Event Paper One Painting ARTS 1301.

002 Nicole Frank September 26, 2011

On September 20, 2011 I went to the Dallas Museum of Art and attended the exhibition of European Painting and Sculpture. The event presented paintings and sculptures that allowed the viewer to see Europe through the eyes of the artists. The artwork that I was most impressed with was the painting by Theodore Chasseriau called Battle of Arab Horseman Around a Standard. This painting succeeded in reflecting the violent French colonial occupation and conquest of Algeria through its dark colors, chaotic scenery, and impacting details. In this painting, Chasseriau used mainly dark colors. The different dark colors are grouped together within the combat that is taking place in the foreground. The saturation of the figures at the front of the painting is also much higher than those of the background. This causes the viewer to focus on the action that is occurring before them and less on the scenery in the backdrop of the painting. This piece of artwork has a dense composition of many details that contribute to one main region. In this painting, there is a dominant darkness in the lower left and lower right corners. From this darkness emerges the chaos of the colors of the men and the horses involved in the battle. This group at the focus of this painting is a matter of regional relationship. The individual details of the men, weapons, and horses in this group come together to form a dominant region for the eye to observe. Since the colors in the background of this painting are faded, there is a graduation in color saturation between it and the focus region. This allows for the area of the painting with the most detail to stand out and be the focal point of the work of art. The focus region of the ongoing battle gives the painting unity as well as movement. The combination of colors in the focus region is unified against the backdrop of the painting. The viewer is drawn to the presented battle as their eye circles through the violent scene. The group

of details, the graduation in color saturation, and the unity of the colors and the details in the focal region combine to make this area the first and last thing that the viewer looks at. Chasseriau used closed lines in the foreground and open lines in the background. This contrast is another element that contributes to the focus on the battle. In the foreground, the dramatic brushstrokes and closed lines suggest a continuous movement around and throughout the battle. This painting focuses on a moment of intense emotion. It shows a battle pertaining to the French acquisition of Algeria. The intertwined combat evokes confusion and anguish. There are many things occurring at once during the combat. While some individuals are being defeated, others are remaining strong upon horseback. The work of art is reflecting the time of anarchic battle due to the French. The dominant darkness in the bottom left and right corners suggest a lurking evil behind the action taking place. It suggests that the combat itself is an evil. It appears as if the scene of combat is rising from the darkness beneath the earth. The spilling of blood and presence of weapons is proof that this painting communicates the preponderance of violence in such conflict. The painting illustrates an event characterized by hostility and anger. These ideas are similar to the feelings that many people have about war and other controversies. This communicates Chasseriaus mixed feelings about the actions that took place in Algeria. The blurred and generally formless background of the painting suggests the importance of the conflict taking place in the work of art. Since this battle is the main focus of the painting, it can also be assumed that these combats were also the main focus of many peoples lives; everything else in life was blurred and was of a lesser importance.

In the background of the painting, although it is not a dominant feature, there is a trail. This trail is significant because it appears that the battle is following it. This suggests that the combat is not stationary. It is a traveling issue that will continue forward and take over anything in its path. This illustrates the conquering that was done by the French as they moved across the land. I believe that this painting successfully portrays the conquest of the French as they conquered and occupied Algeria. Since the controversies due to the conquest were often violent and blood was often shed, the mood of the time is correctly reflected by the painting in the dark colors which evoke sad and bitter emotions. There are dark colors in the clothing of the people as well as in the bottom corners of the painting. The composition of the work of art also aids in the reflection of the events that took place in Algeria. The details and colors merging together into the region that is the scene of the battle expresses the intense fighting and combat that took place throughout the conquest. The mixtures of colors also represent the confusion and chaos of that time. Since the region of the foreground stands out more than the background region, it expresses the focus that there was on battle and combat at the time of the conquering. The lines of the painting also contribute to its success in reflecting French actions in Algeria. The use of closed lines in the battle scene aid in the expression of movement and combat. The lines of the men and horses intensify the fighting. The painting Battle of Arab Horseman Around a Standard by Theodore Chasseriau effectively portrays the violent conquering made by the French in Algeria. It accomplishes this through its use of dark colors, riotous scenery, and regional relationships. It shows bloodshed and death occurring in an intense and dangerous clash between men. It uses the elements of line,

composition, and color to recreate the hostility that took place. It expresses the emotions of the time and illustrates Chasseriaus ambivalence toward the subject.