Visit the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern art online and choose a Sculpture, observe and do research on it. Answer the following as a paper form.
SCULPTURE
1. Identification on museum label:
–What is title or subject?
–When and where was it made?
–What medium was used?
2. Subject matter:
–What is shown?
–Does subject come from Pre-Christianity or 60AD, Post-Christianity or 60AD,Old or New Testament, from 500 BC Greece classical literature, from the lives of the Post-Christian saints, Renaissance 15&16th centuries literature, everyday life?
3. Formal analysis:
–Technical means: carved from stone (what kind?), wood? Molded in clay and then cast in bronze or glazed? Welded metal? Construction in mixed media? Assemblage in wood or metal?
–Volumes: what kind of three-dimensional masses or forms are basic to the sculpture: geometric (conic, cubic, pyramidal), or irregular (jagged, smooth, organic)? How are these forms organized? Larger at top smaller at bottom, symmetrically?
–Line: does work have an open or closed silhouette? Does statue have extremities open or closed? Are the lines around the figure or on its surface? What is the relationship between linear and volumetric elements? (Is it 2:1, 3:1, etc.)?
–Space: how open is the form or how contained? To what degree does the figure displace space? Do the forms and space interpenetrate? Is the piece a relief, which creates the illusion of space within it (2D)? Is the sculpture frontal? Does it turn in space? Was it meant to be seen from one point of view only, or from many? Is figure finished on all sides?
–Color: is color or gilding added to the sculpture? Is the color of the material have special importance? Does the color have a thematic significance? Does it have a descriptive (true to life), expressive or subjective function?
–Light: has the artist considered the effect of light upon his work? Are the forms arranged so that a particular effect of light and shade will be attained? Shiny figures deflect light, dull surfaces absorb it.
–Material and form: are some of the forms inherent to the carving or modeling process?
4. Iconographic analysis:
–Is the subject treated the same way in several contemporary works? Check gallery with works of same period to see this.
–Has a tradition been constant or varied over time? Check galleries with works from period before and after to see this.
–Is the subject new or is the treatment of an old subject new?
5. Function:
–Was the work part of a larger decorative program?
–Was it intended for public or private viewing?
–How might the function have affected the form?
6. Content:
–How do the subject, theme, form convey ideas, values, sentiments, perceptions of artist?
–What does the work of art say about the period and culture in which it was created?
