SFMOMA Art Gallery - Essay Example

The painting is done oil on canvas. The size of the painting is 18 3/8 inches x 21 ¾ inches. The overall work is proportionally correct even though the second lady who is sitting is disproportionate in structure. One cannot find out whether she is sitting on a bed sheet or if she has a comforter on her lap. The two ladies are the focal point in the portrait. The work is balanced as the painter has used dark and light colors both. However, It is noticed that the lady who is wearing the black dress has a dark background whereas the second lady is also wearing a dark dress but the background color is light which makes one wonder whether the color schemes should be less vibrant to have a balanced portrait. The color schemes are vibrant. It is a very colorful image. The artist has used warm colors and tried using contrasting colors that make the characters of the painting stand out in the portrait (Giardini).

One of the formal characteristics identified in the painting is that the artist has not emphasized the hair of the two women. One can only tell that the characters are women while looking at the shape of the dresses. Moreover, the expressions of both women are not intense. While looking at the portrait, it would be difficult to estimate the mood of the women, which should be an essential part of the painting. However, the vibrant colors are the main attraction of the portrait. The main function of the piece is to represent women in vibrant and colorful colors. It shows two women who may be enjoying leisure time with each other in a garden or a place where there is beauty and they are thinking or talking to each other (Gardini). Read More