Lena Rivera
The concept of balance in art is essential to creating harmony within a composition. While symmetry refers to the similarity of form or arrangement on either side of a dividing line, asymmetrical compositions create balance through differences in shapes, colours, and textures on the left and right sides. Albert Bierstadt's 1890 oil painting, 'Mount Rainier', is a mesmerising landscape artwork that portrays the western United States of America. The painting features smaller mountains on the left side of the canvas, with trees reflecting the verticality of the prominent Rainier Mount on the right. This article will explore whether Bierstadt's 'Mount Rainier' painting achieves symmetry or asymmetrical balance in its composition.
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What You'll Learn
Mount Rainier's steep, symmetrical shape
Mount Rainier, located in Washington State, is a prime example of a composite volcano. Its steep, symmetrical shape is the result of periodic eruptions of viscous lava, pyroclastic flows, and ash. This type of volcano typically features explosive eruptions due to the nature of its magma, which is usually andesitic. The layering of materials during eruptions contributes to its distinctive steep profile.
The symmetrical shape of Mount Rainier has been captured in various paintings, including the works of Thomas Kinkade and Albert Bierstadt. Bierstadt's painting, created in 1890, is a mesmerizing oil painting that showcases the mountain's beauty. It is part of a series of renderings of the American West that made him famous in the 19th century.
Kinkade's paintings of Mount Rainier depict the peak piercing through the clouds, with a crisp blue-grey sky framing its snow-capped peak. His artwork aims to bring peace and joy to viewers, encouraging them to appreciate the beauty in the world around them.
The steep and symmetrical characteristics of Mount Rainier are not commonly found in all types of volcanoes. Shield volcanoes, for instance, have broad and gently sloping shapes due to their fluid lava flows. Scoria cone volcanoes are another example of asymmetrical volcanoes, as they are formed from volcanic debris, resulting in small, steep, and asymmetrical slopes.
The symmetrical shape of Mount Rainier is a notable feature that sets it apart from other volcanoes and has inspired artists like Bierstadt and Kinkade to capture its beauty in their artwork.
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Composite volcanoes and their symmetry
Composite volcanoes, also known as stratovolcanoes, are among the most common types of volcanoes. They are characterised by their steep profile and explosive eruptions. These volcanoes are formed by the accumulation of material, such as lava, ash, and rock, over thousands of years through multiple eruptions. This gives rise to their distinctive layered structure, with alternating strata of hardened lava and tephra.
The name "composite volcano" refers to their composition of mixed and uneven layers, or "strata," which distinguishes them from the neat layers found in other types of volcanoes. Composite volcanoes typically exhibit a conical shape, with a summit crater and vents. These vents play a crucial role in the eruption process, as the magma rises through the conduit system and erupts from these vents.
The symmetry of composite volcanoes is a notable aspect of their geometry. Usually, symmetrical composite volcanoes erupt from vents on the cone's summit, resulting in a more accentuated upsweeping profile. The degree of symmetry can vary, with some volcanoes, like Fujiyama in Japan, boasting perfect symmetry. This symmetry contributes to the aesthetic appeal of these mountains, making them popular subjects for paintings, photographs, and climbing expeditions.
However, it is important to note that not all composite volcanoes are perfectly symmetrical. Eruptions can also occur from secondary vents and fissures that cut through the cone, resulting in asymmetrical structures. The shift in vent positions during successive eruptions can offset the initially formed crater, influencing the overall symmetry of the volcano.
Composite volcanoes are known for their impressive height, with some rising as high as 8,000 feet above their bases. Their tall peaks and steep sides make them striking and complex landforms. Mount St. Helens, Mount Etna, and Mount Pinatubo are well-known examples of subduction-zone composite volcanoes. These volcanoes typically exhibit explosive eruptions due to the high viscosity of their magma, which traps volcanic gases and leads to tremendous internal pressures.
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Albert Bierstadt's light treatment
Albert Bierstadt's painting of Mount Rainier is characterised by his distinctive use of light, a feature that became synonymous with his landscapes of the American West. Bierstadt's light treatment in his works often involved an almost divine or glowing light, creating an idyllic, utopic atmosphere. This effect is also described as luminism, a style shared by the Hudson River School in New York, of which Bierstadt was a part.
Bierstadt's painting of Mount Rainier, however, does not showcase his full potential for this light treatment. The artist intentionally omitted the glowing light, perhaps to maintain the snowy aspect of the mountain, which may have been lost if he had painted his usual sunbeams. This decision gives the painting a more natural air, in contrast to the paradisiac quality of his other works.
The light treatment in Mount Rainier is more subtle, with the mountain standing white behind green and yellowish fields. This use of lighting is indicative of Bierstadt's technical proficiency, which he honed through his study of European landscape painting. This technical skill was crucial to his success as a painter of the American West, as it allowed him to disseminate views of the Rocky Mountains to those who had never seen them.
Bierstadt's works, including his paintings of the American West, often featured monumental sizes, which, coupled with his light treatment, created a sense of grandeur and awe. The public was astonished by his depictions of this new part of their country, which many had never seen, given that the Westward expansion had only recently begun. Bierstadt's paintings of the West, including Mount Rainier, thus portrayed this new landscape in a beautiful, utopic light.
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Symmetrical balance in art
A well-known example of symmetrical balance in art is Pietro Perugino's "Christ Giving the Keys to St. Peter," where the building and arches in the background are painted symmetrically. Another example is the Temple of Artemis at Corfu, a Classical Greek temple with a rigorously symmetrical design, including a mirrored sculpture on the facade.
Symmetrical balance is not limited to visual arts but can also be found in cinema. Wes Anderson, for instance, is known for his use of symmetrical balance in films, where he employs symmetry to draw focus towards a character or create book-like visuals.
However, symmetrical balance can have its drawbacks. Some may find it predictable or boring, as one side of the composition is exactly like the other, making half of the frame redundant. Additionally, the intentionality behind symmetrical balance can reduce naturalism and realism, as perfect symmetry is uncommon in the natural world.
In conclusion, symmetrical balance in art is a deliberate technique used by artists to create stability, harmony, and a sense of order in their work. It can be a powerful tool to guide the viewer's attention and evoke specific emotions, but it should be used thoughtfully to avoid predictability and maintain a sense of realism.
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Asymmetrical balance in art
Symmetry is the most straightforward way to achieve visual balance in a composition. However, due to its frequency in art, many artists have moved away from this technique, instead opting for asymmetrical balance. Asymmetrical balance is a technique that uses differing visual elements of unequal weight on both sides of a composition to achieve a sense of balance. While this may be more challenging for artists, it allows for greater creative freedom and can lead to compositions that are more intriguing and engaging.
Asymmetrical balance is achieved when the visual weight of different elements, such as light and dark colours, shapes, textures, lines, forms, and sizes of objects, are carefully placed to create a sense of rhythm or movement throughout the artwork. For example, in Anders Zorn's "Self Portrait" from 1896, the artist has positioned himself as the focal point, dominating the bottom left-hand corner of the painting in light tones. This is balanced out by the light reflecting on the model's legs in the top right corner, creating a harmonious and stunning composition. The viewer's eye is led around the painting, first focusing on Zorn, then at his palette, and finally at the model in the far corner.
Another example of asymmetrical balance can be seen in Michelangelo's artwork. If you imagine bisecting it with an imaginary axis, each side would appear different. However, your eye moves from one part to the other in a structured manner, creating a sense of balance. Michelangelo strategically draws your focus and uses asymmetrical balance to tell a story.
The rule of thirds is a technique that can help create asymmetrical balance by eliminating the urge to place the main object in the centre of the composition. This can be done by dividing the frame into nine equal boxes using two horizontal and two vertical lines and then adjusting the spacing between the different elements.
Asymmetrical balance provides artists with the freedom to create balance with differing visual elements and allows them to be more expressive with how they utilise space. It is a powerful tool that can be used to create visually impactful compositions that have rhythm and movement.
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Frequently asked questions
The painting of Mount Rainier by Albert Bierstadt is asymmetrical. While the painting features a landscape viewed from a high vantage point, looking down at a valley, and Mount Rainier in the distant background, it does not exhibit mirror symmetry.
Symmetrical paintings have a similarity of form or arrangement on either side of a dividing line or place. Asymmetrical paintings, on the other hand, have differences in shapes, colours, and textures on the left and right sides, but still maintain an overall sense of balance.
Symmetry in paintings can evoke feelings of peace, calm, comfort, and order in viewers. It also creates a sense of harmony within the composition, as it avoids creating divided interests.
