect a sense of menace. The entire darkness mood is also reinforced by the stormy sky that supplies contrast to the yellow wheat. Arguably, though the artists wanted to express the sadness through the stormy skies, he also wanted to show what can be termed healthy and fortifying regarding the countryside. Notably, Wheatfield with Crows is a dramatic painting that constitutes a dark sky and yellow wheat. There are also winding road curls that originate from the painting's foreground, which seems to be cut off and does not lead anywhere (Macaluso). From observations, it is also not clear where the paths come from. Above the fields, there is a group of crows that are moving further into the dark blue sky, and a large number of crows is overwhelming, which can make one wonder where they are coming from. Significantly, just like most of the works of Van Gogh, the painting is oil on canvas. Formal Elements of Art In the Wheatfield with Crows, Van Gogh has used various elements of art such as color, texture, shape among others. Color: Among the famous paintings of Van Gogh is Wheatfield of crows. The dead-end path, the crow, and the sky were thought to be his last works, however, he made other works after. In his 2 paintings, he has used a powerful combination of colors. For instance, the red color of the path has been built up by green bands to refer to grass, while the yellow-orange wheat contrasts with the blue sky. Under the stormy skies, his Wheatfield expresses extreme loneliness, and sadness yet he needed to demonstrate what he thought was fortifying and healthy about the countryside (Pract,371). However, the paintings of the sky seem dirty while the wheat color is describing the pain and more about aging than maturity and fertility. Texture: Van Gogh has used dense applications of paint on the canvas to describe the technique of painting where he has thickly laid the pallete knife and strokes of a brush creating a visible clear texture. The rough paintings with sloppy strokes that give an impression of despair. In his words, it is confirmed through his writings as he said that when he returned and set to work, his brush almost fell that made his expression of extreme loneliness and sadness. Shape: In his paintings, the brushstrokes are structured in a way to form shapes of objects such as the paths, and the change of the direction of the brushstroke to form the curves of the paths. Principles of Design in Wheatfield of Crows Van Gogh has used the rules used by the designers to create effective and attractive arts. The principle of design he has used include contrast, balance, movement, proportion, emphasis, white space Balance: The value of the color for instance yellow is used to counterbalance the incredible quantity of Van Gogh’s piece of activity. Balance in his painting is demonstrated through the use of bright colors hence producing an equilibrium amid the form and line. Therefore, the yellow color attracts the eyes and the dark shades surrounding it.