While attempting to depict space, especially landscape space, artists turn to what they have carefully observed in nature. Beyond the obvious relationship of scale, observations of atmospheric color and perceived clarity relating to distance proved to fundamental. Alterations in these to concepts as it relates to the three grounds- foreground, middle ground, and background allowed the artist to perceptually push the surface back extremely deep. The general practice of neutral color and cooler hues in the background approximate for the far off distance of mountains as seen through the moisture and reflection of the atmosphere. Hence the term atmospheric perspective. Intensity or purity of hue plays a role here. Our eyes see intensity as closer, less obscured. This also holds true with clarity. Clear focus, crisp edges, sharp contrast again simulates nearness for our perception. By contrast, blurred edges, less contrast simulate great distance.
Composition also plays a part to this. A composition that is cropped and filled implies that we are surrounded or in the midst of. A composition that is not cropped and dwarfed within the rectangle implies a distance. It is possible to convey massive space within a small rectangle. Vantage point should also be consider. Think bird's eye view or worms eye view. From down low all things seem monumental, from up high all seems tiny and distant.
In our examples below consider the composition as it relates to these topics. Think about how the set up the three grounds and apply color and clarity to them. Think about scale and placement when looking at these.
Kim Keever
Kim Keever
Gerhardt Richter
Bierstadt
Kensett
Thibeau
Toral
Toral
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