George Washington Crossing the Delaware | Explore & Learn

George Washington Crossing the Delaware

Yes, the colors are brighter in the foreground. Leutze knew that in the real world colors seem duller the farther away you are from them. As a result, his sailors in the distance are painted shades of brown and blue. His foreground figures, however, are brightly colored, and this, along with their larger size, helps to pull them visually forward in space and away from the horizon.

The atmosphere in the background of this composition also accounts for the softening of the details and the diminishing of light and dark contrasts. Compare these two details below.

Click on the detail that has softer outlines and lighter shadows.

composition

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