Learning what the colors in paintings represent really bring to light the meaning and feel for the painting. Just looking at the painting above from van Gogh might give the impression of a good night on the town. Maybe relaxing, even. However, the pale yellows and greens, the sharp contrasts in red and green on the ceiling and water, and the demeanor of the people in the cafe' tell a different story. The yellow and green colors represent sickness, decay, cowardice, and discord. The ceiling and walls are intense while the room in general in low key, giving the painting a relaxing feeling. The scene is dull and quiet.
It seems like the artist may be depicting a scene that is lonely and bleak. Looking at the change from red in the walls to a bright green in the ceiling, it almost seems like the author is suggesting that even though life my be hard and lonely, there is hope if we look up.
That's a nice interpreatation of the painting. I like it. The way van Gogh paints, or at least how this painting looks, makes me think of melting wax. I think it's because of all of the detail that he put in for texture. But I really like what you said about there being hope if we look up.
ReplyDeleteI think looking at this Van Gogh is so great. At first your thinking yellow is a happy and bright color, but when you look at the combinations and the people in the painting, it tells a completely different story.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that knowing what the colors mean helps us to interpret the painting, but to me the atmosphere of the cafe is not quiet and dull, but the yellow makes it sickly and gross. It makes me think of a epidemic, or something where it takes a toll on the entire town.
ReplyDelete