Museum Object Questions and Theme Ideas

William Trost Richards’ (American 1833-1905) Marine (1884) Oil On Canvas

Research a bit more before going to the library.

Questions:

1. Who, What, When, Where, Why?
2. What kind of themes can be explored in this image/painting?
3. Why is the horizon line so absolute?  Wouldn’t it have a curvature?
4. Calm before/after the storm?
5. Is there a ship on the horizon (or something else)?
6. Is the perspective from another boat or land?
7. What time of day is it?
8. What season/time of year is it?
9. Is it the eye of the storm?
10. Was this work done from direct observation or memory/interpretation?
11. What is the focal point?  Where does the artist want us to look?
12. Does it provoke a sense of longing?
13. Why is the color palate so green? (vs. many blues etc…)
14. Where is this place supposed to be?  Is it real?  Does it matter?
15. How big is the object on the horizon (bigger or smaller than we think)?
16. How far away is the object?
17. Where is the position of the sun? (I guess that would depend on time of day too.)
18. What motivated the artist?  (goes hand-in-hand with the themes and intentions of the artist.)
19. What does the minimalistic nature of the painting add/take away from the tone/experience?
20. Where are they going?  (if it is a boat)
21. What body of water is this, or would it be?  What kind of body of water?
22. Would this piece coincide with reasons as to why someone would be traveling across sea?War??

Themes:

1. The notion of longing and traveling away.
2. Water conservation(?)
3. Types of travel, class system?  How different classes travel?
4. Ambiguity, where are they going?  Find other mysterious travels paintings/images…
5. Minimalism
6. The sea
7. Nature