Assignment 7: figure-ground relationship

1: Immediate Response: The immediate response to the photo is that it is similar to many other photos previously taken, especially if you don't know exactly what to look for. Without knowing the specifics of the photograph, it looks just like a normal still life or picture. Also there is a nice piece of perspective in regards to the cubby of the desk.

2: Objective Description: A black rolling desk chair is neatly pushed into its cubby. The cubby itself is very dark, but there is just enough light filtering in that a nice and easily seen shadow is formed on the ground, showing clearly where the chair meets the ground.

3: Formal Matters: The composition itself is extremely simple, but it is easy to see the different shades and lines within it. The majority of the photo is dark, the contrast being the light tiles of the floor, creating a subtle, colored bit of chiaroscuro. Because the colors are so dark, however, it is hard to distinguish certain aspects of the photograph.

4: The Story It Tells: A Long Night of Studying: After a tiring week of classes, a poor student is burdened with the stress of studying for multiple tests in most of their classes. After a night out to relax and unwind, the student decides to hit the books. The pull out their chair, set up their things, and buckle down. After hours of studying (and quite a bit of brain-fuel snacking), they shut their text books with a thump of finality, neatly push in their chair, and climb into the comfort of their bed.

5: The Work in the World: William Kentridge’s drawings have a good sense of figure-ground relationship as well as chiaroscuro. It is very easy to see the different values in his images as well as the edges, giving shape and density to his drawings. I was happy to note that my photo does much the same thing, the legs of the chair against the light tiles of the floor giving a nice sharp edge and contrast, giving shape to the photo.