Visual Analysius Paper
Topic: Cities and the Urban Experience in Art and Architecture
In the 1920s, American painter Georgia O’Keeffe commented: “Today, the city is something bigger, more complex than ever before in history. And nothing can be gained from running away. I couldn’t even if I could.” Select one artwork or architectural monument which illustrates this statement. The artwork or monument may or may not have been shown in class (it does not need to be by O’Keeffe at all).
The essay should:
Include information about historical, geographical, and cultural contexts; the artists or architects, their lives, geographic origins and inspirations can be discussed
Identify technique (from building materials for architecture to oil on canvas for a painting), title, date, dimensions (only if known)
Engage visual information provided by the work of art itself: Describe what you see and interpret this visual information.
Point out the historical context and inherent aesthetic qualities of the work. Ask yourself questions such as this: What makes this structure or composition modern? Why do we associated cities and urban life with the modern experience? How the individual and the large, anonymous city interact?
Write in clear and grammatically correct English. Full sentences only.
Examples may include works of the Impressionist painters in France from the 1870s and 1880s; the evolution of skyscraper architecture; the contributions of world fairs to modern art and architecture; structures by Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, Philip Johnson; paintings by Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Hopper, Boutet de Monvel, Charles Sheeler, etc.
