Bas-Relief

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Bas-relief or low-relief is a form of three-dimensional art that uses very little depth to create an image. These pieces of art are on planes or flat surfaces and are meant to be viewed from one side or angle rather than on all sides. Sculptures, moldings, and carvings are the usual mediums that you see in the form of bas-relief. In this form, the artist begins with a flat surface and they create the image they desire by carving it slighting higher than the background. Another way of creating artwork in bas-relief is to add texture or material to an already smooth surface to create some depth. In this example you can clearly see the difference between bas-relief and high-relief (a different from of creating three-dimensional art). The high-relief …show more content…

The birth of chiaroscuro began when artists from the Italian renaissance identified five distinct areas of light and shadow. The bold contrast between light and dark is used to stress three-dimensional objects in two-dimensional artwork. This technique creates shadow, volume, and dramatic effect where used to define characters or any object. There are many ways to use chiaroscuro such as sketching where it is used to create shade, photography, and painting. One masterful artist who used chiaroscuro with great skill was Rembrandt Van Rijn. In his oil painting titled “The Return of the Prodigal Son” (1669). Rembrandt used chiaroscuro in this painting and many other to create a story.

“The Return of the Prodigal Son” (1669) by Rembrandt Van …show more content…

My first observation of this painting is the bright pastel colors that are used that are far different from the dark, dull, flat colors used in our first image. The lines used in this piece of art differ from that of “The Third of May” as they are communicative lines rather than directional lines. Communicative lines suggest feelings and emotions to the viewer. The lines in Van Gogh’s artwork are mostly vertical lines that imply a sense of uneasiness was taking place in that bedroom. By using vertical lines the artist communicated certain emotions he was feeling at the time he painted

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