Paintings by Gainsborough for Mr and Mrs Andrews.

1. Liberal Arts Assessment 3
In order to interpret and appreciate a landscape painting, do we need to understand its
context? Discuss with reference to two to three examples you have encountered.
Introduction
In many cases, it’s not about the aesthetic meaning of the paintings, but some
historical or cultural significance of the work that author want to show us in the
context of the era. Nowadays, arts is an indispensable part of human life. People
appreciate art daily as their sources of entertainment. Many people only pay attention
to the content of the paintings and see if it catches their eyes which is not right. So as
to understand a painting, we need to comprehend its context, such as the cultural
background, the life of the author. The purpose of this essay is to evaluate why
context is important for appreciating landscape painting.
Body
In any period, art and literature depends on the discerning appreciation that comes
from a small minority. Few people are able to judge a painting promptly and at first
hand apart from when the paintings are familiar or simple (FR.Leavis 1933). Same
situation to the painting appreciate, not everyone are professional or master that can
interpret a painting in impression. The easiest way to appreciate a landscape painting
is to understand it context and background which help us to understand what might
have been in the mind of author.

2. When i saw ‘Factory, Horta de Ebbo’ which created by Pablo Picasso in 1909 , I was
confused why it can be considered as a landscape painting, compare to other
masterpiece it seems strange and consist of different shapes. However, when i look at
the background i begin to understand why those kind of color exists, it is because they
appear of cubism. During 1870-1910, western society witnessed an unprecedented
technological progress, such as the appearance of photography, cinematography,
telephone, recoding and so forth. Artists need a new way to expand the possibilities of
arts which is a revolutionary new approach to representing reality invented in round
1907-08 by artist Pablo Picasso and George Braque (Tate museum).
When one looks at the ‘Roccoco’, a landscape painting of Mr. and Mrs. Andrews by
Thomas Gainsborough in 1750, they can easily relate the painting based on the
cultural indicators and environmental surroundings presented in the painting. By
using these colors, it is evident that the author was happy when painting and that is
why the painting looks artistic and vibrant. He used many different colors to express
his idea about the people in the painting. This means that the author was in good
terms with Mr. and Mrs. Andrews at the time of painting. The author is detailed in the
use of colors when painting Mr. and Mrs. Andrew’s clothes and the dog. This shows
that he was in a relaxed mood. Gainsborough catches my eye with his exquisite use of
many colors such as green and light yellow and other colors in the painting. The
painting is organized horizontally and no one is left out of the painting. The painting
is a perfect artwork because anyone looking at it can clearly see the contents in the

3. painting. The brushwork is neat and there are no visible signs of thick paint used. The
painter is trying to replicate reality. When analyzing the background, you can notice
the sheep grazing in the fields. The field is properly fenced and a gate for the field is
visible in the painting. This illustrates that they have brought their land under control.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrews pose together with their dog in a comfortable manner with the
positioning of their hands and this displays a sense of comfortability and belonging.
Mr. Andrew’s pose suggests that he has completed his work and now can go hunting
together with his dog (“Thomas Gainsborough,” 2008). Mrs. Andrews sits on a bench
in the fields in this painting. The presence of the dog indicates that Mrs. Andrews is
faithful to her husband. The presence of Mr. Andrews carrying his rifle brings a sense
of security to Mrs. Andrews. The landscape of the painting that illustrates sheep or
goats and when growing in the field shows that Mr. and Mrs. Andrews are rich. The
painting’s balanced composition of green color creates a feeling of harmony. The dark
color of the clouds warn of the impending danger, and therefore, Mr. Andrews is
armed with his rifle. According to their dressing, it is clear that the couple come from
a wealthy background.
In the neoclassical painting by George Lambert (1733), the painting does not really
catch my eye because it is not artistic. This indicates that the author of the painting
was in a bad mood when painting this particular painting. It also may indicate that the
author was in a hurry to paint the picture because characters in the painting are not
clear. The colors are not vibrant and one cannot clearly see the contents of the
painting. Color green is excessively used in the painting and there is a visible use of a

4. rough surface created by the painter. There are obvious signs of brushwork in the
painting especially the hill in the painting. The painter is trying to say something
about the scene painted in the painting. The painting represents a landscape without
buildings of any sort in the background. This painting is a true representation of
appreciation in trend. The landscape comprises of a hill with many green trees which
show that the land is fertile for farming. The background of the painting outlines
beauty. The painting contains zero evidence of initial underdrawings whereby there is
a veil layer of grey primer that is applied without texture. However, there is presence
of relaxation in the painting from the green paint that is visible from the hedge trees in
between the middle of the painting. According to Tate (2011), the texture of the paint
is in good condition despite the visible age cracks within the painting. The painting by
George Lambert explains the relationship between nature and poetry (Tate, 2011).
There is a clear image if people working in the fields. This shows that despite the
beauty of the trees in the background, there is a wheat plantation in the background and
people can be seen working in the fields in the early morning hours. This painting
shows that in that era, people worked in the fields from the early morning hours.
Despite the illustrationof relaxationby the hills and green trees in the background, hard
work is shown in the painting by the workers in the fields. It is also evident that the
people in the painting have been working continuously because the painting displays
continuity in the work being done by the farmers in the fields as it shows a person
cutting wheat in the field and having covered a portion of the field.
Conclusion

5. Each of the two paintings portray different meanings. In the Thomas Gainsborough
painting of Mr and Mrs Andrews, the landscape comprises of grazing sheep in fenced
fields. The painting also shows Mr Andrews posing with his rifle and dog as they are
ready to go hunting. This indicate that Mr and Mrs Andrews have put the land under
control. In the painting by George Lambert (1733), he paints the green trees in the
hills and the wheat in the farm to show that the area is fertile. All the paintings portray
the features that show the exact kind of environment portrayed in the painting
References
Thomas Gainsborough, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews. (2008, January 1). Retrieved February
2, 2019, from
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/monarchy-enlightenment/britain-18c
/britain-ageof-revolution/a/thomas-gainsboroughs-mr-and-mrs-andrews
Tate. (2011, January 1). ‘A View of Box Hill, Surrey’, George Lambert, 1733 | Tate.
Retrieved February 2, 2019, from
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/lambert-a-view-of-box-hill-surrey-n05981