The Mall At St.James Park
In The Mall in St. James Park, 1783, oil on canvas, Thomas Gainsborough uses color, composition and body language to demonstrate the social relationships and tension between women from a high social class. By focusing on the subtle gestures between those women, the razor-sharp eye contacts I will try to reveal those feelings.
The painting depicts an outdoor environment, in the center a wide non-paved road with people, cattle and dogs walking on it. The road is contained in two rows of trees from both sides. While the trees are planted in the sides of the road, perspective and the natural growth leads the treetops to join on the upper part of the painting. Two thirds of the painting is reserved for the landscape but all of the interaction happens in the bottom third.
First lets observe to see why this group of people are from a high social class.
The main indicator is their clothing: The women in this paining are dressed in dresses made from a large amount of fabric that limits their ability to walk freely. This is visible by the hands that are holding the lower part of the dress so it will not drag on the floor. Each dress varies in design but all of them are made from a few parts, and incorporate ornaments such as flower patterns on the center figure. In addition to the dresses all of the figures are wearing a hat, with matching colors and flowers ornaments. Some of the dresses are pale white and some have vibrant colors, such as blue and red. The general outfit leads me to conclude that these women are dressed for leisure and not work. Since every women in the painting have a pale white skin tone and blush makeup I conclude that these women spend most of their time indoor, and therefore probably from a high social class. By observing the composition of the different groups of people in the painting we can assume belonging. On the left, a group of three women and a man sitting on a bench. Moving towards the center, two women are walking together
The painting depicts an outdoor environment, in the center a wide non-paved road with people, cattle and dogs walking on it. The road is contained in two rows of trees from both sides. While the trees are planted in the sides of the road, perspective and the natural growth leads the treetops to join on the upper part of the painting. Two thirds of the painting is reserved for the landscape but all of the interaction happens in the bottom third.
First lets observe to see why this group of people are from a high social class.
The main indicator is their clothing: The women in this paining are dressed in dresses made from a large amount of fabric that limits their ability to walk freely. This is visible by the hands that are holding the lower part of the dress so it will not drag on the floor. Each dress varies in design but all of them are made from a few parts, and incorporate ornaments such as flower patterns on the center figure. In addition to the dresses all of the figures are wearing a hat, with matching colors and flowers ornaments. Some of the dresses are pale white and some have vibrant colors, such as blue and red. The general outfit leads me to conclude that these women are dressed for leisure and not work. Since every women in the painting have a pale white skin tone and blush makeup I conclude that these women spend most of their time indoor, and therefore probably from a high social class. By observing the composition of the different groups of people in the painting we can assume belonging. On the left, a group of three women and a man sitting on a bench. Moving towards the center, two women are walking together