Depth-based Analyses of Landscape Paintings and Photographs According to Itten's Contrasts

Abstract

Using Itten’s Color Contrasts as a starting point, we performed a depth-based analysis of a set of paintings by the Hudson River school of landscape painters. This was compared to a similar analyses of a collection of contemporary ‘snap shot’ landscape photographs. Differences between the two groups were observed with the paintings being clearly more organized. This organization of contrasts can be considered a style that is representative of a school of painters. Photographs or optically acquired imagery can be rendered according to this organization to acquire an aesthetic that has been informed by this style.