Activity Five

In the painting "The Fog off Mount Desert" there is a theme of art and nature. The expression of our relationship to nature are themes that have often been addressed through art which is depicted in this painting by the use of water, mountains, and sky. Bringing these different subjects of nature creates a harmony of complement. The primary emphasis of the painting is Mount Desert which is pointed out by the title of the painting, then your attention is taken out to the surrounding figures. The boat floating calmly on the ocean is an addition of non nature being added to the harmony of the painting. It leaves its contents up to the viewer's imagination, yet it doesn't disrupt or take your attention away from the emphasis. The colors were used to further accentuate the unity and complement of the mountain, sky, and ocean.





In "La Condition Humaine" by Magritte, you may be slightly confused about the theme of the painting due to the title. By observation of the painting you probably will see a theme of art and nature due to there being no people in the painting. You see the emphasis of the tree that also directs your attention to the surroundings of grass, bushes, dirt road, and the sky, outside of the window. The colors in this painting are cool and there is a design of unity in the painting. Nature is a natural complement of harmony. Now if you are interpreting the theme from the title you would assume there is some human experience in the painting. This can be determined from the fact the painting is inside the house and the use of the curtains and the window show a separation from nature. It is assumed a person painted the portrait and based it off what they saw looking outside the window and placed the painting to use actual nature as the background.