I’m working on a art question and need guidance to help me understand better.An important skill you will learn in this course is how to describe and interpret a work of visual art. The guide below will help you know what to look for and what to say when writing about a specific artwork. This guide is designed to help you look carefully so that your experience and opinion can be more thoughtful, meaningful, and valuable.Choose ONE of the artworks illustrated below.
Write a description and interpretation of what you see. Write 1 paragraph for each section (this is a total of 4 paragraphs for the completed analysis). You will need to do some research in order to find factual information for paragraph 1.This should be written as an essay, not an outline. Click the “Write Submission” button to type your analysis, or or you may attach a file. If you attach a file, it must be formatted as a .docx or .pdf file.You are not required to have a citations section, but if you do research beyond the coursework readings and videos, please include a list of references at the end of your analysis.Be sure to contact your instructor if you need help!
1. Discuss the FACTUAL INFORMATION relating to the work. (25 points) ARTIST(S) – artist name and nationality DATE – specific date, approximate date, century, etc. MEDIA – drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture TECHNIQUE – shading, perspective, glazing, impasto, carving, casting, post-and-lintel, steel frame, etc. STYLE – Classical, Gothic, Expressionism, Surrealism, Pop, Post-Modern, etc.
2. Describe each ART ELEMENT that you see in the artwork. (25 points)LINES – vertical, horizontal, curved, straight, thick, thin, long, short, etc. SHAPES – circular, square, triangular, biomorphic, shapes of specific objects, etc. TEXTURE – rough, shiny, wood, skin, water, dots, stripes, etc. VALUES – light, dark, medium, high contrast, blended, etc. COLORS – bright, dull, red, yellow, blue, black, white, etc.2. Describe each of the DESIGN QUALITIES that you see in the artwork. (25 points) SIZE – actual measurements, largest part, smallest part, repeated sizes, etc. EMPHASIS – most important part, most important art element, etc. MOVEMENT – actual movement, implied movement, up, down, rapid, slow, chaotic, rhythmic, etc. SPACE – actual space, sculptural (3 dimensional), flat (2 dimensional), top, bottom, right, left, center, illusionistic, overlapping, etc. UNITY – visual balance, repetition, variation, complex, simple, etc.
4. Interpret the MEANING of the work. (25 points) SUBJECT MATTER – still life, landscape, figure, formal, etc.THEME – religion, politics, sex, nature, imagination, emotions, etc. PURPOSE – decorative, expressive, commercial, etc. CULTURAL CONTEXT – historical time/place/events significant to the artwork PERSONAL RESPONSE – emotions, thoughts, ideas, opinions, etc.Shiva NatarajaEl Castillo at Chichen ItzaBwa Butterfly MaskNotre-Dame de Paris
Requirements: 4 paragraphs total
