Comparing The Lifeline By Winslow Homer And Prairie On Fire

The paintings “The Lifeline” by Winslow Homer and “Prairie on Fire” by Charles Deas are two paintings that really struck out to me as similar. I think Homer’s painting, “The Lifeline”, is a very dramatic painting because of how the lady is just laying there passed out while this brave man is swinging across dangerous waves and rocks to get them to safety. Its very different from looking at in class because you can actually see the texture and brush strokes the artist used. When standing in front of a painting, it almost feels like your there watching this happen. You can see all the different details from the small brush strokes to the large ones, and the effect of light almost makes them look like they are glistening. I selected Charles Deas painting to compare to Homer’s painting because in both paintings a woman is passed out and is
Homer uses the color red of the woman’s scarf to pull you toward her and to bring out the drama, danger, passion, and fear. He also uses dark colors such as dark blue and grey to show drama and that the two people are scared for their lives. Light is another element used for the waves. As can be seen in the painting, the wave that is under the two figures is the lightest one to create a focal point on the two above. Perspective is used with the two figures in the foreground to show the importance. The painter does not want you to focus on too much, but them. Line is used for the ropes and the pulley system. The lines of the rope drag your eyes straight to the main focus point and that’s the woman and the man. The painting has symmetrical balance because it has the two figures in the middle and on the sides there are both large masses. To the right, there is the ship and to the left, there is a large wave. That is all the formal elements used in this painting by Winslow