Summer Student Example

1. Arts 1301-6430
Professor Medina

2. •
c. 1645,Oil on canvas
18 ½ X 25 ½ in.
• A beautiful painting in which
the child Jesus has become
the center of the scene, and
His crucifixion is foreshadowed
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3. Curling Flame by Joshua Sension
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Taken January, 2012 with Konica Minolta camera
Aperture set at 1/1600 second

4. From Darkness Into Light by Joshua Sension
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Taken January, 2012 with Konica Minolta camera
Light source – 1800 watts

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Done in the style of Still Life Vanitas
This work seeks to utilize the technique of
tenebrism and a focal point
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Analogous color scheme/shading
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Gradual colors of bright yellow fade into
orange, orange-red, red, maroon, then black
Use of relative value
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From Darkness into Light
Large portions of light cast from the left
contrast starkly with the shadows that lurk on
the right.
The focal point is the bible and salt
Light of left half is contrast with the dark from
the right

6. •
Also utilizes the technique of tenebrism
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Analogous colors
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The curves and folds of the flames suggest a
their constant rippling movement
Temperature and texture
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Curling Flame
The flames fade from a yellowish-orange glow
into orange and red-orange
Use of motion
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The well-lit flame on right contrasts with the
black background
The dimmer flame on left contrasts with
darker areas of itself
The blend of oranges against a black
background provide a soothing and warm
feeling to these flames.
Velvety textures are revealed in these soft
looking flames

7. Interpretation of Themes
• The title, From Darkness into Light is a play on words. We literally see darkness fade into light, but
figuratively, God is calling us out of the dark of sin and into His light.
• The skull represents death, the cocaine and chains – addiction. The dagger and bullets represent
violence. The bible stands for salvation. The salt and the light derive their meanings from Jesus words
that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
• The point where the dagger meets the light is where Christ wants to set us free of our chains

8. Interpretation of Themes
• In Joseph the Carpenter, Georges foreshadows Christ’s crucifixion with the wood on the ground in
the form of a cross.
• The bright glow on Christ’s face reminds of his divinity, as he has become the focal point and
emphasis of the painting (without which, Joseph would take the center of attention).

9. Media and technique, time period, and
geographical location
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Georges de La Tour painted in the Baroque
style, in this same period
He was from France and was thought to have
completed most of his works in the Duchy of
Lorraine, and was a master of the tenebrist
style of religious painting
Joseph the Carpenter was done using oil on
Canvas, and thus had a great ef fect of light
Por traiture, religious paintings, and
tenebrism were common in the Baroque
period

10. Comparison/contrast of From Darkness into
Light and Joseph the Carpenter
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Georges techniques of tenebrism and the use
of light as a divine presence were the
inspiration for my work.
I also attempted to use a focal point (where the
light shines on the bible)
The light of the world and the use of shading
were common to both works
Mine, however is a still life and does not share
the use of persons or movement

11. Reference
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St. Joseph the Carpenter. N.d. Painting.
Georges de La Tour 1593-1652, Paris, France.
Web. 13 Jan 2012.
<http://jamesbrantley.net/17latourStJosephth
eCarpenter1640's.jpg >.