Aristotle once said that, “The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward appearance” (Deutch). Art is the product of ingenuity and inspiration (Tedesco). It has been used as a form of language to communicate with others using a variety of media. Artists use different kinds of materials to make an art piece that brings forth their intended purpose, composition, and meaning. These are also known as subject matter, form, and content. The subject matter of an artwork deals with how and why that particular artwork was created by an artist. The artist then composes his artwork; it is comprised of varying elements, which then creates the form of his artwork. The very meaning behind all of the artist’s work is what makes the content of his art piece. Many works of art can be analyzed by their subject matter, form, and content, but only two art pieces will be discussed in this paper. Michelangelo’s The Libyan Sibyl and Dorothea Tanning’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, which translates to “Little Night Music” in German, are two magnificent works of art that captures the viewer’s imagination using a variety of elements that compose a single unified artwork. Both artists are skilled in crafting great art that have great subject matter, concise form, and a very meaningful artistic content. Take for instance the lively motion present in The Libyan Sibyl, which has an otherworldly appearance due to the various flowing lines that are present in the clothing of a powerful female figure. Another example is Tanning’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, which uses a variety of contrasting and complementary colors that make important objects in her scene pop out,(Not wrong, but too “slang” to fit with the rest of the language. Try...
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...composition and meaning, Michelangelo and Tanning’s works show that art can be scrutinized and examined by their purpose of being, their overall composition, and their hidden meanings.
Works Cited
Deutch, Laura. "Redefining Reality: An Analysis of "L'Age d'Or"." 5 November 1998. Ithaca College Website. 28 April 2014 .
DeWitte, Debra J., Ralph M. Larmann and M. Kathryn Shields. Gateways To Art. New York: Thames & Hudson, 2012.
Mundy, Jennifer. "Dorothea Tanning: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik 1943." 2001. TATE. 29 April 2014 .
Tedesco, Laura A. "Introduction to Prehistoric Art, 20,000-8000 B.C." August 2007. In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. 28 April 2014
In the Florence and the early renaissance, we have the greatest master of art like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli and others. In this period of time the painters almost never show their emotions or feelings, they were more focused on indulging the churches and the wealthy people. In The renaissance period the art provides the work of art with ideal, intangible qualities, giving it a beauty and significance greater and more permanent than that actually found in the modern art. Florence and the early renaissance, the art become very valued where every artist was trying to create art forms consistent with the appearance of the beauty or elegance in a natural perspective. However, Renaissance art seems to focus more on the human as an individual, while Wayne White art takes a broader picture with no humans whatsoever; Wayne, modern three dimensional arts often utilizes a style of painting more abstract than Renaissance art. At this point in the semester these two aspects of abstract painting and the early renaissance artwork have significant roles in the paintings. Wayne White brings unrealistic concepts that provoke a new theme of art, but nevertheless the artistic creations of the piece of art during early renaissance still represent the highest of attainment in the history of
Stokstad, Marilyn. Art History. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008. Print.
Many of these artists' works contain subtle hints to the author's opinion on the subject. By analyzing their central compositional effects, the viewer can obtain a greater appreciation and understanding for the art.
Stokstad, M., & Cothren, M. W. (2008). Art history: Volume 1 (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Prentice Hall. Print.
DeWitte, Debra J. et al. Gateways To Art. New York City, NY: Thames & Hudson, 2012. Print.
In conclusion of this research paper I believed I have gained a new and better appreciation of renaissance art. The period of great revolutions in art form and style is now one of my great favorites of all time. The Artsist that now has become a hero to me is Michelangelo. The Sistine chapel is a truly a place of great importance to art all around the world. While dissecting and analyzing the fresco it has been easier to see the crossing of disciplines. The great detail has been applied to sculpting stone has intern help the hand and brush to reveal the beauty of the human body.
Spending time looking at art is a way of trying to get into an artists’ mind and understand what he is trying to tell you through his work. The feeling is rewarding in two distinctive ways; one notices the differences in the style of painting and the common features that dominate the art world. When comparing the two paintings, The Kneeling Woman by Fernand Leger and Two Women on a Wharf by Willem de Kooning, one can see the similarities and differences in the subjects of the paintings, the use of colors, and the layout
Kleiner, Fred S., and Helen Gardner. Gardner's Art Through the Ages: A Global History. 14th
Cothren, M. & Marilyn Stokstad. (2011). Art History, Volume 2, 4th Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Learning Solutions.
Though most works of art have some underlying, deeper meaning attached to them, our first impression of their significance comes through our initial visual interpretation. When we first view a painting or a statue or other piece of art, we notice first the visual details – its size, its medium, its color, and its condition, for example – before we begin to ponder its greater significance. Indeed, these visual clues are just as important as any other interpretation or meaning of a work, for they allow us to understand just what that deeper meaning is. The expression on a statue’s face tells us the emotion and message that the artist is trying to convey. Its color, too, can provide clues: darker or lighter colors can play a role in how we judge a piece of art. The type of lines used in a piece can send different messages. A sculpture, for example, may have been carved with hard, rough lines or it may have been carved with smoother, more flowing lines that portray a kind of gentleness.
Immense changes took place between the Paleolithic and Neolithic time eras. One major change was the evolution of art. During the paleolithic time period, “…humans began making the first consciously manufactured pictorial images” (Kleiner, 16). The art they began creating came in a large variety. “During the Paleolithic period, humankind went beyond the recognition of human and animal forms in the natural environment to the representation of humans and animals (Kleiner, 16). They created portable paintings, sculptures, and figurines. “Art historians are certain, however, that these sculpture were important to those who created them, because manufacturing an ivory figure, especially one a foot tall, was a complicated process (Kleiner, 17). As
Stokstad, Marilyn and David Cateforis. Art History. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Trenton: Prentice Hall, 2002.
images in this painting, all of which have the power to symbolize to us, the viewer, of the painter’s
Unlike science, art is subjective. The artist leaves behind a part of himself in his work. Therefore, each piece has its own distinct perspective. Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits show her view on her life, on how she has faced so many struggles, yet managed to be a strong person. When we see or hear or read an artistic creation, it produces a mood such as calm or loud, fear or safety. For example, the Eiffel Tower gives Paris a majestic awe; everyone who passes by feels the strength of the 113-year-old grand structure. Art also has a texture. Photographs reveal much through their textures; grainy surfaces often make the picture more realistic while smooth ones seem softer. When we hear a piece of music or see a film, a rhythm carries us from one part to another. Not just true for these two genres, rhythm is present in any artistic work. These few properties are characteristic of everything we encounter in the world of art, the world of human expression. Most have other special features also. Most of the time, though, we do not think about these characteristics because we do not have enough time to pay attention to anything for more than a few seconds.
Just as other works that reflect art, pieces in the category of fine arts serve the important message of passing certain messages or portraying a special feeling towards a particular person, function or activity. At times due to the nature of a particular work, it can become so valuable that its viewers cannot place a price on it. It is not the nature or texture of an art that qualifies it, but the appreciation by those who look at it (Lewis & Lewis, 2008).