Children’s Games

This oil painting is a work of art done by artist Rufino Tamayo in 1959. He lived primarily in Mexico City. Some of his paintings, like this one, were based on Mexican art and culture. The main focus of this painting is the three children sitting in a circle.

What do you see?

If you look closely at this painting, you will see the three – dimensional objects in the shapes of bodies. The lighter shade of paint contrasts the background color. You can see the forms of the lines create figures. You can make out the heads and what looks like the outlines of bodies. Also, the way each figure flows into the other with the whisking of paint and senses a closeness. Vivid rustic colors are used with a slight touch of blue. If you focus on the blending of the reds, you can make out shapes floating around the painting, as well as running through their bodies. This is an abstract art piece, which signifies that most abstract paintings are usually nonrepresentational. Here we can observe the distinct colors running through this painting, creating a warm feeling. A mix of blended reds, the light colors stand out, so your focus is on the shapes of bodies. The brushwork of this painting creates a circular motion between them; as if they are all connected in some form. Because oil paint can be put on in different layers, it can create an exquisitely finished piece. If you study the painting, you can also visualize the distinct layering. Some of the underlying colors show. The vibrant colors of this painting focus on the illuminated lighter shades, I feel the lines flow carefree and want to portray a meaning of in the middle allowing for attention to the drawn to the figures. This artist seems to want you to be able to use your imagination in deciding what you think is happening in this painting. To me, it conveys family, warmth, and fun. I say fun due to the dancing of shapes, warmth from the colors and family from the figures, not very detailed but still there.