Art Criticism The Dovecote by Francois Boucher PowerPoint By: Dylan van Bunnik Media: Oil on canvas

Description of The Artwork The Dovecote, a piece of art made by Francois Boucher was a great representation of the elements and principles of art. This work of art shows a tower on the shore of a river, with a bridge that goes over the river. It was an observational work, because the Dovecote is a place you can actually visit in real life. First of all, the colors that were used in this art, such as green and brown, were used to make a naturistic feel, and to add value to the work. Color in this work of art was also used to emphasize the objects of nature, such as the trees and the river. Another factor that color played a role in was where it was in the composition, and where it was positioned. For example, as you look through the work, you are drawn to the tower, or Dovecote, because of its size and the color. It is the brightest part of the composition so your eye will travel to the tower first. Then your eye might take you to the trees and the water because they stand out compared to something like the sky. Finally, organic shapes were used to make objects in this work of art such as leaves, clouds, trees and rocks.

Analysis The Principles of Art play a big role in works of art, and in several ways in this piece of artwork. One thing that is shown a lot in this work of art is the blend between objects. Colors of the leaves and the grass blend well with all the other colors, creating a good color scheme that seems bright and brings a naturistic feel. It also shows something that is appealing to the eye. Balance in this work of art is shown in a great way because everything seems very natural in this work of art. The placement of all these objects also show unity, making the tower stand out. There is little movement shown in the art, as everything seems to be standing still, but there is no eye that is exactly the same. Yet again, emphasis is used because they made the tower so big, the first thing most people would look at is the tower.

Interpretation Based on all of the elements and principles of the artwork, and how the artwork looks, I can infer a meaning within this work of art. The meaning that I see in this is the feeling of a calm and peaceful place. Everything in this artwork is undisturbed and it looks like it has never been touched, therefore making a quiet environment. You can also see the two people on the bridge and they look like they are having a good time, enjoying the peacefulness that you sometimes can’t get in a place where we live. In my opinion, I think it states that nature is beautiful, and that it should be left untouched so that we can admire the peace and beauty inside. Overall, that’s what I believe the meaning of this work of art is.

Judgement/Evaluation Overall I like this work of art because it gives a sense of happiness and peace, and this is something we can really use in this world today. I consider it a good piece of art because it gives the audience a message and from that message we can learn from. I chose this work of art because it stood out to me, and its message of nature and happiness stood out to me even more. One thing Boucher could add to this composition is something that symbolizes peace a little more. Maybe he could make the color scheme brighter because it does seem a little dark in some areas. In conclusion, Boucher did a great job with his work of art, and I hope that this work of art will be spread to others not only in our art class, but around the world because the message should help the world as a whole.