I specifically like this painting, "May Third," because of its realism and its portrayal of how evil our human race really is. The background is solemn and does not attract attention to itself- besides giving a setting to the place of the event. The background is drab and dark and lets you focus on the main focal point, which is the actual shooting. I like the use of color to highlight the main occurrence and the shapes of the bodies either dead or alive. The color can make is so realistic that you feel like you were there. The texture of the cold skin on the dead contrasts with the supple skin on the bodies of the living.
There is a balance between life, death, and the portrayal of more
death to come. The emphasis is not placed on the main event of the shooting
and the dead bodies and blood, but more on the emotions of the people who
see their fate and lives clearly flashing before their eyes. Your eyes
follow the movement in the painting from the faceless soldiers to the face
of the man in the shape of the Christ and clothed in white- and about to
die. I like the contrast of the white shirt on the rebel to the dark background
and drab clothing of the soldiers and the men around them. Even the blood
has been dulled to draw focus to the man in the white shirt, awaiting his
fate in fear.
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Rubens |
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