Nathan Oristaglio Art Analysis of Public Sale by A. Wyeth 1943

 

Nathan Oristaglio Art Analysis of Public Sale by A. Wyeth 1943

    This piece by A. Wyeth has several key principles and elements that make it unique. First the dull colors used which was something I noticed with all of his paintings which is unlike some painters that prefer to make vibrant pieces that stand out for their color. The backdrop of a hill filled landscape gives both the illusion of the rough texture of the dry grass and a large space as we can far off into the distance. Wyeth has made a clear emphasis of the car and the two men standing next to it as you can see the tire tracks leading to it. This presents a sort of mystery about these two men and who they are because they are separated from the crowd in the background. There is a contrast between the dark dirt road leading to where you can see several people in the background and the dry yellow grass. Lastly and one of the less noticeable features is the rhythm used when he drew the grass.

Now the first time I looked at this painting I had a problem with the dull colors which actually put me in a somewhat dull mood. Then I thought how quickly this painting had that affect and realized it was intentional and his paintings which use this color scheme are meant to evoke a somewhat negative reaction. Overall I think this painting is a great piece of art that has many aspects that I mentioned. One of the only paintings I've seen that manages to stand out despite a dull color scheme.