What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

A man and woman appear to be participating in an arm wrestle. They are surrounded by symbols of stars and shapes which depicts the fellowship they are participating in as they partake in this activity. There are different animals around depicting the various forms of life as they celebrate the harmonious nature of sport. They have a look of determination as if to declare that it is their individual, unique experiences against the rest of the world.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

There are a combination of lines, shapes, and colors in order to formulate a collage of beautiful art. The symmetry between the man and the woman illustrates the equal nature of this partnership as they face the viewer. Proportionally, the figures are the largest component of the portrait meaning that their story is the most important thing to comprehend. This helps make sense of the artwork by presenting the opportunity to be able to partake in sport together joyfully, against a common enemy.

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

The museum contrasted the colorful background of the portrait with the white wall which accentuates the vibrant shades. The border of black surrounding the color makes the portrait pop out even more amongst the other paintings. Also, by choosing to surround this painting with two paintings of a more dull color palette immediately attracted our line of vision.

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