Module 1 Section 4

Examining Themes: Building Close Reading Skills

Above is the painting “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus,” by the Dutch artist Bruegel (Broy'-gil) the Elder. The painting was created in approximately 1555. To practice our analysis skills, we will break down the major and minor elements of this painting and identify the main idea, or theme.

FIRST: Focus on elements that you can clearly identify. Don’t make assumptions: what things do you see?

When we look at something with preconceptions, it can cloud our mind and make us see things that are not there, miss things that are there, and twist what we do see to fit that notion. Keep an open mind.

The word "things" is intentionally vague. Anything you observe could be important. Look at everything. It is dangerous to pick out a few details and then decide. You could be missing many important things that contradict what you are seeing.

Don't try to interpret or form judgments until you are done with this step. Look closely at the painting. If you would like to see a larger version of the painting, click this link to open the image in a new browser tab.

Your list of observations might include:

• A man pushing a plow
• An animal (donkey, cow, or horse?) pulling the plow
• Boats in the water
• A body of water
• Some sort of structure in the water?
• Clouds or mountains in the distance
• The sun shining brightly