The piece entitled ” Third Court of the Topkapi Palace, from the Hunername, 1548″ features an Ottoman miniature painting with the specified location. Within this picture, several elements and principles of design are incorporated. For the purposes of this critique, the former is considered in lines, color, and shape alongside the latter’s contrast, balance, and variety. Thus, the use of color is characterized by the relative uniformity reflected by the prevalence of blue and green shades. Their blending creates an impression of tranquility and stability in people’s lives in the palace.
This element is complemented by the inclusion of different static lines to render the main objects. They are actual and can be clearly seen in the linear components, such as the building separated by rooms and other architectural details, the river around it, and the bridges (“Third Court of the Topkapi Palace”). The shape is formed by these lines, and it is defined by the natural water and land borders without excessive complexity. In turn, the contrast is established by distinguishing the territory around the palace from the outer world. Meanwhile, the balance is provided by the depiction of symmetrical trees and the well-thought location of premises within the building. As for variety, it is demonstrated by the appearance of people varies depending on their positions and roles.
This painting has a special atmosphere of purity and austerity, which is its most appealing aspect for me. I also like the clarity of the image and the balanced use of all essential components. In this case, the only distraction is the reversed structures on the left and the right of the palace, which do not align with the main object in the center and which I, therefore, disliked. The central site caught my attention first, and other elements became apparent only once I examined it in detail.
Work Cited
“Third Court of the Topkapi Palace.” Saylor Academy, n.d. Web.