What is Art History essay

Leonardo’s study of shadows is apparent in compositional arrangement of Mona Lisa. The first method of composition he applied in this painting involved focus and blur. For instance, he uses shadow in different low lying segments of the picture plane, its background, and at the edges. However, he is definitely clouding the landscape to enable him draw much attention to the details on the face of the image. Besides, the use of soft focus has also ensured that Mona Lisa’s face and body emerged within the shadow consisting of dark and blurred presentations. In fact, he used visceral smears of mustard, brown and dark crimson that extended far beyond the canvas. For Lorrain, the story provided an ideal opportunity for him to paint buildings, water, and light using a combination of canvas on oil, soft but clear grooming of colors.