Exe 3.2: Reading an image

For this exercise we needed to study the following image provided and answer the questions that follow:

1. List the contents breaking the image into its constituent parts
2. What is the image about?
3. Work out the narrative and identify the story.
4.Describe the palette and tonal range which is used and the connection between hot colours and the importance of the elements in telling the story?

1.) Content:

• Characters: Two adventurous children: an older brave girl and a younger frightened little boy. (presumably brother and sister) and a large sleeping Dragon
• Location: Dark cold cave, presumably where the dragon lives
• Objects: A variety of treasure; Fire torch, held by little girl; Empty armour presumably from knights that been eaten or defeated by the dragon after failing to accomplish their quest.  

2.) What is the image about:

• Two young children find themselves in a dark cave where there is treasure guarded by a large dragon. 
• It is clear from the expressions on the children's faces and their body language that they have come into this cave with a purpose of retrieving one of the objects guarded by the large dragon. 
• We can sense the fear from the little boy who appears to indicate that they should leave the cave for fear of failing but the determination on the little girl is evident and as a result we now that the story continues.  

3.)Without knowing the story at all, I feel this image conveys a clear narrative and this is my interpretation.            

• A pair of adventurous children (likely brother and sister but not necessarily) find themselves in the middle of a quest  to rescue an important piece/object of treasure which is closely guarded by the large, dangerous but sleeping dragon.
• It is evident from the abandoned armour that strong knights, trained to defeat dragons have failed in the very same quest that these small children are undertaking.
• The image evokes anxiety and excitement and despite the fear that we feel for the unlikely heroes, they seem determined to be victorious in their quest.            

3.) Palette and tonal range and how the colours link to the story: 

An extensive palette of warm and cool colours is used to contrast each other in this image. 

The colours themselves are key to the composition as well as to creating the atmosphere and narrative within the image. 

a.) The warm colours: 

• The reds, oranges and yellows within the image immediately come to the foreground in the image. They are the 1st thing that your eye is drawn to before you start looking closer at the image and the narrative. e.g: By painting the dragon red, our eye is immediately drawn to it therefore emphasising the dragon as the most important element in this image. 
• The large red light draws our eye to the small children who are the unlikely heroes in the story. 
• The reds and oranges also suggest both light i.e.: lighting the dark cave, as well as heat which is echoed in the fire lamp that the little girl is holding as well as of course the dragon, who is likely to breath fire as well.
• In the western culture, in which this story appears to derive, red is also a colour of danger which also adds to the narrative. 

b.) The cool colours:

• Our eyes observe these colours receding into the background with the resultant effect of 'pushing' the warmer colours forward. 
• They also create an atmosphere as well as implying temperature itself e.g: The purple and intense light blue of the cave suggests that it is scary and dark as well as generally a cold damp place.
• There is a number of instances where green is used. This has the effect of helping the warmer orange hues stand out (by virtue of green and orange being opposite colours) as well as providing balance to the image as the green of the little girl's dressed is echoed by the green on the throne protected by the dragon as well as the knight's armour.