Analyze the Qualities of Art

1086-03-02-01-00_files/i0110000.jpg Name the artist who photographed this image. Describe the iconography present in this photograph.

This photograph is by Dorothea Lange. Answer will vary but may include the following: This photo of a migrant mother has become an icon of the Great Depression. The expression on the woman's face and her cowering children help communicate the mood of this time. It shows the pain felt by all members of the family, and the despair felt by parents for the miserable lives of themselves and their children.

1086-03-02-01-00_files/i0080000.jpg What methodological approach was considered in creating this piece? Justify your answer.

Answer will vary but may include the following: The artist took a Marxist approach when created this painting. We know this because the painting shows wealthy society, and Marxism related to art's relationship with social, economic, and political circumstances.

1086-03-02-01-00_files/i0070000.jpg Name the artist of the painting above. Describe the image, including how the gender of the artist influenced the piece.

Answer will vary but may include the following: The artwork is a self-portrait painted by Frida Kahlo. As an independent and free-spirited woman, she chose to paint herself in a naturalistic way. She wanted to show the truth as beautiful, and the sternness and confidence within herself and the female gender.

Name this painting and its artist. Explain what you see and feel when you look at this painting. What type of methodology was used?

Answer will vary but may include the following: The painting is by Grant Wood, called American Gothic. When you look at this image, you can't help but notice the determined, and yet sad look on the farmer's face. The farmer's wife is looking at her husband with concern, frustration, and support. The two figures are placed in front of buildings that could exist in any American town. This painting is an example of Marxism, because it shows American life and the common traits and feelings held by many of America's working class.

1086-03-02-01-00_files/i0060000.jpg Define Feminism as a methodology of art. Describe the image, including how the gender of the artist influenced the piece.

Feminism examines art by looking at the influence of gender. Answer will vary but may include the following: The artwork was painted by a male artist during at time in which women were looked at as weak, non-threatening, soft, and submissive. You can see that the woman is looking to side with a sense of shyness and serenity, while receiving our gaze.

Explain the difference between iconography and iconology.

Iconography refers to meaning of the symbols and images in art. Iconology is the study of imagery in terms of broader cultural and artistic content in art.

Define Marxism in art. What is the history and goal of Marxism?

Marxism involves interpreting artwork in terms of its social and economic context. Marxism comes from the philosophies of German economist Karl Marx. The goal of Marxism in art is to show how time, place, and society influence art trends.

1086-03-02-01-00_files/i0090000.jpg The image above is an example of which methodology of art? Explain your answer.

The image is an example of formalism. Answer will vary but may include the following: The artist has focused mainly on visual elements, such as line, color, and shape, rather than the subject matter.

Name the most common methodologies of art.

The most common methodologies of art are formalism, iconology, Marxism, Feminism, biography, and autobiography.

Define formalism. What is it not influenced by? (two things)

With formalism, art is evaluated in terms of its use of the elements of art. Formalism is not concerned with content, and is not influenced by time and space (the objective world).