Activity #2

The main difference between the two pieces I chose is that Dempsey and Firpo by Bellows is grayscale while The Fall of Phaeton by Sir Rubens is colored.

Ruben’s piece uses stronger counter lines around separate objects whereas Bellows uses the contrast of the primarily black background with the lighter shaded foreground objects to create form. Both art pieces use value to produce a smoother and defined texture shown perfectly by the muscles of the horses and the back of the defeated boxer. Also implied overhead lighting in both(the ray of light in The Fall of Phaeton and the overhead spotlight shining down vertically on the boxers). The many spotlights in a boxing ring causes Bellows to use various shades of gray control the shadows throughout the piece. As you move away from the ray of light in The Fall of Phaeton the shades of all colors darken from the lack of implied light. Though focal points are usually in one place, Rubens use of kinetic movement with the implied light effectively extended the focal point across the painting. Both pictures are asymmetrically balanced because the focus from the action is sent to one side of each despite the amount of objects used.

The use of space with the black background to in a way highlight the more lightly shaded victorious boxer in Dempsey and Firpo. In Rubens’ piece, the use of space around the focal point is more crowded but keeps the flow of kinetic movement while the more vacant spaces are used to show the intensity of the ray of light.