Curriculum Materials: Amazing Animals in
Art
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Philip R. Goodwin Essays: Questions: |
Style
Goodwin was a sensitive observer of the natural world around him, portraying his subjects in a popular GENRE style, with a basic interest in NATURALISM. Like artists such as N.C. Wyeth and Charles Russell, who also worked as illustrators at the turn of the century and depicted the West, Goodwin was interested in capturing what he actually experienced.
Goodwin creates a tranquil setting using subdued, earthy colors and soft, undulating contours. The white, spare LANDSCAPE is a striking CONTRAST to the dark and imposing bear and provides an opportunity for the artist to show off the animal's thick coat of fur and its rich brown coloring. In this painting, Goodwin accurately depicts the details of the bear's form and anatomy--its massive, hunched body, soft brown fur, peering eyes, foraging nose, heavy legs, and large and formidable claws. His careful delineation draws our eye to the bear and the Cream of Wheat container, the centerpiece of the painting. The crate's prominent position in the FOREGROUND, its large SCALE, distinct GEOMETRIC SHAPE, and bold letters reinforce it as the focus of our attention and the reason for this advertisement. Varying his paint application, Goodwin uses loose and sketchy brushstrokes in surrounding areas, as in the screen of trees in the BACKGROUND, the sky, and the blanket of snow. The soft dashes and thick dollops of paint create a sense of immediacy, enhancing the vibrant energy and activity of the bear.
Goodwin's use of vertical and horizontal lines and triangular shapes contributes to the stable and tranquil mood of the scene. The rhythmic vertical lines of the backdrop of trees meet the restful horizon line, which is repeated in the lines of the crate. The somewhat triangular shape of the bear is echoed in the pine trees as well as in the tree stump to the right, conveying a harmonious relationship between the bear and its habitat.
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