This document contains descriptions, interpretations, and analyses of 12 artworks. Each artwork depicts a natural or rural scene. The descriptions note the subjects of the artworks, such as landscapes, seascapes, and villages. The interpretations suggest that the artists aimed to depict the beauty found in simple, everyday scenes and subjects. The analyses indicate how the artworks utilize elements like color, texture, and principles such as balance, proportion and contrast. The overall theme highlighted is that natural beauty can be found in ordinary scenes everywhere on Earth.

1. Claire Bellavia
AED 200 Project #4

2.  Ellen Axson Wilson, Oil on
Canvas, unknown size, 1905-
10
 https://www.google.com/culturalinstitut
e/asset-viewer/prospect-
gate/ugGLEfIKxjqahw?projectId=art-
project
•Description: This work depicts a peaceful path leading down to a brick
gate on an Autumn day.
• Interpretation: This work is a basic, beautiful work of art. It brings
forth nostalgia for peaceful Autumn evenings of the past, and I think
that’s exactly what the artist was hoping to evoke.
• Analysis: This work utilizes the elements and principles of color,
balance, and proportion. It utilizes color in the gorgeous autumn tones of
the image; balance in that all the shapes, colors, and textures exist
harmoniously within the image; proportion in that the sizes within the
work are as one would expect them to be in reality.

3.  Description: This image depicts a
peaceful forest path and a nice
lake, with beautiful trees and a few
people wandering the path and
making a fire by the water.
 Interpretation: This image is so
peaceful and calm, I really think it
calls to the joys of a simplistic life,
enjoying nature and living with the
land, which very much so could be
what the artist was trying to depict.
 Analysis: This work utilizes the
elements and principles of color,
balance, and proportion. It utilizes
color in the nature tones within
the work; balance in that all the
shapes, colors, and textures exist
harmoniously within the image;
proportion in that the sizes within
the work are as one would expect
them to be in reality.
• Jacob Ruisdael, oil on canvas, 40.35 in x 50 in,
undated
• https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/a-
road-through-an-oak-
wood/3QGerL4kkwZTag?projectId=art-project

4. Description: This work shows an artist painting a snowy scene on a beautiful, white winters
day while a crowd watches him work.
Interpretation: This work shows us a beautiful scene with a man trying to capture it’s beauty
on canvas, it also shows us people watching him work. I think the artist could be showing us
how people focus on the wrong thing – they are seeing the painting but not the scene itself.
Analysis: This work utilizes the elements and principles of space and contrast. It utilizes
space in that the artist put what would be the focus of the image off to the far left, making
you look at the scene the artist within the image is painting; it utilizes contrast in that the
work guide’s the viewer’s eyes through the whole work, going from the painter to the image
he is capturing.
• Carl Larsson, oil on
canvas, 2090 cm x
1190 cm, 1886
• https://www.google.com/cultu
ralinstitute/asset-viewer/open-
air-painter-winter-motif-from-
%C3%A5s%C3%B6gatan-145-
stockholm/bwEJZOVaCQUzfQ
?projectId=art-project

5. Description: This work shows a foggy view
of the top of Mt. Fuji while a dragon dances
in the clouds.
Interpretation: The artist here depicts a
both playful and almost ominous scene.
The dragon plays off to the side, but the
monstrous mountain looms, standing
strong amongst the clouds. I think what
could be the intention is to show the
contrast here.
Analysis: This work utilizes the elements
and principles of space and value. It utilizes
space in that the focus, the mountain, is
only partially visible amongst the clouds, as
is the barely visible dragon, causing your
focus to go there; it utilizes value in that the
dark shadows on the mountain greatly
contrast the white of the clouds and snow.
• Yokoyama Taikan, ink and gold on paper
(hanging scroll), 1195 x 810 cm, 1940
• https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-
viewer/dragon-and-mt-
fuji/XwGMrsro4meStg?projectId=art-project

6. Description: This image depicts a
gorgeous sunset on a wooded lake beach.
Interpretation: I think this image shows
us once again the calming, beautiful
simplicity of nature, and how one of the
most gorgeous things on this Earth is the
Earth itself.
Analysis: This work utilizes the elements
and principles of color, unity, and texture.
It utilizes color in that the gorgeous colors
of nature as well as the colors of the
sunset catch your eye; unity in that all the
pieces within the work are present in
harmony within the image; texture in that
you can see and practically feel the rough
bark of the tree or the cool, reflective
water of the lake. • Albert Edelfelt, oil on canvas, 83 cm x 116 cm,
1889-90
• https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/kaukola-
ridge-at-sunset/_wG4aZ_dd_ClJw?projectId=art-project

7. Description: This work depicts a
crumbling building on a hillside,
surrounded by fields and trees
and a few people and animals.
Interpretation: This picture
shows how even something like a
crumbling, falling apart building
can hold beauty still within the
scene – I think the artist is trying
to show how there can be beauty
in absolutely everything.
Analysis: This work utilizes the
elements and principles of
balance, space, and proportion. It
balance in that all the shapes,
colors, and textures exist
harmoniously within the image;
it utilizes space in that the
amount of space around the
building emphasizes it more;
proportion in that the sizes
within the work are as one would
expect them to be in reality.
• John Constable, oil on canvas, 123 cm x 167 cm, 1829
• https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/hadleigh-castle-the-
mouth-of-the-thames-morning-after-a-stormy-

8. Description: This picture depicts a
small village on a canal at what looks
to be sunset with some villagers
walking on the bridge.
Interpretation: This work too depicts
the simplicity of small-town living. It
shows the calm and gentleness of a
quiet village resting on the canal. I
think the artist wanted to emphasize
the beauty of the simple things and
how the most basic of scenes can be
gorgeous.
Analysis: This work utilizes the
elements and principles of value,
balance, and proportion. It utilizes
value in that the contrast between
light and dark work well together
here; balance in that all the shapes,
colors, and textures exist
harmoniously within the image;
proportion in that the sizes within
the work are as one would expect
them to be in reality.
• Jacob Ruisdael, oil on panel, 15.94inX20.87in, 17th C.
• https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/canal-
with-bridge/EwGrM21Y2jBt3g?projectId=art-project

9.  Description: This work shows us
a beautiful, orange-toned beach
and the rising moon in the soft
sky.
 Interpretation: This work shows
us a simple view but it is
absolutely beautiful. It once
again sends us the message that
the most beautiful scenes can be
the most simple ones.
 Analysis: This work utilizes the
elements and principles of space
and contrast. It utilizes space in
that the beach in the foreground
fades off into the night sky; it
utilizes contrast in that the work
guide’s the viewer’s eyes through
the whole work, going from the
trees and rocks on the beach to
the rising moon.
• Caspar David Friedrich, pencil and brush (sepia
ink), 60.9 x 100 cm, 1805-06
• https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/view-of-arkona-
with-rising-moon-c-1805-1806/8gE1wL6lerhFyg?projectId=art-project

10. Description: This image shows some boats in a busy canal as they go back
and forth between the towering, old buildings surrounding the water.
Interpretation: This image shows us people hard at work on their boats as
well as the towering, gorgeous buildings that surround the water. We can
take the message that busy cities can still be paradise, especially one that
rests on this gorgeous canal.
Analysis: This work utilizes the elements and principles of contrast, balance,
and proportion. It utilizes contrast in that that the work guide’s the viewer’s
eyes through the whole work, from the boats in the foreground to the fading
buildings in the distance; balance in that all the shapes, colors, and textures
exist harmoniously within the image; proportion in that the sizes within the
work are as one would expect them to be in reality.
• Antonio Canal detto Canaletto, oil on
canvas, unknown size, 1721-23
• https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-
viewer/il-canal-grande-da-ca-balbi-verso-
rialto/EgEkBrPss0re6w?projectId=art-project

11. Description: This photograph shows a calm town that rests upon a lake, the view in sepia tones.
Interpretation: This image shows us a town resting on the water. The image shows us the beauty
that can lie in a city. Most of the time beauty is related to a nature scene, but here we can see
that beauty certainly can lie within a more urban setting, and I think the artist here was trying
to show that.
Analysis: This work utilizes the elements and principles of contrast and balance. It utilizes
contrast in that that the work guide’s the viewer’s eyes through the whole work, from the
buildings in the foreground to the water off in the distance; balance in that all the shapes,
colors, and textures exist harmoniously within the image, the water framing the town.
• Marc Ferrez,
photograph
(albumen print),
46.2 x 21.2 cm, 1885
• https://www.google.com/cult
uralinstitute/asset-
viewer/view-of-the-
guanabara-bay-in-the-
foreground-the-center-of-rio-
de-janeiro-rj-brazil/-
gExqi9grQHJ2g?projectId=art
-project

12.  For this, I wanted to keep everything in this presentation
in Earth tones, keeping it related to nature and the Earth
so to keep with the theme of Worldly images.
 I also tried to include different types of images of the
world. Mostly nature, yes, but I wanted to depict life
itself.
 The main theme I wanted to show here was that beauty
is found in the most simple of scenes everywhere on
Earth.
 A full reflection to this project can be found here:
http://bellaviart.blogspot.com/2014/05/blog-post.html