Artist: Martin Johnson Heade

Title: Cattleya Orchid and Three Hummingbirds 

Date: 1871

Medium: oil on canvas painting 

Currently: The National Gallery of Art

Source: http://www.nga.gov/

Nature/Science Theme

3. Interpretation:

1. Description:

2. Analyze:

4. Judgment:

In the painting there is a orchid and three humming birds. The colors that Heade used were cool and warm colors. There are dead branches and moss that dips from the trees. In the distance jungle there is a blue-gray mist, with a brighter purple-pink light on the right.

The colors that Heade used created a gloomy and  peaceful mood at the same time. I think he used contrast with the pink for the orchid, and it's light-green stems and pods to draw your eye there first. The picture is a heavier in the left side because of the poisoning of the orchid. The negative space of the misty fog gives me the impression that it is a rainy day.

The emphasis in this painting is primarily the flower, but also includes the three hummingbirds. The orchid is set in the positive space and attracts your eye to it immediately. Then the movement in the painting help travel your eye to the hummingbirds. Heade used cool colors of purple, blue, green and warm colors of pink,red, and yellow. He used texture on the tree branches of the tree to show how they would feel and to show that they are dead.

When I look at this painting I feel involved because it captured my attention with the orchid and he hummingbirds. The artist has created  a interesting peace for me by using the different colors and texture to make it stand out. The artist has been successful in communicating the work.