Wheatfield with crows (July 1890 - 1890) by Vincent van GoghVan Gogh Museum
Every artist is different. No matter if they come from the same artistic school, use the same media, or paint the same subjects, each painter has their own unique and individual style. So, what is it that sets painters apart?
One way we can distinguish artists from each other is with technical aspects such as brush techniques or application methods. Another way is through identifying motifs – or little clues within the painting such as commonly occurring figures or symbols. But one of the most distinctive things about any painter’s work is the color palette.
The choice of colors and tones an artist uses is as much a giveaway about their identity as their signature. So, can you guess the artists from the following snapshots of their color palettes?
Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo, known as "Monna Lisa, la Gioconda" or "Mona Lisa", 1503-1519 (1503/1519) by Leonardo di ser Piero DA VINCI, dit Léonard de Vinci (1452 - 1519), Paris, musée du LouvreOriginal Source: Paris, Louvre Museum
Artist 1
This artist is well known for his use of muted, earthy browns, greens, and blues. Generally these were all used within a narrow tonal range, helping to create a distinct sense of unity to his painting as a whole.
He generally stays away from more intense colors or contrasts, so don’t expect any bright reds or yellows. His choice of colors was both an artistic one and limited by the availability of paint materials at the time.
Can you guess who it is?
Scroll down to see if you're right.
Leonardo da Vinci
The Water-Lily Pond (1899) by Claude MonetThe National Gallery, London
Artist 2
When asked what color palette he used in 1905, this artist said: ‘The point is to know how to use the colors, the choice of which is, when all's said and done, a matter of habit. Anyway, I use flake white, cadmium yellow, vermilion, deep madder, cobalt blue, emerald green, and that's all’?
The painter would create the appearance of black by combining several blues, greens and reds. But he eliminated black itself almost completely from his painting. He hated using the tone so much that when he died, his friend Georges Clemenceau would not allow a black sheet to cover the coffin.
Can you name the painter?
Claude Monet
The Kiss (1908-1909) by Gustav KlimtBelvedere
Artist 3
Sometimes artists are commonly associated with just one color and perhaps none more so than this artist. His ‘Golden period’ is believed to have been inspired by recollections from his childhood, as the artist’s father was a goldsmith.
It also stems from his interest in Byzantine art when much of the artwork was decorated with gold details. In his paintings, gold was often used to demonstrate a clash of love and violence as well as expressing themes such as intimacy and human suffering.
But whose work is this?
Gustav Klimt
Wheatfield with crows (July 1890 - 1890) by Vincent van GoghVan Gogh Museum
Artist 4
For some artists the use of color is the defining characteristic of their work and in some cases, actually represented a revolution in the way paintings were constructed. This is especially true of this artist. Not many people realize quite how his adventurous use of color changed the direction of art.
The artist deliberately used colors to capture mood and emotion, rather than realistically - a very unusual technique at the time. He especially liked using dark and gloomy colors and earthy tones such as raw umber, raw sienna, and olive green. But he also introduced brighter hues into his palette such as reds, yellows, oranges, and blues.
Can you guess the painter?
Vincent Van Gogh
Poppy Field (1873) by Claude MonetMusée d’Orsay, Paris
Want to know more Monet?
Learn more about what made Monet different here.
