Assignment #4 Write about it.

Both “Ill-matched Lovers” by Quentin Massys and “The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise” by Benjamin West use the principles of design to create the art work.
Both artist use emphasis. Emphasis means that our attention is drawn more to certain parts of the composition than to others (134). In both pieces the artist employ emphasis through choice of color. In Massys piece the woman becomes the focal point because her dress and complexion deeply contrast with the surroundings. She has a clear complexion and is dressed in cool colors, the victim and accomplice have ruddy complexions and are dressed in warm colors. This emphasis draws the viewers eye to the woman stealing the man’s attention and also stealing his purse. Benjamin West employs emphasis in color by painting the Angel, Adam, and Eve in light shades compared to the surrounding that is dark shades of black and grey. It makes this scene the focal point and draw the viewer sight to the expulsion.
Other principles of design used by these artists are balance and hierarchical scale. Balance is the equal distribution of visual weight which refers to the apparent “heaviness” or “lightness” of the forms arranged in a composition” (125). Massys employs balance by strategically placing a deck of cards below the action of the scene. The contrast of the dark coin purse above the deck of cards brings the viewers attention to the crime. Hierarchical scale is the use of scale to indicate relative importance (138). In West’s piece the light coming from the clouds crosses the top of the angel who is above the man, who is above the woman. This emphasizes the hierarchy of the heavens over the angel, The angel over mankind. The use of principles of design helped these artist create excellent paintings.