Bene Rohlmann's sketch book "Tiny-Pencil-IV" (https://www.behance.net/gallery/20874833/Tiny-Pencil-IV) , illustrates two images side by side "Wonders of Life I and Wonders of life II. The analysis of this artwork along with the principals of composition form the basis of this investigation of this artwork. The approach is to discuss them separately and then conclude the discussion with the images discussed together.
Wonders of life 1 is the depiction of a cloche arranged as though it had been copied from a Victorian cabinet of curiosities. The image contains a tiger that is leaning on a skull while the use of a comic book word bubble "Roar!" is drawn near it's mouth. In the background is a series of carefully arranged plants, tropical in appearance. Aside from the flora and fauna there is a number of butterfly's. At the foot of the miniature diorama is some grasses and small stones. One notable exception is the large stone near the tiger. Outside of the cloche a butterfly is also depicted. The image is completely drawn in black and white.
With the application of the principals of composition, the image's use of contrast for instance is discernable. Contrast in Wonders of Life 1 is it's sole use of black and white. This spare palette lends itself to the feeling of age.
Rolhmann's placement of the tiger in the foreground were its size, position and color pattern contrasts with the other images ensures a successful compositional use of isolation. Building on the use of isolation, the tigers placement lengthwise enables the image to dominate the viewers focus. As a focal point the viewers eyes easily move between the skull and the tiger. Like the tiger the skull's size commands the viewers attention along with its placement in the foreground of the composition. Because of the narrowness of the image the placement of the objects are easily discernable. Allowing the eye to easily move from object to object. The background contains the plants, arranged in a fanlike pattern with Palm tree dominating the background. The butterfly's are also part of the background, but they provide in there placement a kind buoyancy or lightness. Overall is the cloche, which like most of the image is centered on the page. There is also the singular placement of the butterfly near the top right of the cloche.
Continuing the traversal of compositional elements, the use of movement, harmony, emphasis, and rhythm .Even though butterfly's are present the composition of "Wonderous of life I shows little movement. Harmony which refers to the overall composition of the palette is consistent with its use of black and white. Hence there is an harmonious feel to the composition. Even though there is an argument that the skull because of its placement is also a focal point, a much stronger argument can be made for the tiger using the compositional element emphasis. The tiger is more detailed in it's coloring compared to everything else that surrounds the drawing. Your eye is immediately drawn to the tiger. Rohlmann uses repetition throughout the image, it can be seen in the stylized flora and fauna, the tiger and the butterfly's. Compositionally this is known as rhythm. Lastly the use of balance similar to rhythm is present throughout the image. The image insinuates balance with the use of placement. By having the palm tree placed in the center it is surrounded by two butterfly's; one on the left while the other is on the right. There is also some plants that have been placed on the left and the right side of the jar. The size of skull provides it with the feeling of weight. To balance the skull the tiger is placed and posed in such a way as to indicate weight. additionally there is a large rock placed underneath the tiger for more weight. And lastly, as a whimsical gesture a butterfly is added to the tail of the tiger. The overall effect of all these elements is to create a sense of balance.
Rolhmann's composition of the second image Wonders of life II is similar to the first, differing in the physical elements. The second image also makes use of contrast. The contrasting black and white palette is used throughout the image. This reliance on black and white continues the feeling of antiquity rather than a contemporary image. Moving to the background, the flora and fauna appear to be more diverse than the first cloche. Placement of the plants is much more subtle, there is not as clear a demarcation of background and foreground. Here the plants placement are playing a greater role in conveying balance of the whole composition. Unlike the Wonders of life I the plants used in this instance are difficult to label. However the flora and fauna convey a harmonious feel to the images composition. The image is in the center of the page, with the claustrophobic use of a cloche. Inside of the cloche Rohlmann uses a death head moth with a whimsical skull to emphasis its species and show it as the focal point, this time there is no controversy. The moth is clearly the largest element in the setting. similar to the first image there is a skull but it is much smaller in scale and its placement serves to deemphasize it as focal point. The moth is sitting on a branch which serves to isolate this element and provide additional support for its use as the compositional focal point. In this cloche it has movement which is captured through the use of repetitive plant designs.
Looking at the images together; the compositional elements of placement, harmony, emphasis, movement, and balance become even more apparent. At this distance the placement of all of the elements inside and outside of cloches depict all the other considered compositional elements. There is one compositional element that has been neglected thus far and that is the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is a compositional tool that calls for the image in this case Wonders of life I and II to be divided into thirds. This division is both horizontal and vertical with the subject like the focal point is placed at the intersection of those dividing lines. Or along one of the lines itself (https://www.slrlounge.com/glossary/rule-of-thirds-definition). This does not appear to be the case of Rolhmann's Wonders of life I and II. Nevertheless this is well composed, while utilizing the established rules of composition.
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