Brian Gerevits
Paintings: Fernand Leger: “The Three Musicians” (1944), Morris Hirshfield: “Inseparable Friends” (1941)
The two paintings I have chosen to compare, while created only three years apart, utilize color, light and form in various differing manners to create two completely unique paintings. Both paintings utilize three central figures as the focus of the paintings: “Leger focuses on three male musicians while Hirshfield paints two female companions. The musicians in Leger’s work are composed of flowing dark hues that mold together and create the illusion of the three men becoming a single entity. In contrast, the three woman in Hirshfield’s work appear naked and with clearly defined and simplistic bodies. Unlike the musicians in Leger’s painting, the two woman are painted in a very simplistic profile and with little ornamentation along their bodies. The musicians, on the other hand, are adorned with a multitude of colorful bows, ribbons and captivating patterns throughout their bodies. The use of such form allows the musicians to blend into one another, making it difficult to discern which musician is playing one instrument, This give the illusion of the three musicians as a single form. Hirshfield utilizes a drastically varying form of composition in her work, as the two woman are clearly defined separately. Consequently, although the two are “inseparable” the two woman are still their own individual pieces in the work.
The use of light also differs starkly among the two works. In “The Three Musicians”, Leger utilizes a light background as well as an ambiguous light source that casts shadows over the faces and bodies of the musicians. This use of light and shadows creates a more life-like feel from the 3 individuals, as well as defining each musician’s pose and posture. On the other hand, Hirshfield utilizes a significant amount less light and shadow in “Inseparable Friends”. There is little to no shadows throughout the piece, as both woman are completely illuminated in full profile. There are also no shadows to define their size and position, making the positioning of the objects in the painting ambiguous. Both uses of light and shadow fit to the painter’s desired aesthetic, playing well with the individuals at the focus of the paintings.
Color, and its use, can greatly impact the way in which a work of art is perceived. Consequently, Leger and Hirshfield utilize it in various manners. The musicians in Leger’s work are mostly painted with dark shades of blue and gray, while their shirts and ties stand out in bright shades of yellow and red. Similarly, the musicians’ suits are adorned with various pieces of colorful jewelry that create a strong contrast with the dark suits. Leger also utilizes a colorful background, with shades of red and yellow emphasizing the dark figures in the foreground. In contrast, Hirshfield utilizes many muted tones on a dark background in order to make each figure stand out individually. The woman are painted in a fair white while their shoes are painted in simple shades of red and blue. There are no extraordinary uses of color in “Inseparable Friends”, but each color choice is simple, creating a plain, yet calculated painting.
The various sues of light, color and composition throughout these two works very clearly depicts how the varied use of such basic art techniques can alter a painting drastically. Consequently, such strategies and techniques are some of the most important when creating a masterful work of art.
