Nightlife c. 1943 / Archibald Motley
For my next example of shape in painting I have chosen “Nightlife” by the 20th century American painter, Archibald Motley. This painting from 1943 depicts a lively cabaret on the south side of Chicago.
To capture the exuberance of city dwellers out on the town, Motley uses strong diagonal lines, such as the line of barstools and the legs of the dancers in the foreground. These draw the viewer deeper into the painting.
Closer examination shows that most of the drinkers, dancers, bartenders, and waiters are posed obliquely. This use of deflected directions, along with the warm palette of rose and violet, conveys an image of dynamism and mobility – quite a contrast the dimensional stability of “American Gothic.”