The Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David (Essay Sample)

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The Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David


Introduction
The Death of Socrates (1787) is an oil-on-canvas painting by Jacques-Louis David. The composition is about the story of Socrates’ demise. After being accused of corrupting the youth with his stories and introducing new gods to the people of Athens, Socrates chooses to use his final moments to give one last lesson to his pupils. The painting is an emotional expression of someone who maintains his resolve in the face of death, while all his friends appear to be in distress. One can see the various fundamentals of art in the way the brush strokes are used to depict both the elements and principles of design in this artwork. The most prominent are the visual elements of color, value, space, form, shape, line, and texture. The evident principles of design are balance, emphasis, movement, and contrast.
Discussion
Balance
Balance is the manner in which lines, colors, textures, forms and space are used to depict symmetrical, asymmetrical or radial balance. David’s painting employs both symmetry and asymmetry, producing a feeling of visual equality in color, value, shape, form, and space. In this composition, one can notice that the bodies are asymmetrical and that they overlap each other to maximize the space on the canvas. David does not shy away from bold colors; he uses warm shades of red and the cool shades of blue to achieve balance. The wall is made up of big and symmetrical blocks, which appear to have different shades of grey and brown.
Movement
Movement is the use of elements of art in such a way that the attention of the viewer is directed from one part of the design to another. The asymmetrical shape of the figures in the artwork depicts movement with some of the grievers covering their faces or and looking away from Socrates. The shapes of the figures appear smaller as they especially where the wall becomes an arch. Socrates appears to be using his right hand to reach for the chalice being handed to him by the standing young man.
Emphasis
Emphasis is the use of elements of art in such a way that one part of the design catches the attention of the viewer more than the other parts of the work of art. David’s painting focuses on the center of the canvas where the stoic old man appears to be confident of himself while the rest appear to be in emotional distress. The attention of the viewer is then drawn to the right side of the artwork where Socrates appears to be facing, then to the left where an elderly man is sitting at the edge of the bed. The center is where the value ...