Formal Art Analysis: Manet's

There are many different elements to take into account when analyzing the form of this painting. The line quality depicted is made up of both curved, and flowing lines as well as many noticeably straight elements. There are many soft lines made with thick brush strokes. The lines generally seem to put stress on the horizontal axis with the main female figure being the only major source of a vertical element. Some of the more dominating straight and severe lines appear as the edges of the painting centered above the young woman’s head, which extends the vertical element

The space shown leading back from our space to the back wall behind the woman’s head is confining in the way that so much of it is dominated by the sofa. Her foot leads us on a slight angle back through space, up her figure to her head with is then linked by its shadow to the painting with finishes the vertical line. Horizontally we are led from left to right by her arms and hands and the items in them. Motion seems to be implied in the offset position of the figure and in the way it is leaning to the right side, as seen by the weight applied on the woman’s left arm. She appears to have leaned onto her left leg, with the right leg extended and right arm draping casually over the sofa’s arm. She appears to be looking out into our space with no positive direction of gaze, but more a thoughtful, or almost brooding expression, most likely accomplished with the way her eyes are seemingly looking in two different directions.

The borders of the work are not clearly defined, as there are items and pieces of furniture that are cut off on both sides. It appears to have been framed or centered on the woman’s figure in part of a larger scene, which emphasizes the importance of her figure. In viewing the woman’s body, her upper and lower body are offset from the main axis, creating a sort of disjunction between these two halves. Her pose, with her foot extended outwards towards us, creates a line and way of entrance from our space into hers. Most of her figure takes up the left side of the painting, but leads our eye diagonally up and right. Her pose on the couch appears as if she has just settled onto the sofa, not pausing to smooth out he

Some topics in this essay:
School Design, Manet’s Repose, horizontal axis, , vertical axis, eye level, vertical horizontal axis, pieces furniture cut, woman’s figure, vertical horizontal, vertical element, figure major, centered woman’s, arm appears, woman’s head,