Alut and Criss

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George Copeland Ault’s Manhattan Mosaic (1947) and Francis Criss’ City Landscape (1934) appear to be similar at first glance, but there are also many differences. When comparing the two pieces of art one must consider the elements and principles of design, along with subject matter, content, and form. As the two works of art are compared and contrasted the particular areas of evaluation will show how unique, but similar they both are. The subject matter that was chosen by each artist is a city. Both pieces were done with oil on canvas, and completed within 13 years of each other. Therefore, the time period is not a major difference amongst the two. Both of the paintings are a form in relief, meaning they are projected from a flat surface and are designed to be viewed from one side only. They combine two-dimensional and three-dimensional works of art. Each piece can be mounted on a wall like a two-dimensional work. Both pieces are representational because they depict objects that we can recognize, such as buildings and cars. In Ault’s piece there is very little content and not much of a story to be told. He approached his piece geometrically, which makes it look more architectural or industrial (Collections: American Art: Manhattan Mosaic). He used linear, interlocking shapes that emphasize the geometric style (Collections: American Art: Manhattan Mosaic). The decorative sensibility seems to be intentional because Ault used a reference in the title to the mosaic technique (Collections: American Art: Manhattan Mosaic). Mosaic is the process of making a picture or design out of pieces of stone or glass mounted on a supporting surface (Collections: American Art: Manhattan Mosaic). Unlike Ault’s piece, Criss piece looks more realistic... ... middle of paper ... ...ale and the gray building. There is a rhythm to each piece. Ault’s piece creates a rhythm with the square shapes throughout it. Criss’ painting creates a rhythm with the vertical poles along the road and the multiple square shapes. Overall, both pieces of art have similarities within certain categories of art, but also have their own unique characteristics. Artists use a collection of ideas, elements, and materials that they fuse together to create a work of art. How each artist uses the ideas, elements and materials can be completely different or very similar. Ault and Criss had a similar subject matter, but the way they used the elements and principles of art varied between being completely different to being very similar. Works Cited "Collections: American Art: Manhattan Mosaic." Brooklyn Museum: American Art: Manhattan Mosaic. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2014.

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