Anonymous
"CHIQUITA"
oil on canvas
1994-2016?
Subjective Critique:
My initial reaction to this piece is a sense of confusion. There is no discernible light source, yet the figure's skin glows uniformly, with less contour and shadows than the rest of the painting including the distant volcano. The horizon line is also hard to pinpoint because the lava flow covers the entire middle ground in between the purple hills and the brown slab of ground at her feet. The composition is heavily unbalanced with much of the content weighing on the right side. I would add shadows to the figure that dominates the picture, and move her to a spot more to the left to create some movement and balance the composition. Finally, adding atmospheric perspective would offer some depth and help the viewer get a sense of space.
Objective Critique:
The Anonymous artist has painted a half-nude woman showcasing a fruit hat in a colorful skirt. She is apparently winking at the viewer, while unbeknownst to her, a distant volcano threatens to cover her and the rest of the landscape in hot molten lava. The bright and warm hues dominate the piece in both the figure and the background, with a streak of blue sky that accentuates the heavy reds and yellows. The use of the elements of art is minimal, including the lack of perspective in the space of the piece. Color is the main visual component used to create shape and form in the two-dimensional work.
