When you draw a line, it is dark compared to the white of the paper. Dark stands out against light. This contrast makes the drawing pleasing to the eye. A drawing made of light lines is not as pleasant to look at because the lines do not contrast enough with the white of the paper. In Frederic Remington’s painting, the values are clearly seen. The black horse, the black shirt, and the black clothing of the fallen man stand out from the light, sun- drenched prairie and sky.
Frederic Remington (1861-1909), Aiding a Comrade , c. 1890. Photo Credit: Dover Publications Inc.
It is easiest to see values clearly when looking at a gray image like the one on the right. The lightest value is seen in the dust surrounding the fallen cowboy.
The sky and sundrenched landscape are a middle value.
The horses are a bit darker in value than the landscape that surrounds them. The artist uses the darkest values in a triangle that draws our eyes to the action.
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