Analyzing Mark Tansey's 'Forward Retreat'
Ryan Melanson
Mrs. O’Neal
English 1302 8MW
9/19/2012
Forward Retreat Color, tone, composition, texture, mood and form are familiar words to art critics. Diction enables observers of paintings, photos, etc. to elicit feelings that are encouraged by another persons’ work. Mark Tansey is an American artist that employs humor in many of his works in subtle and evident ways. One example that stands out is Forward Retreat. At first glance Tansey’s Forward Retreat seems to have the essence of realism but a subtle observation changes this. Some apparent figures and objects are noticeable at first glance of the painting. The riders seated on horseback are in military dress. With more attention to detail it is noticeable that the riders are
wearing different uniforms; it is possible to infer with little knowledge about WWI and WWII that these soldiers were from the superpowers that were prominent in the twentieth century e.g. Britain, France, America, and Germany. Shattered pottery, broken frames, and other objects related to art litter the surface of the ground. The soldiers seem unconscious of the fragmented objects and ride intently focusing on a fixed position in the distance. Unbeknownst to the riders, their horses are running over the pottery, picture frames, and other items that employ art and culture. It is likely that this scene is taking place on a battlefield at some location in Europe. Tensey lets the viewer see the band of soldiers by a reflection and indirectly to take the focus away, at least momentarily, from their backwards seating. The soldiers’ direction emphasizes their ignorance to there immediate surroundings. Possibly unconscious that their own actions are superseding the past works of artists.
Water is the archetype for growth and catharsis. Forward Retreat employs water in two ways: clouds and a puddle. Interestingly the water is shaded red. The abundance of water must be recognized to understand the idea of new life brought from destruction. Water washes over the destroyed artwork with no objectivity, only doing what is a natural function. It is likely that water is the strongest symbolism in Tensey’s Forward Retreat.
The title of the painting is subtle and humorous once the viewer notices the soldiers are seated backwards. Although some paintings are given arbitrary names, or no names at all, by their creators Tensey addresses this painting with juxtaposing words to assist in the recognition of the theme. The hue of the painting, crimson, particularly acts as a symbol for passion and intensity. The passion is to create something new from the ashes i.e. phoenix. The intensity is derived from the magnitude at which we challenge olds customs and ideas, much like the broken pottery and other forms of art in Forward Retreat.
Tensey’s Forward Retreat and other paintings by him make the viewer ask the question; why? It is important that we must ask this question when observing a visual work rendered by either artist or designer. Tensey implies that art is never static and to make progress you must eschew old ideas and commonplace thinking to make something new and to press on in art.
Mrs. O’Neal
English 1302 8MW
9/19/2012
Forward Retreat Color, tone, composition, texture, mood and form are familiar words to art critics. Diction enables observers of paintings, photos, etc. to elicit feelings that are encouraged by another persons’ work. Mark Tansey is an American artist that employs humor in many of his works in subtle and evident ways. One example that stands out is Forward Retreat. At first glance Tansey’s Forward Retreat seems to have the essence of realism but a subtle observation changes this. Some apparent figures and objects are noticeable at first glance of the painting. The riders seated on horseback are in military dress. With more attention to detail it is noticeable that the riders are
wearing different uniforms; it is possible to infer with little knowledge about WWI and WWII that these soldiers were from the superpowers that were prominent in the twentieth century e.g. Britain, France, America, and Germany. Shattered pottery, broken frames, and other objects related to art litter the surface of the ground. The soldiers seem unconscious of the fragmented objects and ride intently focusing on a fixed position in the distance. Unbeknownst to the riders, their horses are running over the pottery, picture frames, and other items that employ art and culture. It is likely that this scene is taking place on a battlefield at some location in Europe. Tensey lets the viewer see the band of soldiers by a reflection and indirectly to take the focus away, at least momentarily, from their backwards seating. The soldiers’ direction emphasizes their ignorance to there immediate surroundings. Possibly unconscious that their own actions are superseding the past works of artists.
Water is the archetype for growth and catharsis. Forward Retreat employs water in two ways: clouds and a puddle. Interestingly the water is shaded red. The abundance of water must be recognized to understand the idea of new life brought from destruction. Water washes over the destroyed artwork with no objectivity, only doing what is a natural function. It is likely that water is the strongest symbolism in Tensey’s Forward Retreat.
The title of the painting is subtle and humorous once the viewer notices the soldiers are seated backwards. Although some paintings are given arbitrary names, or no names at all, by their creators Tensey addresses this painting with juxtaposing words to assist in the recognition of the theme. The hue of the painting, crimson, particularly acts as a symbol for passion and intensity. The passion is to create something new from the ashes i.e. phoenix. The intensity is derived from the magnitude at which we challenge olds customs and ideas, much like the broken pottery and other forms of art in Forward Retreat.
Tensey’s Forward Retreat and other paintings by him make the viewer ask the question; why? It is important that we must ask this question when observing a visual work rendered by either artist or designer. Tensey implies that art is never static and to make progress you must eschew old ideas and commonplace thinking to make something new and to press on in art.