Criticism of Moonlight Landscape

    March 17^th, professor took us to visit Zanesville Art Museum and find a work to write a criticism for our paper. In the left passage, I was attracted by an oil paint landscape, it gave me a deep impression and let me make decision to write about it.

     This landscape is a realistic oil paint called Moonlight Landscape by American Artist Ralph. A. Blacklock(1847-1919) in 1890. The landscape appears a scene by the river in a dark night: The black trees shadows are on the both sides, dark clouds occupy the bottom, a bright moon hangs over the river and it is reflected on the water, the gentle moonlight is flowing. The composition of this landscape is kind of informal because the right side tree shadows is bigger than the left and it is more united, that make the painting interesting. The color is totally dark hue, but the moon and its inverted reflection in water is bright and make a big comparison with the dark surroundings, it emphasizes the main figure in the work----- the moon, to make the moon more brighten. Trees shadows, river and moon compose a triangle to make the landscape stable. All the painting present a gentle, quiet and peaceful atmosphere and it make me calm down and feel comfortable.

    I think the artist just wants to appear a peaceful, gentle and beautiful moonlight scene as its title has told us. The dark shadows, the bright moon and its inverted reflection in the river are combined into a wonderful atmosphere and make me fell into this beautiful moonlight scenery. I have been influenced by this atmosphere when I first saw it. It makes me think of the bright moon hang over the Yellow River in my hometown Lanzhou. At those days I missed my hometown so much even when I see the clouds in the sky, I can’t help to image that I have already got on the plane to China. Ralph’s Moonlight Landscape remind me the moon in my hometown and make me homesick, but its gentle moonlight calm me down and make me more comfortable. I really missing the lovely moonlight in my hometown and my family.

    In sum, the artist presents a beautiful moonlight landscape and builds the atmosphere successfully and it influences my feelings. In my opinion, a good art work is not only make a beautiful work, but also lead the audience into its works and could strike a chord with audience. For me, Ralph. A. Blakelock’s Moonlight Landscape is a successful work of art.