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Kiss of Judas
The Kiss of Judas is not only a beautiful piece of art work, but it also represents many elements to express its meaning. Giotto di Bondone painted this piece of art many years ago, and is still admired to this day. Giotto di Bondone used his love for painting to express an event that took place to document what had happened. Kiss of Judas is mainly taken up by people and a form of weapons and a source of light. Many elements throughout the painting draws the viewer to admire and wonder what the painting is trying to provide to the public. Giotto shows an event that could be interrupted to be eventful, as well as memorable. Formal and iconographical analysis are used throughout many paintings throughout history, as well Giotto’s Kiss of Judas.
When first looking at the painting, many things can grasp an eye. The use of color is definitely an element Giotto thought through very carefully. With any type of art, color and design are very important and it is shown Giotto knew what he was trying to show. The main colors shown throughout Kiss of Judas are complementary colors. Complementary colors are the colors across from each other on a color wheel. A different variety of cool and warm colors are shown throughout the whole painting and show a great contrast. Different shades of warm colors are shown to draw the viewer to a main element, known as the focal point. Any bright color is used to draw the viewer into the painting and that is exactly what Giotto is doing. The contrast of complementary colors is being used for nothing more to complement each other. It brings an intensity into the painting and brings the eye to each different element.
Throughout Kiss of Judas, another element is the lines shown throughout the painting. The painting is entirely made out of mostly vertical lines. The vertical lines are made out of the people standing vertically and the sticks being held are being pointed vertically. The other element of design Giotto is using is implied lines. Implied lines are best described by a line that is being used to guide the eye to a specific subject in the painting. The implied lines shown are shown with the gaze of the people who are surrounding the middle of the painting. These gazes are being shown pointing towards the two characters in the center of the painting. Giotto specially did this so the viewer’s eyes would also follow the gaze to those two subjects in the middle. Continuing with implied lines used by Giotto are also seen with the creases of the gold rob being worn by the subject in the middle. These lines are shown pointing upward towards the face standing in front of her. This is also done to guide the eyes to the face of being shown as Judas. Another implied line is being shown through the gentlemen shown in the front right. He has his arm risen and is pointing to Judas, the subject in the middle. This is done to follow the pointing of the hand to the focal point. Kiss of Judas is developed through m...
