Art History

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Art History

• Chapter 5

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Art History A search for information.

• Art historian concerned with gathering
  information about works of art and the artists
  who created them.

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Art Historian

• When, where, and why was the artwork created?
• What style of art does it represent?
• What artists, work of art, or other influences
  inspired the artist?
• What impact did the artist or the artworks have
  on the history of art?

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Description

• Identify who, when and where. Figure 5.2
• American painter, Childe Hassam, title, history
  of artist.
• Years of birth and death can tell when artist
  painted the work.

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Description

• If the artist is not recognized examine the work
  for a signature.
• No signature research for the name of the
  artist.
• Conduct research on the artist.
• Great deal of time and effort.
• Want to find all important facts about an artist.

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Description

• May not find out who did the work even after the
  research
• Art Historian can make a well informed guess.
• Example 5.3.

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Analysis

• Style personal way of using the art elements
  and principles to reproduce what they see and to
  express their ideas and feelings.

Georges Rouault
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Salvador Dali
Swans Reflecting Elephants
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Magritte, Time Transfixed
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Interpretation

• The art historian focuses their attention on the
  influence of time and place of the artist.
• Example figure 5.9 5.10

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Judgment

• Based on the works historical significance.

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Description

• Who created the work?
• Where was it done?
• When was it done?
• Usually can find this information beside the
  painting.

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Analyses

• What are the main features or characteristics of
  the work?
• Does it represent a particular style of art?
• If so, what is that style?

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Main Features

• Fast, thick brush strokes
• Detail in face and expression
• Background barely distinguishable
• Only hints of foliage
• Close attention to light

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Lady at Her Toilette
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Julie Manet with Dog
Impressionistic Style
The Cradle
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Interpretation

• Which artists or works of art inspired the
  artist?
• What other influences affected the artist?
• Does the work reveal something about the world in
  which it was painted?

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Berthe Morisot

• Learned from Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot to
  recognize the effects of natural light and
  ambience.

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Édouard Manet

• Met in 1868 at the age of 27
• Fascinated by his rapid brush strokes

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Judgment

• Can conclude once you have answered description,
  analysis, and interpretation.
• Look in the history books for her work
• She was encouraged by fellow artists that she was
  talented.
• Low social status and a woman less attention in
  her time

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Art Criticism or Art History?

• First look at the aesthetics and use the art
  criticism operations
• Make a subjective and tentative decision about
  its success
• Then turn to the objective art history operations
• As you gain facts you can confirm, modify or
  change your decision.

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Combination

• Can make a balanced informative judgment that is
  subjective and objective.
• This judgment is always subject to change as you
  learn and grow.