Question

Consider Kensett'’s Lake George and Shen Zhou’s Autumn Colors among Streams and Mountains. Discuss each artist’s use of atmospheric perspective to create the illusion of depth. How does the sense of space conveyed in each work differ?

Answer 1

Answer:

In Zhou's Autumn Colors, atmospheric perspective is demonstrated by decreasingly dark strokes the further background elements are from the point of view. Zhou provides more line details and darkness in the foreground strokes, such as in the trees and vegetation, indicating closer proximity to the viewer. On the other hand, Kensett's work involves more realism and involves color. It has a more clearly defined vanishing point than Zhou, and atmospheric perspective is demonstrated by the decrease in saturation, detail, and contrast of the distant mountain range. Objects in the foreground are more saturated, have more detail (such as blades of grass), and are finely depicted as reflecting the light source. Zhou relies on stroke detail and intensity, while Kensett relies on color tones and a defined vanishing point to convey atmospheric perspective.