Activity 4 Rewrite

The “Tragedy” (1903) oil on wood painting was painted by Pablo Picasso in 1903 and the “Bullfight” painted in 1901 on oil canvas. Picasso uses several design principles to make these artworks complete. Picasso applies the principle visual weight, emphasis and subordination to the painting “Tragedy” and applied emphasis, symmetrical balance and rhythm to the painting “Bullfight” to catch the eyes of the viewer.

Picasso used size and placement to emphasize the figures of the man, the woman and the child in the painting Tragedy. Picasso set the figures in the foreground so that their visual weights combine to form a single mass. Visual weight refers to that apparent “heaviness” or “lightness” of the forms arranged in a composition, as gauged by how insistently they draw our eyes (Getlein, 125). He also used emphasis by using the color blue throughout the painting to show that the figures in the painting are cold and it represents the sky and the ocean. Emphasis means that our attention is drawn more to certain parts of a composition than to others (Getlein, 134). Finally, he used subordination to show the background in the painting is painted in a lighter blue to help the figures standout. Subordination means that certain areas of the composition is purposely made less visually interesting, so that the areas of emphasis standout.

In the painting the “Bullfight” painted in 1901 on oil canvas the artist Pablo Picasso placed a pile of dead horses at the bottom left corner of the painting to show the use of the principle emphasis in this artwork. Emphasis means that our attention is drawn more to certain parts of a composition than to others ( Getlein, 134 ). The artist uses the principle symmetrical balance to distinguish between the dark colors and primary colors used in the painting. Symmetrical balance, the implied enter of gravity is the vertical axis, an imaginary line drawn down the center of the composition ( Getlein, 125). Finally, the artist uses rhythm because the painting appears to show movement of the bull and the figures in the painting. Rhythm is the pattern of elements suggesting movement or pace in something such as a work of art (Getlein,141).

Both paintings by Pablo Picasso were painted with the principle of design emphasis to catch the eyes of the viewers. He also used other principles of design to show contrast between the two artworks.





Pablo Picasso’s The Tragedy (1903) oil on wood painting used a number of design principles. The design principles that Picasso used are emphasis, rhythm and contour lines. Emphasis means to draw more attention to certain parts of a composition(Getlein,134). Pablo emphasis the color blue in different shades to show cold, gloomy, misery, sadness, the sky and the ocean. Rhythm is also expressed in the painting. Rhythm means patterns of elements suggesting movement or pace in something such as a work of art (Getlein, 141 ). Pablo uses rhythm to show movement of the waves of the water towards the positive figures in the painting. Another principle element use in the painting is contour lines, which are greatly express by the artist. Contour lines are lines that describe a outline of edges of an object or figure(Getlein,83 ).The artist expressed ground in the paintings. Ground is the surrounding visual information that the figure stands out from (Getlein, 89 ). Pablo Picasso used ground to identify the mood and location . The mood creates a sad and depressing atmosphere.

Pablo Picasso’s Bullfight ( 1901) a colorful painting expressed the use of design principles and the elements of design. Pablo Picasso uses emphasis, negative shapes and linear perspective. Emphasis can be defines as to draw more attention to certain parts of a composition ( Getlein , 134 ). By placing the dead horses at the bottom left corner of the painting. Picasso was able to use a overly size figure and red blood to be the focal point. Negative shapes are clearly defined in the painting the Bullfight. Negative shapes are shapes which are in the back ground( Getlein, 89 ). Picasso uses negative shapes , primary colors and dark colors to distinguish the figures in the stands ( Getlein, 113 ). Pablo Picasso also uses linear perspective a form in which drawings or paintings are given apparent depth by showing parallel lines as converging on the horizon ( Getlein, 108 ). The artist uses linear perspective to show images sitting in the stands which make our eyes see dots representing figures in mass which occupies space.

In conclusion, the paintings by Pablo Picasso can be describe by the principle of design variety. Variety in art means difference, which provided interest( Getlein , 122). Picasso uses cool colors in the painting “The Tragedy” and warm colors in the painting “The Bullfight.”