The Lake of Zug

              Joseph Mallord William Turner is one of my favorite artists. Naturally, when Ms. Robbins announced our next blog post, I was ecstatic! I, obviously, went with one of my favorite artists. But which piece to choose from? I have a book on my shelf consisting of hundreds of Turner pieces, which one was worthy of a blog post? I flipped through the book for awhile, passing landscapes, shadowy figures, and sunsets on water. In the end, I decided to look through the glossary. Maybe a title would spark my imagination. This is exactly what happened! When I came across a painting called "The Lake of Zug", I was immediately intrigued. 
               When I found the painting, I realized this was the painting I was looking for! The fact that it is different than the rest of Turner's painting, yet the same, really made the painting desireable. I think the colors really capture the essence of a specific Lake, but at the same time, reminds me of many places I have known. For example, in this painting, I imagine Maine's sandy bays, Germany's rocky beaches, and the curvaceous valley of Oregon. Does this painting not remind you of the past? To me, the vibrance of the blue pulls me closer, while the gold sides really illuminate the foreground and focus of the painting, the lake. I believe that sometimes the details, like the gold frame, really make the main focuses stand out. 
               After seeing and analyzing the painting I found a theory that was a little more abstract than usual. Also, it was was much more abstract than the painting. Sometimes, you have to play the background in order to let other's shine. This doesn't mean you won't be acknowledged at all, you just have to wait your turn.