Monday, December 10, 2007

End of Material for Quiz #4, 12/12/07

Early 18th Century Baroque And Rococo


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Fall Semester Final Project

Your Career as a Curator

Picture this: You are a world-renowned curator. You have been summoned by the National Gallery in London to put together a show which will open at the start of the New Year in 2008. They’ve hired you to take an innovative look at art from the Early Renaissance through the Early 18th Century. You’ve been granted an unlimited amount of funding to travel all over Europe (and the rest of the world, when necessary) in order to locate and return to London with 15 to 20 works of art that will make up the exhibit.

Your primary goal for the project is to utilize works of art that interact with, or relate to each other in a unique and interesting way. The interaction can involve a specific artistic property, subject matter, connection between the lives of the artists, etc. The show must include works from at least 3 different countries, multiple time periods, and at least 2 different media. You must also incorporate at least 6 works of art that we have not studied in class.

Your final show should include the following elements:

1. Visual component—create a 2D or 3D model of the gallery space in which you will hang the art. Show us how you plan to display the works. Curators make very specific choices about which pieces hang next to each other and why. Think about your placement! You should also create a brochure for your new and exciting exhibition. Name the show, advertise what it will feature, and entice viewers to visit the National Gallery in January.

2. Written component—write a 5-7 page paper that includes the following:
a. Introduction that explains which works of art you chose and your primary reason(s) for choosing them. What are the connections (or major contrasts) between them? How do they relate, visually, thematically, in terms of their effect on the audience, societal, historical implications? What are the unique elements that they bring to the exhibit as well?
b. Do an in-depth property analysis on 3 works of art, 2 of which we have NOT studied in class. Utilize primary sources and scholarly articles when available. Cite all sources in a complete bibliography.

3. Oral component—be prepared to present your exhibit to the class during exam week. Your presentation should be 15-20 minutes long, covering the main ideas in your paper and walking the class through the visuals.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

McGehee Art History


Begin Material For Quiz #4


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Thursday, November 15, 2007

Baroque in Flanders and Holland


Baroque In Flanders And Holland


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Baroque in France


Baroque In France


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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Baroque in Italy, Germany, and Austria


Baroque In Italy, Germany, And Austria


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Northern Renaissance, Continued


Northern Renaissance, Part 2


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Friday, October 12, 2007

Low Country Slides


Low Countries, Part One


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Thursday, October 11, 2007

Girl With A Pearl Earring

1. What are your general impressions of the film?
Girl With a Pearl Earring was a very informative film regardless of the fact that it was not completely historically accurate. The film gave me a lot of insight into the painting techniques used by Vermeer and other artists in that time period. It was also interesting to see the artistic process that went into the paintings. Because I have read the book Girl With a Pearl Earring I immediately judge the film by its difference between the book.

2. How do certain scenes/ elements of the film exemplify what we’ve learned so far about the Northern Renaissance in the Low Countries?
Artists in the Low Countries during the Northern Renaissance used common everyday objects in their paintings. The scene in Girl with a Pearl Earring when Grete moves the chair out of the set in Vermeer’s studio captures how Vermeer used common every day objects in his paintings. Also, artists in the Low Countries used oil paint as the medium for their paintings. One of Grete’s daily tasks was to make oil paint for Vermeer.

3. Do any particular properties that we’ve discussed in conjunction with the art we’ve seen thus far jump out at you in the film? How and what effects do they have on the film and on your impression of Vermeer’s artwork?
Vermeer used the medium of oil painting to his advantage. Vermeer’s use of color was very bright and bold due to the oil paint. In Girl With a Pearl Earring, Grete wears a blue and yellow scarf which makes her presence in the painting very striking and it contrasts with the dark black background. The black background makes Grete stand out as the main focal point in the painting. Grete’s head scarf makes the person viewing the painting think and question what is underneath the scarf.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Northern Renaissance Questions

1. Describe three differences between Renaissance painting of Northern Europe and that of Italy.
Renaissance paintings done in Northern Europe differed greatly from the renaissance paintings of Italy. Paintings in Northern Europe were mostly based around the use of everyday objects. But the objects were used in a particular manner that enhanced the subject matter which was mostly based on religion. In Northern Europe the medium was mostly oil paint. With the medium oil paint, Northern European Renaissance artists were able to expand the use of light and color. The innovation of oil paint also led to Northern European artists being able to pay close attention to detail where some Italian Renaissance artists could not. In Italy and Northern Europe paintings were centered on religious subjects. But in Italy ancient Romans and Greeks were reflected in their paintings as well as math, science, and linear perspective.

3. Discuss how the paintings of Bruegal and Bosch are alike.
The work of Pieter Bruegal and Hieronymous Bosch share similar characteristics mostly because Bruegal was inspired by Bosch. Both artists were very innovative and different from other artists in the Northern European Renaissance. Shown in Boschs’ Garden of Delights and Bruegals The Tower of Babel is a pessimistic and negative view on the world. In Garden of Delights it is shown that there are no prospects of salvation. In The Tower of Babel, Bruegal emphasizes the size of the tower and the work process that will lead to failure. Bosch and Bruegal both painted very small figures with similar shapes.

3. Compare El Escorial with an Italian Renaissance building you have studied.
El Escorial in Spain is very different from the Villa Capra in Italy. Andrea Palladio, the architect of the Villa Capra, uses classical forms like the flat dome, central floor plan, ionic columns, pediments, and arches in his design. El Escorial is built in a square grid with the church in the center. El Escorial is very stark and simple compared to Villa Capra. Villa Capra has large columns and porches on the outer façade which makes it intimidating and beautiful building that is daunting like El Escorial. El Escorial’s outer façade is simple with very little embellishments. This makes El Escorial seem unapproachable and daunting.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Ch. 10 Review Questions

1. Describe three differences between Renaissance painting of Northern Europe and that of Italy. One difference between the Renaissance paintings of Northern Europe and that of Italy was the development of oil paint. Oil paint allowed artists of the North to paint more detailed paintings. This new type of paint allowed more colors and values to develop for artists. The paintings of the Northern Renaissance use light more realistically than those of Italy due to the development of oil paint. Oil paint allowed Northern paintings to be more detailed and more realistic because the paint let the lines be more precise. Northern Renaissance artists incorporated everyday objects into their paintings. Compared to the Italian Renaissance, the Northern Renaissance painters would use everyday objects as symbols. Italian painters would use classical objects that emphasized the idea of a “rebirth” of classical thought. The Northern Renaissance seemed to emphasize less about classical Greek and Roman thought. Instead, it seemed as though they used their own culture and incorporated it into their paintings. In Northern Renaissance paintings, there are little ideas about Greek and Roman thought.
3. Discuss how the paintings of Bruegel and Bosch are alike. The paintings of Bruegel and Bosch are alike because both painters include tons of people in their paintings. Both of their paintings are very busy and very detailed. I find that you could look at Bruegel and Bosch’s paintings for a very long time, and find new objects the more you look. Pieter Bruegel’s painting The Tower of Babel is similar to Bosch’s painting Garden of Delights because both are filled with people and detail. Bruegel has less people, but it is still extremely detailed. In Bruegel’s painting The Return of the Hunters, there are also many figures in the foreground and in the background. Both paintings seem to go far into the distance, creating a lot of depth, which makes both painters use a lot of detail.
3. Compare El Escorial with an Italian Renaissance building you have studied. El Escorial and the Duomo, designed by Brunelleschi, are two different buildings. El Escorial was designed during in the Northern Renaissance in Spain, while the Duomo was designed during the Italian Renaissance. El Escorial is a palace along with a church. The church has a dome in the middle of the huge building. El Escorial is a massive building. It gives off the feeling of gloominess and plainness. There seems to be no happiness coming from the building. The color and the mass of the building make the viewer feel unwelcome. The dome in El Escorial gives off the same message. It seems gloomy and overbearing because of the height. The Duomo is gives off a different feeling to the viewer. This dome is more inviting, even though the size of it is massive. The warm orangey/red color of the roof makes this dome less overpowering and more inviting.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Northern Renaissance Questions

1. Describe thee differences between Renaissance painting of Northern Europe and that of Italy.
The Northern Renaissance painters had many differences from the Italian Renaissance painters, but the most obvious was the use of everyday objects in their paintings instead of the religious subject matter that many painters of the Italian Renaissance used. The Northern Renaissance painters often used everyday objects because they were not influenced by the Greeks and Roman as the Italian artists were, but were influenced by their own traditions and history. The Northern Renaissance painters, mostly those in the Low Countries, used oil paint as their main medium, allowing for better realism of the objects that they painted, showing truer color and light.

3. Discuss how the paintings of Bruegel and Bosch are alike.
Bruegel’s The Tower of Babel and Bosch’s Garden of Delights do not look very similar at first glance; while Bosch has painted a whimsical world of deceiving delight, Bruegel has painted a gloomy world devoid of hope. These two paintings are similar in subject matter, however, as both demonstrate what can happen when people become too greedy. The paintings are also similar because they both consist of many miniscule people who are over shadowed by much larger objects in the painting, such as the giant animals and eggs in Bosch’s and the overwhelming Tower of Babel in Bruegel’s.

3. Compare El Escorial with an Italian Renaissance building you have studied.
Although Phillip II set out to create a large complex much different from those of the Italian Renaissance, he did not completely succeed. The layout of El Escorial is very similar to that of the Sistine Chapel, both are anchored by majestic domes near the center of each complex and both are surrounded by immense walls. Both complexes are also well-known symbols of Catholicism, although El Escorial was built originally as a symbol of power and wealth and the Sistine Chapel was always meant as a religious sanctuary. The main difference of the two structures is the weight; the Sistine Chapel was built with the weightlessness of the Renaissance in mind while El Escorial was built to contradict the Renaissance, leaving it with a weighty and bulky appearance. Phillip II also wanted to limit the number of paintings in the complex and it only contains a royal coat of arms and statue of St. Lawrence while the Sistine Chapel has some of the greatest artwork in the world.

Friday, October 5, 2007

Comparisons

1. Describe three differences between Renaissance painting of Northern Europe and that of Italy.
The Northern Renaissance was more about observing and using every day objects in paintings. Paintings expressed great emotion and creativity. Extreme realism and great detail took place in artists’ paintings, whereas the Italian Renaissance focused more on the figure and form of an object, like the human body. Most of the art that took place in Italy was surrounded by a lot of Math and Science. In Northern Europe math and science was still used but artists went about their artwork more freely. It’s like the transition from scientific artists to mannerists. The rules of painting in the north were broken a bit more.

3. Discuss how the paintings of Bruegel and Bosch are alike.
Bruegel’s work was influenced by Italy. Overtime his work changed to containing larger figures. He painted people taking part in daily activities. His work did not revolve around religion unlike Bosch. He painted simple human activities and normal landscapes that you would come across in every day life. Bosch’s paintings contain a bit more imagination than Bruegel’s. It contains lots of symbolism and tends to revolve around religion more. While expressing daily activities in his paintings many of the things he portrays focus more or morals and religion like in his Garden of Delights, which depicts heaven and hell.

3. Compare El Escorial with an Italian Renaissance building you have studied.
El Escorial was not a typical Italian building. The Spanish went against the classical ideas of the Renaissance and formed their own style of architecture shown in this building. Along with being different there was great symbolism behind El Escorial. It was a combination of a place and a church and expressed the unity of the Catholic religion. It also symbolized the great dynasty Philip II ruled. Compared to the Duomo the style of El Escorial was more simple and more about balance and size. It lacked the grace of Italian architecture, which the Duomo portrays. Although graceful and very beautiful the Duomo didn’t contain as much symbolism as El Escorial did. The greatness behind the Duomo was not its symbolism but the math and science that went behind creating the support and structure itself. Both are very appealing to the eye but one has great symbolism behind it while the other has great math and science.

General Impressions


I really enjoyed watching The Girl with the Pearl Earring in class. The film was a good technique to draw people’s attention to Vermeer’s life and how he created his famous paintings which have lingered on for centuries. The movie was able to tell a story behind his famous paintings and how it was created. Whether true or not, the movie focuses on Vermeer’s artistic techniques on how he created his brilliant paintings. The painting throughout the movie and Vermeer’s way of life demonstrates how the Northern Renaissance in the Low Countries exploited detail and realism in art. In Vermeer’s painting, Grete, seems to full of life and feels so real through Vermeer’s color and detail. The movie conveyed how Vermeer used several layers in his paintings to create the most accurate colors and lighting. Lighting was emphasized throughout the movie by showing how light can have a very effective in the painting process. The light cast into Vermeer’s workshop changed the way he saw his paintings which was seen through the chiaroscuro in the painting with Grete. The movie greatly shows how color and light were the main influences upon Vermeer’s painting. Vermeer also accentuated the common way of life in his paintings. In the portrait of Grete there was nothing more than a portrayal of a maid wearing a peal earring. Also, like many other painters we have looked at, Vermeer’s artwork was commissioned by people. However, like in the movie, when Vermeer wasn’t commissioned, he had to look towards an inspiration which he found in Grete. Therefore, unlike most artists during this time, Vermeer did not find inspiration in biblical stories but in his own life.

Girl with a Pearl Earring Reflection

Bailey Blossman

Art History

The film “Girl with a Pearl Earring” was an interesting take on the inspiration of Johannes Vermeer’s popular painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring”. From what I understand, the actual girl in the painting is still a mystery today. I was under the impression that Vermeer was an upper-middle class citizen in the Netherlands and was possibly supported by the negotiations and commissions found by of his mother-in-law. I found the ending to be somewhat of a letdown – I thought for sure that Vermeer and Greet were going to get together in the end – but overall I think that contributed to the accuracy of the film. It would have been inaccurate if the typical Hollywood “fall in love” aspect would have taken over the entire plot. Generally, I thought this film was worth our time watching as a class because it provided a visual representation of how somewhat privileged artists were working in the 16th century.
One of the properties that were present in the film was the idea of space. When Greet moves the chair from one of the setups Vermeer had been painting, she was opening up the space because “the girl looked trapped.” Also, color was present when Vermeer asked Greet to mix colors for him. From Greet’s reaction, I got the impression that this was an unheard of privilege – for a servant/housekeeper to be mixing paint for a famous artist. Vermeer’s paintings in the film appeared to be bolder because of the emphasis on color.
The idea of painting everyday life activity was shown in the film as well. During the northern Renaissance in the Low countries, this was very popular. Vermeer had a studio with multiple still-life objects, and he also chooses to paint people in the act of everyday activities. Shadow and light during the Northern Renaissance in the Low Countries were also taken into perspective more so than Southern Renaissance countries.

Girl with a Pearl Earring Reflection

Although the movie was not based upon historic facts, it did incorporate facts about Vermeer that distinguished him from other artists of the time such as his use of the camera obscura. The film also showed the technique of oil painting by showing the process of using numerous layers of glazes to create a final painting with the correct color and light. The scenes in Vermeer’s studio demonstrated several of his paintings of common people in every day situations. The main painting property discussed in the film was the use of light; Grete knows that cleaning the windows will change the light in his studio and Vermeer later describes to Grete how the light can greatly affect the color of an object.

Girl With A Pearl Earring Thoughts

The movie was very entertaining and informational at the same time. Although what was being shown wasn’t true it gave great insight on how the life of an artist was, in particular Vermeer. The view of how artists were commissioned and how they lived while painting was interesting to watch. It was also very interesting to see how certain things affected the life of the artist, and their commission. For example, “Grete” affected Vermeer’s commission and painting, causing Vermeer trouble with his family along with creating a wonderful painting that is still viewed and discussed in Art History classes. I loved seeing what actually went on behind the scenes of a painting and how the life of a commissioned artist went along.
So far we’ve talked about how a lot of artists were commissioned to do work instead of always painting things on their own. Families and people of higher classes paid them to come and stay in their household and paint portraits or other images that they wanted for money. This movie shows a good example on how artists were commissioned. Vermeer worked for a person of a higher class and was told to paint certain images like “Girl With a Pearl Earring” for money.
There weren’t many properties shown in the paintings in the movie, for paintings weren’t shown very much. But there were some things I noticed that affected the properties of the painting. For example, when looking at his models, the surroundings affected how the painting would be. The lighting set the tone of the painting and caused certain shadows to stand out. It is seen through the dark backgrounds the models stand in front of that is brings great contrast to a painting and causes the main subjects to really pop out.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Movie Reflection

“Girl with a Pearl Earring” Reflection
I enjoyed watching this film because it was not a boring, historical documentary about an artist’s life. I liked how it was simple, although I felt a bit disappointed at the end. I felt that the movie would keep going and come to a conclusion, but I felt that it just left the viewer to wonder what happened to her. For me, this film tied into what we are learning in class very well. I noticed the interior of the houses reminded me of the painting Merode Altarpiece by the Master of Flemalle. The low ceilings and the closeness of the rooms reminded me of this painting. I also noticed that Vermeer incorporated everyday objects in his paintings, which goes along with the Low Country Renaissance. He set many of his paintings inside, with a desk and work materials. His work was very realistic and detailed, especially the figures in his portraits, which is another characteristic of the Northern Renaissance. I also noticed that his use of value was extremely realistic. He used the light and shadows on the figures very well, which helped make the paintings look very realistic. I also noticed that Vermeer used the technique chiaroscuro very well with the light in his paintings. In Woman Holding a Balance, there was a lot of chiaroscuro on the woman’s face and arms. The shadows work with the light from the left window and the light slowly fades into darker colors. The lines in his paintings are not very distinct, they fade into each other.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Mannerism Slides


Mannerism


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Monday, September 17, 2007

Can Art Change Society?

Art is able to change society and also reflect the way society functions. Society has been the inspiration behind some of artists’ greatest masterpieces. Art is a form of expression used as a way for artists to communicate with the outside world. This article explains how artists have used art as way to express there opinion about society and the world around them.
Artists have changed the way we look at common everyday objects into awe inspiring works of art. Pop artist extraordinaire Andy Warhol turned some of America’s most used and ordinary products like soup cans, boxes of brillo pads, and coke a cola bottles into pop art icons. Jane Sterbak is inspired by society and her paintings reflect important societal issues. Vanitas: Flesh Dress for an Albino Anorectic by Jane Sterbak reflects various issues on women, fashion, consumption and the body. Willie Cole used irons to make works of art reflecting African tribes being transported on slave ships. Andy Warhol, Jane Sterbak, and Willie Cole have expressed there opinions about society through art. They have communicated with the world around them using art.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Art Analysis

This is a reproduction of the painting by Jacques- Louis David of the French socialite Madame Récamier. The original was painted in 1800 and is now shown at the Lourve. This reproduction was painted in 1826. Madame Recamier was a well known socialite and beauty in France during the nineteenth century. This portrait of her wearing an empire wasted Grecian gown sparked the trend of Greek clothing in France.
The portrait is very simple. Madame Récamier is lounging comfortably on a sleigh bed styled chaise. Her surroundings and clothes are understated but very elegant. The chaise she is lounging on is brown with yellow and blue cushions. The color of the cushions reflects off her white dress making her stance appear very poised. She has her body facing away from the viewer while her head is turned staring intently. Madame Récamier is wearing a simple white empire style Grecian gown. The paintings background is somewhat dull in shades of green and brown. The contrast between the dark background and Madame Récamier white dress and stance makes her seem like a supreme being.

Friday, September 14, 2007

High Renaissance Slides


High Renaissance


From: mcgeheeart, 4 minutes ago








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Sunday, September 9, 2007

More Early Renaissance Slides


Early Renaissance Part 2


From: mcgeheeart, 16 minutes ago







Thursday, September 6, 2007

New Slides


Early Renaissance


From: mcgeheeart, 17 minutes ago







Reading for 9/10

Please continue Early Renaissance reading from page 268-275.

Also read the handout on the personal accounts of the competition over the North Doors of the Baptistry of St. John.


Bailey Blossman

Baileys art analysis

John Lennon – “The Honeymoon"
The piece I chose to analyze is a lithograph done by John Lennon. It is called “The Honeymoon” and it is part of his Bag One series which consists of fourteen original lithographs that were given to his wife Yoko Ono as a wedding gift. This edition was limited to 300 examples.
This piece is a lithograph print, which means it was etched onto a plastic or aluminum surface and printed onto a piece of paper using oil and water. When I look at this portrait, my eyes move up and down with the multiple straight lines that Lennon incorporates. The shapes that he uses are primarily rectangular/square and the straight horizontal line – only using circles for Yoko’s belt buckle and John’s glasses. What stands out to me the most is Yoko’s floppy hat with a square for the bucket part and a slightly bent rectangle for the brim. Her hair is all straight lines going in different directions – creating the illusion that the lines are curved. The suitcase and John’s square-shaped upper body also bring out the rectangular qualities of the print. The print is all black.
I would have to say that this print is very symmetrical - the suitcase and John’s slight lean outward balances out Yoko’s heavy looking hair and hat. There is repetition in the types of lines the artist uses with the hair, John’s jacket, and the suitcase. Their legs also show repetition, especially by the knees.
It seems like John and Yoko are sort of “making a run for it” because of Yoko’s obvious intention to hide herself beneath the hat (possible of paparazzi?) and it seems that John is sort of pulling her along in a quick fashion. This print reminds me of something paparazzi-ish because it is of two very famous people doing something ordinary (going on their honeymoon). What makes it interesting is the usage of repetitive lines and rectangular shapes. I would classify this as a portrait/self portrait considering that John Lennon produced it and included himself in it.


Reflection
The painting I chose was done by James Michalopoulos. This is a still life oil painting of a typical New Orleans style shotgun house. I love the style of this painting and how it sticks out to the person who is looking at it. Since this is a painting of a house, there are a lot of geometrical shapes in this painting, such as triangles, rectangles, and circles. The white in this painting makes the lines seem more definite. There is also a lot of color contrast. The house is yellow, which is a warm color, while the shutters are green and the steps are blue, which are both cool colors. There is a lot of light value in this painting, and some dark value. The sidewalk is very light, while the ceiling on the porch is darker. Since the house takes up the whole painting, there seems to be a lot of mass. Also, using oil paints make the painting stick out more, making it look heavier. I would consider this painting painterly because Michalopoulos uses a lot of paint that sticks out. He also uses a lot of shadow, which makes the house look more
3-D.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Art Analysis

"Kid Thomas" by: Noel Rockwell
Line: not many straight lines. a lot of the lines curve to form the figure of the man and also to create wrinkles in his clothing and face.
Colors: many dark and light colors. creates a nice contrast. the darks colors form nice shadows at the bottom of the painting and also in parts of his face and clothing. the dark and light colors make the man stand out in the painting, especially his face. darker colors standing out against the light put emphasis on certain parts of the painting.
Value: ranges from hight to low. the colors starts dark at the bottom and get lighter and lighter. it makes it appear as if there is some sort of spotlight on the man. because he stands out it makes him seem alone, like the only comfort he has is his trumpet.
Texture: up close this painting has a lot of texture. you can see where paint was dripped to create a certain look the you see in the painting at a distance and where a lot of paint was used in certain areas like his clothing and parts of the background. the bumpy texture in parts of this picture adds age to the man in the painting. he appears old but the texture makes him appear more weathered.
Unity: all of the colors from the background appear in the clothing and body of the man. for example, the red in the background appears in his suspenders and the light blue is used to create light on his body. the common use of these colors really brings the painting together and makes it flow nicely.
Balance: the common use of colors that appear from the background in the man's body balances out the paitning. the colors in the painting are not all over the place. colors are where they should be so the painting is easy on the eyes unlike some that aren't balanced very well and are more difficult to perhaps take in.
Contrast: the dark and light colors create great contrast. the top of the man really stands out, especially his face, because it is so dark against the light background. this creates a lot of emphasis on the man's face and draws my eyes to that immediately.
Emphasis: the contrast of the dark face upon the light background really puts emphasis on the facial expression of the man, which i feel is very important in this painting; it sets the overall tone.
Movement: the texture of the painting when seen up close creates nice movement in the painting. there isn't as much texture as in other paintings but the drizzles of paint and spotted texture gives the painting calm movement.
Media: Oil paint
Tools: Paintbrushes
Expressive Properties: this is a painting of a jazz musician. it makes me feel calm; jazz is a calming type of music. this painting also makes me feel sad. the facial expression of the man feels sad. also the lightness of his body standing out against the dark color makes it seem as if he is alone. this picture is kind of depressing and doesn't make me feel happy. the darks colors and blue gives one the feeling of sadness.
Type of Painting: Portrait

“Pirates Alley” Al Federico
Cityscape
Sensory Properties
- Line – the line gives clear definition to the architecture but the lines blend with each other on the cobblestones
- Value – the shading on the buildings show the spottiness of sunlight that would be seen on such a day as the sky indicates and the colors on the ground look reflective as though it might have just rained
- Color – the artist’s bright reds in the brick are a bold contrast to the calmer grey tones in the street and white of the back building
- Shapes – the shapes are rigid but do not feel harsh or overpowering as some architectural paintings can be
Formal Properties
- Unity – although the buildings have little to do with the people standing near them, the street keeps the entire scene unified
- Balance – the buildings have the potential to overpower the couple but because not all of the large buildings are shown and a small patch of sky is seen, it gives the painting a lighter feeling
- Movement – when I look at the painting, my eye starts at the bottom of the street and moves towards the couple at the end of the street, then upwards to the tops of the buildings and the sky

"In Our Own Backyard" By: Kathryn Smith


In this painting the use of line is the main focus. Line is what gives structure to the painting. From the houses, to the wildlife, to the people, line is what is used to define these objects. The colors used in the painting depict the type of society conveyed in this picture. The brown, beige and green colors show how this is a middle class town living at a comfortable lifestyle. The brightness of the painting reflect happiness held within the painting and and gives the view a positive outlook. The spacious environment shows a rural setting. Everything works together in this painting through the colors and shapes. There is a balance between subjects and there is no dominant figure in this painting. The painting is oil paint and there is a light layer touching the canvas. Just enough paint was used to convey the image. This painting causes the emotion of happiness. The painting makes me want to drop what I'm doing and enjoy the natural beauty of nature the earth has to offer. The countryside looks beautiful and the vivid colors and liveliness of the image creates happiness to its viewers. This painting was created in the 1930's but it portrays a 19/early 20th century society in Louisiana. No electronics were used and the spread of ideas and customs was through the people itself. This painting reflects society in the sense of work and how people really had to work hard in their jobs. One man is working the crops, someone is fishing, and someone is walking down the street with supplies. Therefore, this painting portrays the most important aspects of this time period and the society they lived in. A pattern is seen through the three strips of land parallel with the road and the river. This painting is classified as a rural scape.

Can Art Change Society

Bailey Blossman
Can Art Change Society?

After reading this packet, I have mixed emotions on how art affects society. I am under the impression that society can change art. Issues that exist in society are displayed by the artist from their on perspective. But, at the same time if there are all of these works coming from artists about certain issues (racism, eating disorders, slavery) then “society” may start to feel differently and change.

Social issues can shape are for decades after they have been addressed. Willie Cole’s work with irons is reflecting back and showing how slavery was a serious issue that affected thousands of African-Americans. Cole’s tribute was created many years after slavery was abolished and after the US Civil rights movement. My answer to this question would have to be yes, art can change society – but I still ask myself: can society change are equally as much?

Reading for 9/6

Please begin reading about the Early Renaissance with pages 260-267 in the textbook.

Assignment: In our own Backyards

For Thursday, 9/6 please go out into the world and locate a work of art on your own. If possible, please photograph the artwork and post here for us all to appreciate. Next, please write an analysis of the piece using the terms and concepts that we've discussed in the first two weeks of school.

Analysis should include discussion of:
  • Sensory Properties
  • Formal Properties
  • Technical Properties
  • Historical/Social Relevance
  • Expressive Properties
  • Overall subject matter

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Can Art Change Society?

This article made me think about art and its role in our society. The article conveyed how the making and observation of art is more than just a contribution to society but is contributed to by society. Art is part of people's everyday life whether they like it or not. Many people can block things out from society, such as politics, racial differences, social class, health issues, but not art, which is why art can change society. People utilize art in society as a pathway to move away from societies problems and lean towards something tangible that can teach them more about life and its beauties then anything else. This article illustrates how art can derive from society people use their personal experiences with society to show the world. Art takes place in so many different roles that people base their lives off art and not even know it. From songs, to dance, to creation, art plays a role in everyday life and can factor in the way people look at life.
The artists in this article have demonstrated that if art doesn’t change society, it definitely has a very strong impact upon it. Kara Walker and Willie Cole both used their art to show the history and heritage of African Americans in two very different but affective ways. Willie Cole used various brands of irons surrounding an ironing board to represent the numerous tribes that came from Africa on slave ships to the United States. Kara Walker uses a much different means of art to represent slavery in the United States. Walker uses large black cutouts on white backgrounds that give a simple and playful yet disturbing picture of the life of slaves and other African Americans.
Other artists use their art to commentate on the society of today. Jacques Lipchitz used the old Greek myth of Prometheus and the vulture as a starting point, but showed Prometheus strangling the vulture, demonstrating that democracy would triumph over fascism, giving his art a political angle. Adrian Piper and Jana Sterbak both challenged the role of gender and race in society. Adrian Piper, an African American woman often mistaken to be white, constantly challenged the public to realize their position and role in society in her art. Sterbak challenges the idea of perfect women in society with her work Vanitas: Flesh Dress for an Albino Anorectic. The meat that makes the dress eventually dries and wrinkles just as human skin but also sends a message to women with eating disorders, for whom the dress was made. Although art may not completely change society, it can drastically change the way the public thinks or feels. While these artists and their works may not have caused revolutions, they may have made people jump into action to change the world around them for the better.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

article

The article was very interesting to me. I really see how people express their feelings on certain situations and really get inspired to create art.
Each artist created art as a form of expression. When thinking about the question: Is this art? It made me think that pretty much anything can be art. I see artwork now as more of a symbol expressing the one's feelings on a particular situation, emotion, or anything happening in their life at the moment. Art can be a symbol of history, feelings, what's happening in society, or anything. This brings me to the question the title asks: Can Art Change Society? Yes, I think it can. Art portrays a message and gives the opinon of an artist on any situation. A different view can change the views of others and cause people to form new opinions and view things differently. It's sort of like "jumping on the bandwagon." When one person does something, sometimes other people catch on and change their ways, which can eventually leard to a big change. Once the views of many change their actions tend to change, which can eventually catch on and lead to a change society.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

This is where we'll begin...


Welcome back!

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all had a great summer. I am very excited about the addition of Art History as a class for Juniors and Seniors and look forward to an exciting year with all of you!

This blog will be a key source of information and images for the class. Each time we look at a new artist or work of art, I will post images here so you have a visual account of everything you've studied in addition to your own notes and ideas. Each of you will also be responsible for maintaining aspects of the blog which we will discuss in class.

Looking forward to getting started!

Ms. Stewart