John S. Sargent was a master of this simple concept but not necessarily evident.
I am frequently struck by the simplicity yet profoundness of this concept. It's not just about technique or skill, but about understanding the underlying concepts and principles that make a painting truly great.
The Power of Shape and Symbolism
In the painting of Lord Ribblesdale, Sargent painted the silhouette of Lord Ribblesdale, using the shape to convey a sense of grandeur and nobility. This is a powerful example of how art can use symbolism to convey meaning and emotion, "that's what shape is. It's when it carries something more than just a contrasty mark."
Sargent cleverly alters the background by simplifying the space around the figure which allows the figure to clearly stand out which is how the figure then carries its symbolic message giving meaning to the painting. Art is complex and we see that with Sargent's mastery of this technique and the ultimate expression this technique delivers to the viewer. This is a great example of painting in contrast to conventional rules of how to make something look realistic and 3 dimensional. and it's worth noting Sargent's departure from norms of making the painting appear realistic and flattening the image into a 2D shape. That is where Sargent is achieving his brilliance, choosing not to include all the art tools he has learned and only using the art tools that will carry his message.
The Challenge of Contrast
Contrast is often seen as a key element of art, but sometimes, less is more. In Sargent's painting, he chose not to use contrast, instead opting for a more subtle approach, "paintings about contrast and shape both use "contrast" which is the difference between light and dark. The difference is when that contrast carries a symbolic message, in Lord Ribblesdale the Top Hat and Coat says English Lord. Another thing to consider is Shape and Contrast do not have a lot of color in them."
The Magic of Color
And yet, when we look at Sargent's watercolors, we see something truly remarkable - a mastery of color that is reminiscent of Monet himself. This is where the conversation takes a fascinating turn. Sargent has an incredible gift of color, yet he leaves it out of this painting, by choice.
Uncovering the Hieroglyphics
Sargent doesn't talk to us today about Lord Ribblesdale but instead communicates through his art by the way he uses his command of the Elements of Art... The way that he is painted communicates the message and it's in the theory and concept.
Art is so much more than painting or drawing life-like results - it's about the message.
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