Watteau

View Through the Trees

This painting allows itself to be dominated by the greenery that encroaches in from both sides. In this painting, nature is overwhelming not in scope but simply in the closeness of it and its supremacy over the scene. Glimpses of a house (or perhaps even ruins) through the alleyway of trees speaks again to its insignificance in both importance or presence in comparison to nature. It is also interesting in terms of the Art and Nature relationship that the people are plentiful between the trees, a clue that they'd possible rather be there than in the structure beyond. Still the way in which the trees block out light and darken the picture make nature seem assertive and powerful, yet without appearing completely menacing.

Return from Cythera


In comparison to The View Through the Trees, this painting is brighter and livelier. Even more people populate the canvas and their colorful finery and energetic positions suggest an activeness not entirely conveyed in the other. Still, this painting echos the darkening on the left and right sides of the painting, due to nature's overwhelming growth. It also draws one's focus down the middle of the portrait, alluding the the place from which these people might have come and their joy in now being where they are.