The picture I am critiquing is an oil on canvas, Snap the Whip by Winslow Homer. The subject matter of the picture is 19th century boys at play. I think this picture does a good job of capturing both the essence of American spirit and a feeling of camaraderie between the boys.
Snap the Whip has many elements of art in it. One of which is how Winslow Homer uses different shades of green in the forested hills above the boys. The focal point of the picture is the boys at play, while in the field of the painting there is a large forest. There is a contrast in light value between the meadow where the boys are playing and the forest that sits above them. There is a good harmony between the different colors of the wildflowers and and the different colors of the trees. The artist did a good job of balancing the details on the boys on left and right. The lighting in the picture is focused on the boys creating a highlight on them. There is a subtle building far away in the left of the painting. The people on the far left do not have clear features, but are figurative.
The focal point of this picture is the boys at play. I think this picture tells a narrative of these friends who were bored and decided to play this game. Together, they are trying to get other boys to come off from the chain while their parents look on.
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