1. The Sad Message 1838 by Peter Fendi

2. Character In this tragic painting by the Austrian artist, Peter Fendi, we see the sorrow and shock of a mother who lost her husband while at war. The painting consists of four characters, the distraught woman, her two children, and a military officer, who is delivering the bad news. In the center of the painting, a woman is weeping with her head in her hands. She is seated with an infant child on her lap. The infant is sleeping which means he is unaware of the situation going on around him. Behind the women is her older child. He is a young boy who is resting his hand on his mother’s back and is looking up at the officer. The officer seems to be apologetic and ashamed. He is bowing and presenting the sword and clothing of the dead husband. The officer is trying to be as kind as possible when giving her the bad news. He is gazing down to aviod eye contact with the others.

3. Color Color plays an important role in this painting. The mother and the baby are both wearing white clothing. The white represents innocence and is why the mother is devastated by the news. The clothing the officer wears is both white and black. Black represents death and in this case, that is what happens in the military. This means that even though he is wearing some white, he is not as pure and innocent as the mother and baby. The older child is wearing dark clothes. The dead husband’s clothing the officer is holding is also dark. This means that the father and older son have the same characteristics. Also, the older child wears a scarf of red, which is like blood and violence. This is another sign that the older child wants to be a part of in the military. The older child also has La Tricolore or the french flag, showing his respect for the country. The colors are sharper on the characters to bring attention to them, while the background is more subtle and dull.

4. Light Most of the light in this painting seems to be coming from a window not visible in the scene. The light shines on the mother and her baby, bringing attention to them. The light of innocence, and the emotion the mother has of feeling truly devastated, seems to radiate off the women. Both the older child, the officer, and the father’s clothing are partially in the dark. This is shows that they are less innocent than the women.

5. Angle The angle looks straight on the characters. The face of the women is hidden and we only see a little of the officer’s face, The baby’s face is a little distorted and the older child is presenting himself clearly. The older child is also looking at the officer and appears to aspire to be like him.

6. Proportion As you can see, the officer is the biggest and above everybody, showing that the military is more powerful and it is in control. Even though the Mother is a big part of the painting, the older child is higher than the Mother and looks more confident, the baby is small compared to the Mother but seems to be part of her.

7. Placement The Mother and children are all close together in the lower left-hand side of the painting, showing them as a family. The older child is above his mother and the baby, seeming to be taking charge of the family. The officer and the clothing of the deceased father is separated from the family on the upper right-hand side of the painting, creating a distict diagonal of seperation between them. He is showing that the father is the military’s and he gave his life to be part of it. Also, the military does not want to be involved with families. The only reason he is there is only to tell of the news. There is also a small toy drum and shoes on the floor, it probably belongs to the older child, who aspires to be like his father and be in the military.

8. Setting This image takes place in France during a war or revolution of in the 1700-1800’s. The characters seem to be in a small room, apartment, or possibly a basement. The small room, cluttered objects, and unclean environment suggests that they are impoverished and will be devestated by the loss of the father.

9. CCLAPPS ANALYSIS CHARACTER: There are four characters, a woman with two children and an officer from the military. The woman is crying probably because of what happened to her husband, the officer seems to be apologetic and shameful. The older child seems to not be affected by the situation and the baby is asleep and can't understand what is happening. The woman seems fragile but holding her hands to her face to try to hide it. The older child seems to be responsible into becoming the man of the house. The baby is too innocent to be affected and the officer is unwanted and trying to be helpful. COLOR: Most of the colors are bright, except the older child is wearing dark clothes and the clothing the officer is holding is also dark clothing, these are probably the dead husband’s clothes. This means that the father and older son have the same properties. Black represents death and in this case, that is what happens in the military. Also, the older child wears a scarf of red, which is like blood and violence, another thing the older child wants to be a part of in the military. The older child also has La Tricolore with him or the french flag, showing his respect for the country. The clothing the officer wears is both white and black contrasting itself. The older child contrasts from the mother but the baby is the same color as her. The mother and the baby are both wearing white clothing which represents innocence and is why the mother is devastated by the news, yet the older child is not affected. He honors his father because he died fighting. The colors are sharper on the characters to bring attention to them while the background is more subtle and dull. LIGHT: Most of the light in this painting is shone on the Mother and her baby who are innocent and the officer has some light on him, but not much. Both the older child, the officer, and the father’s clothing are partially in the dark. This is mainly because of their want of death and destruction of the enemy and they are trying to hide from the light of innocence that seems to radiate of the women. The women and baby has the most light shone on them, bring the attention to them, and the emotion the mother has, feeling truly devastated and all of her hope is lost. It is possible that the source of the light comes from a window. ANGLE: The angle looks straight on the characters. The face of the women is hidden and we only see a little of the officer’s face, the baby’s face is a little distorted and the older child is presenting himself clearly. The older child is also looking at the officer and wants to aspire to be like him. PROPORTION: The officer is the biggest and above everybody, showing that the military is more powerful and it is in control Even though the Mother is a big part of the painting, the older child is higher than the Mother and looks more confident, the baby is small compared to the Mother but seems to be part of her. PLACEMENT: The Mother and children are all close together showing them as a family and the older child seems to be taking charge of the family. The officer and the clothing of the deceased father is separated showing that the father is the military’s and he gave his life to be part of it. Also, the military does not want to be involved with families. The only reason he is there is only to tell of the news. There is also a small toy drum and shoes on the floor, it probably belongs to the older child, who aspires to be like his father and be in the military. SETTING: This image takes place in France during a War or revolution of some sort in the 1700-1800’s. The characters seem to be in a small room, apartment, or possibly a basement. the small room, cluttered objects, and unclean environment suggests that they are impoverished and have grown weak without the Father.