Art

Using the color copy of a painting provided (see list below of titles and artists, go to the ARTSTOR folder for our class and choose your image), write a three page analysis of your chosen work of art. Your paper will consist of 6 sections. You do not need to include a copy of the image in your paper. For help see the additional files in this folder for Elements and Principles Handout, Links for Research, and How to Write About Art.

1. Description: The first is a description of the work using only the elements as discussed in class.  Use the list posted with worksheet 3 as a reference for the type of questions you should be answering for the description. Discuss all elements even if they appear not to be present in the work, for example: “The element of line is not important to this work”.  Try to now combine these elements into one or two sentences:  “The strong colors and diagonal movement in the shapes makes the space seem crowded and chaotic” (I am citing the Franz Marc painting)

2. Analysis: For the analysis segment, use the ideas presented in class and your own Perceptions, combined with evidence from the elements, to analyze your response to the work. Write one paragraph (minimum) for your analysis.  There is no specific right answer for the analysis, just make sure you base your ideas on what is visually present according to the elements as discussed in class. (For example: “The diagonal, swirling composition, with figures appearing and then disappearing, make one feel lost in the space”  Do not use the images, figures, subject or content (yet!) of the work to get an analysis.  Use only the visual qualities of the work.

3. Meaning: In your next paragraph, you may reference the subject of the work to determine the meaning.  If this is hard to get from looking at the piece, you may now do some research to find what this work is about. See good links about art in Angel.  You will then write a brief paragraph explaining to the viewer what this work is about.  For example, you will need to cite the story of the Tower of Babel for one of the paintings. I have chosen work that I KNOW there is information available about, so you should be able to find some good sources. Cite your sources in number 6.

4. Context: Finally, you get to do a little more research by looking up information about the artist, the time period, the style of work, place, culture or other examples of this type of work.  Write a brief paragraph placing the work in its context.  In this case you will definitely need to do some research: some information about the time and place of this work.

5. Process Statement: Please add a small statement about the process you went through above and how, if, and in what way it has changed your way of looking at this piece.

6. Sources: Give web addresses, URL’s, Book titles and authors for all your sources for number 3‐4.

MINIMUM: three pages, typewrite