Subtle Tone

William Trost Richards, Great Egg Harbor Shoals 

This work conveys the impression of the soft light of morning, or evening, through the use of subtle shifts in tonal values; however, there is still suffficient tonal contrast between the darkest and the lightest part of the image to give it strength. This can be seen more easily by digitally sampling the darkest and lightest tones and comparing them. When looking at the scene on site it can be difficult for the eye to read these tonal extremes, as it tends to see the overall picture.

 

 

Winslow Homer - American

Watching the Breaker

Another example of strong tonal contrast producing a sense of drama appropriate to the subject of the work. White spray behind dark figures is a favourite device of seascape painters. The small area of dark rock on the left balances the dark on the right. Snow-covered rocks contribute to the contrast.

Ferdinand Keller - German

 Italian Landscape












This may be a marine scene, or the shore of a lake. Dark conifers provide a strong tonal contrast to the white clouds and foam.

Newell Convers Wyeth - American

Robinson Crusoe, 
cover illustration, oil, 80 x 76.2 cm













The strong tonal contrast between the figure's dark coat and the white spray behind, increases impact.

Claude Monet - French

Belle-Ile, rain effect


Rocks at low tide, Pourville



Point of Rocks at Port-Goulphar

These seascapes by Monet illustrate the point made in the earlier post about the importance of maintaining tonal contrast. While celebrating colour and brushwork, Monet did not eliminate dark darks and white from his palette.