"Augustus"

Ok so I know we were supposed to wait, but I just couldn't. I was so excited about getting to look at and interpret art that I wanted to show the class all about Gus and how exciting, moving, and appealing this frozen moment in time really is.
"Augustus" is a photograph of Augustus "Gus" McCrae as played by Robert Duvall in the motion picture "Lonesome Dove." The painting tells the audience so much about not only the character, but the people that surrounded him and the lifestyle that he lived.
His frail body seems like it once did hard labor in the sun, observing his tough, tan, wrinkled skin. His mustache is greying and his hair barely visible, showing signs of the coming of old age, the wearing down of life. However, his laugh wrinkles give away the impression that he has definitely lived an exciting and fulfilling life and his shirt is practically glowing, illuminating the whole room.
His lifestyle is less exciting. The shirt he dons doesn't fit correctly. It's top button doesn't even close, his sleeves are inches too short, and it's stretching to reach his belt line. The stain on his belly depicts a "manly life," or too messy and masculine for napkins. His whole appearance is this way, except for his hat. His cowboy hat doesn't really match the rest of his clothes. It's more of a Sunday hat that he'd wear to church to take off in prayer and shake the preacher's hand. The only thing that shows any kind of discomfort is the sweat line right around the braided band.
The wall behind him on the entire right side of the photograph is barren, except for one window with no drapes or curtains. Nothing is hung on the wall. There are no chairs that are visible. It is simple, and I'm sure he likes it that way. On the right side are a pair of antlers and a coat rack.
This picture oddly cuts off at Gus' hips, so we can't see his full body, which to me shows that we need to focus in more on his face. The first thing I noticed was that, although he's indoors, his face is shaded from his hat. Even with my 20/10 vision, I must get right up to the photograph to see that he is looking down, at what I do not know. I immediately realize that I want to know, and that is the most appealing part of all.

Hopefully that worked, folks!