Art Exam #3
Bull-Leapers, from Palace of Knossos
- fresco showing a bull and three young acrobats. The three acrobats are shown in various stages of jumping over a bull. One is standing at the head, the second is flipping over the bulls back, and the third is standing at the rear of the bull. -Bull-leaping, boxing, and acrobatic scenes were all common subjects in Minoan art, evidence of an athletic people; these activities may have been for pleasure, or for more ritualistic ceremonies. Fresco The bull was a popular subject in Minoan art (Minotaur) Three acrobats jumping over bull Athletic culture Gender indicated through skin color; paler figure is female
Warhol, Thirty Are Better than One
-Black and white silkscreen depicting thirty images of the Mona Lisa. There are six images to a row and five images to a column. -Used silkscreen for a depersonalized, mass-produced quality: challenged value of unique, original "high art" works Appropriated (borrowed) imagery from famous artwork "More is better" - echoes language of consumerism
Portal Artwork: Sphinx of Hatshepsut
-Four wooden jars with lids shaped as human or animal heads. Symbols (hieroglyphs) are painted on the front of the body of the jars. Hieroglyphs (Page 376) A sculpture of a lion with a human head with a headdress and a long beard Color photograph of the front of the Great Sphinx of Giza with the Pyramid of Khafre in the background. 4.10.14 Sphinx of Hatshepsut, 18th Dynasty, 1479-1458 BCE. Granite and paint, 5'4⅝" × 11'3". Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Great Sphinx of Giza and Pyramid of Khafre -The three pyramids at Giza were built to house the tombs of three Egyptian pharaohs: Khufu, his son Khafre, and Menkaure, son of Khafre Khufu's pyramid, the largest of the three at 481 ft. high and 750 ft. per side, began about 2551 bce The sides of each pyramid are precisely the same length and all are placed precisely at the cardinal points (North, South, East, and West) The pyramid of Khufu contains about 2,300,000 blocks of stone that have been calculated to weigh on average 2.5 tons Scholars have suggested that the Egyptians may have used the Nile for transportation, then either dragged the stones across the sand or rolled them over a series of logs Once the stones made it to the site, tumbling, systems of levers, and ramps were likely used Re was believed to carry away in his boat the dead to their afterlife The funerary temples of these three pharaohs were placed on the east side of the pyramids, to symbolize that, just as the sun rises again in the East, they would be reborn into the afterlife Built to house the tombs of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure Precision building reveals mastery of engineering and mathematics The Sphinx is connected to Khafre's pyramid Pyramids and Sphinx may represent the sun god Re The Rosetta Stone, which was found by the French army led by Napoleon during the course of its invasion of Egypt The lettering on the stone is dated to 196 bce and repeats the decrees of Ptolemy V, the Greek ruler of Egypt, in three separate forms of writing (Hieroglyphic, Demotic, and Greek) Deciphered in 1822 by Frenchman Jean-François Champollion
Hand stencils, from El Castillo Cave
-Human hand stencils on a cave wall. -First artworks made by humans as early as 40,000 years ago Paintings on cave walls and sculptures Subject matter: procreation and sources of food Important records of the lives of our early ancestors Earliest paintings in the world: at least 40,000 years old Made by blowing pigment (red ocher) through a reed, often using hand as a stencil Same method was used later to create images of animals they hunted, such as bison Dating is possible through scientific study of the calcite (a carbonate mineral frequently found in caverns) that has formed on top of the paintings Prehistoric humans often painted over previous images already on the wall
Grant Wood, American Gothic
-Oil painting portraying an older couple standing in front of their house. The man stares straight ahead holding a pitchfork. -American Regionalist Wood's sister and dentist were the models for the farmer and his daughter Iowa farmhouse is built in Carpenter Gothic style, inspiring the work's title Grant Wood (1891-1942) studied in Europe but realized that his inspiration came from his home in the Midwest and the places he knew best Although often parodied, it is an affirmation of the American values of individuality, morality, and hard work It was intended as a serious reflection of hope American Regionalist Wood's sister and dentist were the models for the farmer and his daughter Iowa farmhouse is built in Carpenter Gothic style, inspiring the work's title
Jacques-Louis David, The Oath of the Horatii
-Painting showing three men, in classical dress, standing to the left and raising their arms in the act of making an oath. On the right, women sit weeping. -Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) lived through one of the most tumultuous periods in French history David painted for monarchy, revolutionary leaders, and Emperor Napoleon Neoclassical: serious subject matter, muscular Classical figures, stable, balanced composition Scene shows brothers vow allegiance to their father and to Rome Late 18th-century art movement Recalls Classical cultures; Grand Tour Historical or mythological stories convey a moral message Emphasizes civic responsibility and rational thought; morality Stability, balance, order
Claude Monet, Waterlilies
-Photograph of a painting along a curved gallery wall. The painting shows a picturesque nature scene with lots of flowers. 3.8.15 Claude Monet, Waterlilies, c. 1914-18. Oil on canvas. Musée de l'Orangerie, Paris, France -Eight paintings made for two oval rooms Claude Monet's (1840-1926) Impression, Sunrise at the first Impressionist exhibition instigated the group's name. In 1890, Monet purchased a house and land in the French town of Giverny, where he designed his own pond filled with water lilies. He created more than 300 water-lily paintings based on his pond. Monet would paint both from a distance and up close, both above and beside the flowers, and both single flowers and large groups. To mark the end of World War I, and as a symbol of peace, Monet created this largest waterlily project, which he described as "a bouquet for France" Rather than looking at the water lilies and the pond, the display places viewers within the pond. Two oval rooms create an ellipse, which is a symbol for infinity
Kanaga mask: Photograph of Dogon Kanaga mask ceremony
-Photograph of the Dogan Kanaga mask ceremony being performed. Wood and hide mask with two cross bars positioned at the top of the head. -Created by the Dogon of Mali in West Africa Assists the dead in their journey into the spiritual realm The two cross bars on the mask represent the lower earthly realm and the upper cosmic realm of the sky For African groups, the mask is most meaningful when being performed Used in funeral rituals, called dama The ceremonial performance includes swooping movements and loud noises
Interior of Abelam cult house
-Photograph of the interior of an Abelam cult house. Inside colorful, wooden figures are displayed. -Eight separate rituals take place over the course of twenty or thirty years before a man is fully initiated Symbolism White: believed to make long yams grow Pointed oval shape: belly of a woman Cowrie shells: fertility and prosperity Lengthy initiation ritual for males (8 rituals over 20-30 years) Elaborate ceremonial house Designed to impress Filled with meaningful objects and figurines Powerful; discarded after use Symbolic colors and shapes
Iktinos and Kallikrates, Parthenon: The Parthenon Marbles
-Several broken sculptures of draped women and one nude man. -Originally it had a timber roof covered with marble tiles, but this was destroyed in 1687, when Turkish army munitions stored there exploded Iconic example of Classical architecture Athena sculpture was 38 ft. tall Temple to Athena and war treasury White marble, but originally painted bright red, yellow, and blue Included several sculptures to Athena, include a huge gold-and-ivory one inside
Juan Gris, Bottle of Banyuls
-This collage depicts a table with a bottle, glass and other assorted objects. -*
Édouard Manet, Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe
-This image depicts a picnic scene in the woods. Three people, two men and one woman, sit on a blanket. While the men are fully clothed, the woman sits unabashedly naked and stares at us, the viewer. Behind this trio, another women baths in a stream. 3.8.2 Édouard Manet, Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe (Luncheon on the Grass), 1863. Oil on canvas, 6'9⅞" × 8'8⅛". Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France -Rejected from the 1863 Salon; instead it was exhibited at the Salon des Refusés Nude female is not idealized; looks directly at the viewer Marks the beginning of modern art
Henri Matisse, Joy of Life
-This multi-colored landscape depicts numerous figures dancing, talking, embracing, and making music. The colors predominately utilized are shades of orange, pink, green, and blue. -*
Henri Matisse, The Red Studio
-This painting depicts a painter's studio. The walls, floor, and furniture are red. Various multi-colored canvases hang or lean against the surrounding walls. Small vases and accessories -*
Van Gogh, Starry Night
-This painting depicts a view of a small town on a starry night. Tall, dark, cypress trees stretch vertically across the left-hand side of the canvas. A small town and rolling hills can be seen on the right. Large yellow stars dominate the canvas. -Lived with Gauguin for a brief time; challenged and annoyed each other View from his window during a stay in an asylum Paintings express his strong emotions: thick impasto, sense of color and form After leaving Pont-Aven in 1888, Gauguin shared a house with the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) for two months in the southern French town of Arles A cypress tree, resembling flames reaching up to the sky, fills much of the left side of the canvas The church in the distance may hint at Van Gogh's personal trials with religion; some believe it relates to his childhood church in the Netherlands He committed suicide in 1890
Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon
-This painting depicts five nude women portrayed in an abstract way. -*
Marcel Duchamp, Nude Descending a Staircase No.2
-This painting depicts interlocking geometric planes meant to show the movement of a figure descending a flight of stairs. -Marcel Duchamp had a huge impact on the development of modern art Influence ON Cubism/Influence OF Cubism... Huge impact throughout Europe Many artists adopted Cubist style Others explored new approaches not possible before Cubism Futurism- Italy, 1909 to the late 1920s Influenced by Cubism Clashing planes and geometry Departures from Cubism: Celebrated dynamic movement, progress, and technology Fascism Expressed contempt for the past Combines Cubism's geometry with Futurism's emphasis on movement Reflects interest in industrial progress and stop-motion photography Abstract imagery; caused a scandal at the Armory Show in New York, 1913 Armory show in NYC in 1913 exposed the American public to avant-garde artists, such as: Matisse, Picasso, Kandinsky, and Duchamp
Marcel Duchamp, Fountain
-This sculpture consists of a porcelain urinal turned on its side. The words "R. Mutt 1917" are painted in black along the bottom. -Appropriation is borrowing objects, figures, or entire compositions from the work of other artists Some also borrowed images from the realms of popular culture, advertising, and even social stereotypes Artists can make personal statements by appropriating the work of others Appropriation Traced to Duchamp's readymades Challenged existing art practices Shifts focus to the underlying ideas Other artists followed in his footsteps
J M W Turner, Slave Ship (Slavers Throwing Overvoard the Dead and Dying, Typhoon Coming On)
-This tumultuous and somewhat abstract painting depicts a scene of slavers throwing overboard from a ship the dead and dying while a typhoon is seen on the horizon. Nothing is distinct, heightening the tension of the scene. -British painter J. M. W. Turner (1775-1851) also used his art to express his views, in the instance shown here as a force for social protest Turner condemns the slave trade Portrays the slave ship Zong in 1781 Ship captain knew he would be paid for slaves lost at sea but not sick slaves It was common practice for slave-ship captains to fill their vessels with more slaves than they would need, knowing that disease might spread amongst them Abstract quality makes the subject matter difficult to understand. Turner placed beside his painting a quotation from the book that had inspired it, in order to help viewers understand his artwork's meaning Romantic style includes the theme of man vs. nature (fierce storm overpowers slaves), and heightened emotion (intense colors, brushstrokes) Romantic style
Frida Kahlo, The Two Fridas
-Two women sitting side by side, connected by a single vein that extends from the heart of the woman on the right. -Kahlo's work is often called "surrealist" Characteristics of Surrealism: Unexpected, illogical, and fantastic elements Personal expression of identity, politics and experience Kahlo said she never knew she was a Surrealist "until André Breton [the founder of Surrealism] came to Mexico and told me I was one." Logic of the painting is a kind that makes sense only in dreams We can see internal and external anatomy at the same time body doubling something is out of the ordinary here otherwise blank, cloud-filled sky sharp, linear contours Similarities to the apocalyptic, deserted landscapes of many other Surrealist works In response to being called a Surrealist, Kahlo wrote, "Really I do not know whether my paintings are Surrealist or not, but I do know that they are the frankest expression of myself." The apparently fantastic mirroring of her own body in The Two Fridas recalls the reality mirrors were installed around her home at Casa Azul a mirror was installed over her bed so she could paint herself during her recovery from a traffic accident
Standing male figure (nkisi nkondi)
-Wooden, standing male figure. -Objects called minkisi nkondi (the singular nkisi means "sacred medicine"; nkondi comes from konda, "to hunt") could take the form of shells, bags, pots, or wooden statues Generally an nkisi nkondi was responsible for making sure that oaths sworn in its presence were honored As a mediator between the ancestral spirit world and the living world of human beings, the nkisi nkondi was able to bring protection and healing to the community Substances, or actual medicines, might be placed inside the minkisi to give them certain properties. In carved figures, these medicines were placed in the head or stomach area The nkisi nkondi shown here has been activated many times by iron blades, which were driven into it to make it "angry" and "rouse it into action" The giant cowrie shell on its abdomen is a symbol of fertility and wealth for the Yombe people as well as other cultures; such shells are also widely used as currency Made by the Yombe Nkisi ("sacred medicine") figure known as nkisi nkondi Standing figure with beard that is a reservoir for magical properties Activated by ritual specialists who drove metal objects into it
Woman from Willendorf
-limestone sculpture of a faceless woman; breasts, belly, and genitals are emphasized -carried around as a talisman, or charm against bad luck
Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel Detail of Last Judgment
-photograph of the painted frescoes on the ceiling of whole of the Sistine Chapel, in its entirety. Detail of scene painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel depicting the Last Judgment. Detail of Creation of Adam Detail of a scene painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in which God reaches out and gives life to Adam. -Michelangelo's (1475-1564) enormous painting took four years to complete In the Creation of Adam panel, human nudity could be associated with the perfection of man Commissioned by Pope Julius II Michelangelo preferred sculpting to painting Three-dimensionality of his painted figures, architectural and sculptural elements Nine central panels depict stories from Genesis (Old Testament)
Malevich, Suprematist Composition: White on White
Oil painting of a white square floating on a white ground.
