Comparison Of FBC Cadell And Roy Lichtenstein

The two artist I have chosen to study a FBC Cadell and Roy Lichtenstein. Both artist are from different movements and styles. Cadell painted in the the impressionist style in the early 20th century whereas Lichtenstein painted in the Pop-art style during the 1960s and 70s. Impressionists were obsessed with light and the way it affected surfaces. They were also interested in the way light creates colours and shadows on objects. Cadell lived a worked in Edinburgh and was part of an art movement called the Scottish colourists. The four Scottish colourists were known for there use of bright colours and their pronounced brush strokes.

Pop-artists were rather different, as they focused on comic-book style art and used printing method rather than paint. Roy Lichtenstein was one of the leading pop artists of the ear. Lichtenstein developed a style of bold colours, black outlines and sharp tones. He used a method of printing called the “Benday Dot” system which overlapped dots to create block colours. In contrast to the colourist the Pop-artists experimented with a variety of medium such as printing techniques.

The two
pieces of art work I have chosen to study are similar in context as they both contain fruit and a painting within a painting. The painting “Still Life” by Cadell 1915 is oil on canvas.

Cadell’s painting is painted in oil in a lively impressionist manner with big splashes of bright colour.
He uses traditional still life objects. At the centre of the painting in a plate with lemons and an orange placed on it. At first glance these objects look relaistice but the thick brush strokes used makes them seem distorted. Using a mixture of light a dark tones in the background of the painting cadell draws the eye to a dark framed photo on the back wall. To me this is the focal point. Warmer colours in the painting appear to come forward while cooler colours recede. This is how Cadell has created a sense of perspective. The composition is quite simple but well balanced and looks good in my opinion. In my opinion Cadell had used large quickly placed brush strokes to blend the colours in well, which shows clearly how the light is
reflected.

I also studied Roy Lichtenstein’s piece “Still life with portraite” 1974 printed on paper. in contrast to oil painting this was printed on paper using the characteristics print making techniques of the Pop-artist movement, which gives a modern accessible feel to the piece. Since it was printed it could be mass produced.

However Lichtenstein’s piece also has element of traditional still life. His painting contains a bowl of fruit in the foreground, he uses a deep red to make them stand out. A portrait hangs in the background of an idealised woman drawn in Lichtenstein’s own signature comic-book style.

In contrast to Cadell he uses clear lines and a sharp clear presentation of simple objects his objects therefore feel real fresh and everyday modern items.

Unlike Cadell, Lichtenstein had a limited colour palette. To compensate he uses the bright red and yellow colours in blocks, thick diagonal lines to shade the background and dark geometric outline around the objects to create dimension and perspective rather than using tone.

I do prefer Cadell still life as I prefer the impressionist way of working. I also prefer how Cadell’s piece is painted rather than printed.