Thomas Eakin Analysis

The formal elements really helped Thomas Eakins get the iconography across to his viewers. The first major formal element I noticed was his use of lines, directional and implied. He used lines to make the viewer look at the main scene. I saw directional lines in the rail on the benches the men are sitting on, if you follow the rail down it directs your eyes right to where the surgery is occurring. Also, in the middle where the doctors are standing, the wooden circle makes your eyes go around to the crowd of medical students. The implied lines are seen in the way the people in the room are looking. The medical students are gazing down at the surgery, even though they come off tired their heads are still leaned down towards the operation.

Doctor Hayes Andrew is overlooking what is going on with his arm spread out, it looks like he is explaining something and also admiring his work. The three other doctors are looking down at the patient. The one doctor has surgical instruments in his hand, he seems to be the one operating. The other two seem to be making sure the patient is stable. The nurse is also observing at what is going on, she is standing off to the side not doing much. The artist also used simulated texture. The first use of simulated texture was in the white coats the doctors were wearing and the white sheet covering the patient, you could see each and every wrinkle in them. The one doctor leaning over the patient has his sleeves rolled up, the creases in his coat did not make this look unnatural. The hair on top of the males head you can see which way their hair flows and the shine it has. Doctor Hayes Andrew is mostly bald but the artist made sure to add a few white hairs sticking up. The one doctor operating is wearing glasses; you can see how far they stick off his face. They look so realistic it is almost as if you could pull them off of his face.