Assignment Topic:
Does the work have value and why? Types of value – material, intrinsic, religious, nationalistic, psychological – are discussed in the Introduction chapter of our text
Description – What does the artwork look like?
Describe the subject matter in detail.
Using the “Stylistic Terminology” section of the Introduction chapter of our text, decide if the work is naturalistic, realistic, illusionistic, or abstract. Then decide if the work is idealized, stylized, or romanticized. Be detailed and specific in your explanation and note whether you considered the work as a whole or considered individual elements.
Using the “How Do We Talk About Art?” section of the Introduction chapter of our text, identify and discuss 5 formal elements of the artwork, in detail. For instance, don’t just tell me there were lines in the work, tell me what kind (straight, curved, horizontal, diagonal, thick, thin, implied, etc.) and tell me how they affect the composition.
Interpretation – What do you think of the artwork?
What was the artist trying to communicate?
How did the artist communicate that message? (Symbolism, subject matter, or content?)
How does the work make you feel? Why?
