Student Artwork Guide — Sunset in Venice

4 parts 1 The artwork2 In context3 Artist and museum4 Look closely

Name Class Date

arbit blatas, Sunset in Venice. Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder.

The facts

Artist: arbit blatas wahooart.com/en/artists/arbit-blatas/
Artist’s dates: 1908 – 1999
Original size: 65 x 100 cm

Copyright This work is still under copyright. arbit blatas died in 1999; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2069. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Sunset in Venice — arbit blatas

How big is it?

The original measures 65 × 100 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When might this have been painted?

1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990

Shaded: the lifetime of arbit blatas (1908–1999)

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Four Figures in a Bistro, 1952 wahooart.com/en/art/arbit-blatas-four-figures-in-a-bistro-ARCV8Z-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: wahooart.com/en/art/similar/arbit-blatas-sunset-in-venice-ARCV8X-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

Main colour

Rosy Brown #b8a988

Catalogued palette

#B8A988
#9D7A48
#404740
#6F7D76

Palette: Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
Main colour name: Rosy Brown
Intensity: Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
Contrast: Gentle How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
Harmony: Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
Brightness: Bright How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
Saturation: Balanced Soft How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

Sunset in Venice — arbit blatas

Artist

arbit blatas

A Life in Brushstrokes: The Artistic Journey of Arbit Blatas

Arbit Blatas, a name synonymous with the vibrant energy and intellectual ferment of the School of Paris, led an extraordinary life interwoven with some of the most significant artistic figures of the 20th century. Born Nicolai Arbitblatas on November 19, 1908, in Kaunas, Lithuania, his early talent was undeniable; exhibitions began as early as age fifteen, foreshadowing a career destined for international acclaim. The tumultuous political climate of the time – specifically, the communist revolution – prompted a move to Germany in 1921, where he honed his skills before ultimately arriving in Paris at the tender age of twenty-one. This relocation proved pivotal; Blatas swiftly became the youngest member of the esteemed School of Paris, immersing himself in an artistic milieu teeming with innovation and challenging conventions. His rapid ascent was remarkable, evidenced by the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume’s acquisition of his works just four years later – a testament to his burgeoning reputation within the Parisian art world.

Friendships Forged in Paint: A Circle of Masters

Blatas's story isn't merely one of artistic development; it is also a chronicle of profound friendships with giants of modern art.

Where to read more

The artist arbit blatas wahooart.com/en/artists/arbit-blatas/
Similar works More works to compare wahooart.com/en/art/similar/arbit-blatas-sunset-in-venice-ARCV8X-en/

Find this online

QR code linking to the download page for Sunset in Venice

wahooart.com/en/art/download/arbit-blatas-sunset-in-venice-ARCV8X-en/

Cite this artwork

MLA: blatas, arbit. Sunset in Venice. n.d., https://wahooart.com/en/art/arbit-blatas-sunset-in-venice-ARCV8X-en/
APA: blatas, arbit (n.d.). Sunset in Venice [Painting]. https://wahooart.com/en/art/arbit-blatas-sunset-in-venice-ARCV8X-en/
Chicago: arbit blatas. Sunset in Venice. n.d. https://wahooart.com/en/art/arbit-blatas-sunset-in-venice-ARCV8X-en/
Harvard: blatas, arbit (n.d.) Sunset in Venice. Available at: https://wahooart.com/en/art/arbit-blatas-sunset-in-venice-ARCV8X-en/

Sunset in Venice — arbit blatas

Look closely

Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

What catches your eye first, and why?
Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
Look back at Four Figures in a Bistro (1952), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
What might the artist have wanted you to feel?
If you could ask the artist one question about this work, what would it be?

Your response

Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.